Volume 79 Issue 2 by DartNewsOnline

Day 6

Day 7

DART

Day 8

Day 9

Faculty Collaboration/ Student Late Start 8:00-9:45

THE

ST. TERESAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ACADEMY|KANSAS CITY, MO VOLUME 79, ISSUE 1 Meetings

Break 11:05

AP Chemistry 10:30-11:20

AP Chemistry 11:20-12:40

Meetings

Break 11:05

Lunch

12:40-1:30

AP Chemistry

AP Chemistry 8:50-9:40

11:20-12:10

Monday

Day 10

Tuesday

Tutorial 2:50

Wednesday

Tutorial 2:50

Thursday

BRANCHING OUT:

Friday

different classroom styles cultivate new experiences AP Environmental Science 9:20-10:00

College Pre-Calc 12:50-12:45

AP Environmental Science 9:20-10:00

College Pre-Calc 12:50-12:45

Many teachers, both at STA and other schools, are turning toward more non-traditional classroom styles. Some teachers have embraced flipped classrooms, collaborative or experiential learning or block schedules in an attempt to create meaningful learning experiences for students. College Pre-Calc 10:05-10:45 AP Environmental Science 12:50-1:30

College Pre-Calc 10:05-10:45 AP Environmental Science 12:50-1:30

AP Environmental Science 12:50-1:30

2 LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

OCTOBER 14, 2019

DEAR READER, Happy spooky season! … and welcome to issue two! We’re excited to bring you some Halloween content this October, especially Lauren Brackney’s review of different horror movies from different eras of horror (see DartNewsOnline for the full-length version). She watched “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Scream” and “It: Chapter 2,” so you won’t have to (unless you’re into that, in which case at least now you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into). Ella Norton covered reportedly haunted locations around the Kansas City area such as the John Wornall House (page 28), and to keep with our spooky fall vibes, Becca Speier embraced the season with her photo essay on page 30. Read all about the recent wave of climate strikes and school walkouts from around our country and city in Faith Andrews-O’Neal’s news feature on page 4. She took the opportunity to walk out Sept. 20 and conducted an impromptu interview at the rally with Justice Warren, student body president

of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and avid climate activist. Flip to Star Spotlight on page 6, where Iris Roddy spoke with Ellie Hatley, a junior who shows dogs. You don’t want to miss Claire Smith’s amazing spread and pictures of Banksy, Twizzler and Clyde. For our centerspread this issue, Lily Hart and Carmon Baker looked at the newly-adopted teaching methods at STA and other local schools. Teachers and students speak on the importance of implementing new classroom styles and their experiences with alternatives to the classic lecture-based class. The story features senior Avery Owens, science teacher Renee Blake and assistant principal of academics of the Pembroke Hill School David Burke, among others. Read our staff’s editorial on page 20 where we discuss the idea of block scheduling being a necessity for a college preparatory school. Online, Katie Massman is coming at you with our Stargazer podcast with guest Emily

cute lil eic photo :)))))

Pattison. Pattison is a sophomore who is involved with The National Eating Disorders Association and runs a recovery Instagram page documenting her own journey with eating disorders. Thank you for voting on our DartNewsOnline poll about your favorite part of the Teresian dance! You can see the results on page 8 as well as online. Keep an eye out so you can vote in our next one. Also make sure to check out Rachel Robinson’s online Middle of the Map concert review. As always, make sure to follow our social media accounts (found on page 30), and check out the Dart Sport’s new IGTV for even more ways to stay connected ;). Love,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 06 08 10 11 12 14 16

News Feature: Walking Out for Climate Change

photo package

Star Spotlight: Ellie Hatley

A&E: Educational Plays for the Juniors

Review: Horror Movies Leading Up To “It”

Review: Coffee Near Me Feature: Cultural Understanding of Affinity Groups Feature: Synthetic Drug Danger Centerspread: Learning Style Differences Perspective: Defending Taylor Swift Perspective: Kindness to your Workers Perspective: Recognizing Libraries Sports Feature: School Spirit Support Community: The Helpful KCYA Last Look: KC’s Hauntings Photo Story: Falling Into Fall 30

Cover design by Carmon Baker | Web Editer

What’s New On the DNO

21 22 23 24 26 28 30 31

4 NEWS FEATURE

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Climate activists demand change

Protesters march at the Global Climate Strike Sept. 20. The march started at Frank A Theis Park and ended at the UMKC campus. photo by anna ronan

Story by Faith Andrews-O’Neal Opinion Editor

n Aug. 2018, a then-15 year old Greta Thrunberg sat alone outside Swedish parliament, leaving school every Friday to strike for climate. One year and one month later, students, concerned parents and local activists across the world have joined her. For senior Kailee Ford, it was Thrunberg who first inspired her to speak out and become a climate activist. “It was just her striking outside Swedish parliament with her sign, and that was it,” Ford said. “Then, it became 4 million people.” The inspiration she gained from Thrunberg, combined with her indignation about the state of the earth, pushed her into environmentalism. “What really pushed me over the edge was the Amazon Rainforest fire, and then I read the story,” Ford said. “It had been going on for two, three weeks, and we hadn’t heard anything about it. I just became so unbelievably angry.” Ford’s passion about the destruction of one of the world’s

largest ecosystems is one that has been felt around the world. “This is a huge thing that’s supposed to help Earth thrive, and it’s being burned down,” Ford said. “I was like, ‘okay, enough sitting around and thinking and being lost. I’m not lost anymore. I have a goal, and I want to get more involved.’” Within STA, Ford is an officer and one of the creators of the Green

“

I was like, okay, enough sitting around and thinking and being lost. I’m not lost anymore. I have a goal, and I want to get more involved. Senior Kailee Ford

“

Students, teachers and concerned citizens alike all gathered Sept. 20 for a city-wide climate strike. For climate activists within our community, their work goes further.

team, an extra-curricular group that works with STA to create a more sustainable environment at school. Within the broader Kansas City community, Kailee is involved with the Sunrise Movement. “I would like to see more smaller, environmentally conscious things like changing the more disposable items in the cafeteria,” Ford said. “That’d be nice, like maybe changing fruit cups to like a bowl of fruit and you dish yourself.”

According to their website, the Sunrise Movement’s goal is “building an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.” It was with Sunrise that she was able to speak at Kansas City’s walkout on Sept. 20. “I wanted to make my voice heard, because I think that’s very important, is that you should always tell your story so that people can understand,” Ford said. “And that’s where I met the Sunrise Movement, the Kansas City chapter of it.” Ford’s original idea was to organize an STA walkout, not connected to a city-wide strike. She was unsure if any organizations were conducting a Kansas City walkout but knew she wanted to advocate for the acknowledgement of a climate emergency. “The Earth has gone through changes of heating and cooling tons of times, thousands and billions of years ago,” Ford said. “But it’s been growing rapidly within the last few decades. And we do know that is due to human activity.” As she stepped onto the podium under the bright sun at Frank A. Theis park, this indignation is what drove her. “To our political leaders: Mayor Quinton Lucas, Congressional Representative Emmanuel Cleaver, and to President Donald

there’s a time to be a part of a movement, but then there’s a time to step aside,” Warren said. “I’m happy that people, if need be, are stepping aside for communities to have a seat at the table. So I think that I mean, that’s not only my experience as a person of color, but also being LGBTQ community, I’m a double minority in America.” Within the population of STA, there are many ways to get involved. According to science teacher Serina Farb, the most effective method is changing our dietary habits.

grazing in the Amazon.” According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “Beef and cattle milk are responsible for the most emissions, respectively, contributing 41 percent and 20 percent of the sector’s overall GHG outputs.” GHG are greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide and methane. Although people can limit their meat and dairy consumption, Farb recommends that consumers should also encourage government stop subsidizing the meat and dairy industry. “We’re hugely subsidizing those industries, and giving them monetary incentives, even as consumer demands start shifting,” Farb said. “People say, we don’t want to support fossil fuel usage, [but] we’re still subsidizing them.” The systems that be may be Justice Warren able to drive major change, such as reducing subsidies on meat and dairy farms, or fiscally encouraging “There was a report that came eco-friendly businesses. However, out in a journal last year that basically said, the number one most Ford believes in the importance of impactful thing every individual can encouraging other young people to get involved on a local level as do is cut meat and dairy out of well. their diet, for our personal carbon “It’s time to be assertive. It’s footprint and environmental time to be demanding,” Ford said. footprint in general,” Farb said. “We need to demand that they Farb’s activism is largely focused listened to us; that they listen to on dietary choices and shifting science.” B consumers’ mentality away from supporting the meat and dairy industries. Within the city and national area, Farb is involved with many climate activism groups, such as Climate Healers and Kansas City Vegans for Change. She was also moved by the Amazon rainforest fires. “With a lot of the indigenous people in the Amazon, when the fires (which are still going on) got a lot of attention a couple weeks ago,” Farb said. “The number one thing they were calling for was for people to shift their demand away from meat, because the global demand for meat is driving cattle

“

It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you’re fighting the good fight.

“

Trump, and all other politicians,” Ford directed. “The time to act is now. We aren’t going to let you get away with ignoring the warning signs anymore. We have to work together. You must listen to science now.” She not only addressed the role of students such as herself but acknowledged the disproportionate effects climate change has on lower-income communities and people of color within those communities. Justice Warren is the student body president of the University of Missouri Kansas City, and spoke at the walkout. As a black person, and member of the LGBT+ community, he believes in the importance of intersectionality as it relates to environmental activism. “I love that young people are getting involved, no matter if it’s LGBT rights, women’s rights, reproductive rights, civil rights and even climate change,” Warren said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you’re fighting the good fight. I think that’s absolutely amazing. That’s what we’re seeing.” Warren’s introduction to climate activism was inspired by the disproportionate effects natural disasters have on marginalized communities. According to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, on average the death toll per disaster in low-income countries was five times more than in high-income countries. “When things really get bad, it’s going to affect low income communities and communities of color,” Warren said. “You see it in Puerto Rico. You see in the Bahamas. Communities that don’t have resources are up and wanting to hunker down and rebuild. These are the communities that suffer.” Although the communities most affected are people of color and low-income populations, Warren stresses the importance of all communities gathering in allyship. “Although I’m an ally when it comes to a lot of things like this,

A young girl holds a melting clock sign to signify global warming Sept. 20. Many protesters carried homemade signs to push for political climate action. Photo by amy schaffer

6 STAR SPOTLIGHT

OCTOBER 14, 2019

ELLIE HATLEY Junior Ellie Hatley discusses her love of showing dogs and how she first got into it. Story by Iris Roddy | Writer Photos by Claire Smith | Design Editor

Junior Ellie Hatley crouches with her dog, Banksy, at Leawood Dog Park, framed by a paw print cut out from the park bench Sept. 24. Hatley never works with Banksy in showing but she shows two other dogs from the same litter: Twizzler and Clyde. Banksy lives with Hatley full-time unlike her other show dogs.

hen did you first get into dog showing? When I was about eight years old I first started learning how to show dogs. I was entered in my first show when I was nine. How did you first get into dog showing? We used to have two corgis that came from a breeder, a friend of ours who also shows dogs. We went to a dog show in Lawrence, and she introduced me to a mentor who teaches youth how to show dogs. I was able to enter competitions when I was nine in the Juniors. How often do you participate in dog shows? It depends. During the summer there aren’t many since it’s too hot and adds extra stress on the dogs. Fall and spring are the best for dog shows. We have a lot in the fall, probably at least one a month. Why do you like dog showing so much? It’s just so different. You walk into a dog show and it’s a whole new world. There’s some pretty crazy people. I mean, there’s always something different going on. It’s also a really good ice breaker and topic starter. What are the benefits of dog showing? It really helped me growing up with social skills and how to time manage. I worked with people three times my age, which helped my maturity level.

BaNsky is a Nova scotia duck toy retriver. The breed is nicknamed “Toloer”.

What is your favorite thing about dog shows? Definitely the community. A breed I’m super involved with is the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, and there are always lots of different communities within breeds. That’s definitely one interesting aspect of dog showing. [Our community] is really blessed that our breed is super, super welcoming. What does a typical dog show look like? It varies quite a bit from what you see on TV. The ones on TV are way more prestigious than the ones I’m in. Some of the places have dirt floors here, which I hate because it dirties the dogs’ feet and ruins nice shoes. If you could tell someone who knew nothing about dog showing a little bit about it, what would you say? Dog showing started out as a way to improve lineage. You would enter your dogs to see what other dogs were winning and potentially breed your dog with that dog to improve your line. I’d say it’s less about that now, but then again I’m not involved in the breeding process. How will you continue to show dogs in the future? That’s something I wonder about a lot, to be honest. It is expensive. You don’t really make money

showing dogs unless you’re out doing it every weekend. I hope to continue to do it through college if I have time. I love it. I mean, I’ve been doing it my whole life.

Could you tell me a little bit about the dogs you show? I show a bunch of people’s dogs. I show Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers now, but I started out showing corgis. I show a Rottweiler often. I show a German shepherd on occasion. I’ve shown more different breeds than I can list. What does training your dogs and preparing for shows look like? Every Tuesday, I go out to a little community center where my mentor has a class. It’s kind of a mock dog show and social hour. We practice with the dogs, having a person go over them so they’re comfortable being touched. We make sure they don’t just hate it because if that’s the case we don’t show them. That’s where I first learned to show dogs. I also meet people outside of the class at parks and other places to make sure the dogs are comfortable with me. What’s your favorite part of preparing the dogs for shows? I really like grooming dogs. I think it’s kind of relaxing. We usually bathe them and blow dry them and do any trimming needed. It’s a process, so I like to plug in my music and just hang out. B

Check out the full interview on DNO

Clyde is an 11 year old Toloer, who won a bronze grand champion award. This award is a huge honor within the dog showing world.

Twizzler is a 6 year old Toloer who hatley also shows.

8 BITS & PIECES

IN THE NEWS

What is your favorite part of Teresian?

global national

local

Compiled by Anna Ronan | Design Editor

18%

Two summers after the first direct flight from Kansas City to Reykjavik, Iceland Air has announced it will no longer service direct flights between the two cities Sept 30. Iceland Air cited the reason for stopping flights from Kansas City for “commercial reasons.” Following a whistleblower complaint on President Trump’s communications with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky, The House of Representatives has launched an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump Sept. 26.

One day following an agreement to negotiate nucelar arms with the United States, North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile off the Eastern shore of the Korean peninsula Oct 1. The missile was launched underwater and did not cause harm to neighboring countries.

the dance itself!

61% doing something after the dance.

11%

taking pictures before.

I’m not going to Teresian.

Compiled by Amy Schaffer | Photo Editor

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE:

(Out of 44 votes.)

Each month, the Dart chooses a staffer’s photo to be featured. photo by Amy Schaffer | Photo Editor A sunrise movement volunteer leads a “Green New Deal” chant with a megaphone Sept. 20. Protestors chant “fossil fuels have got to go” while marching from frank A. Theis Park to University of missouri-kansas city.

PHOTO

A&E

Learning through a different lens

The junior class saw “Rise Up” at the Coterie Sept. 20. Juniors in the AP Literature class also got to see “Hot Cat on a Tin Roof” at the Rep. Story by Ella Norton Editor-in-Chief

unior Morgan Saxe, along with the rest of the juniors in AP Literature, piled into the school vans, Sept. 24. They drove a mile to the Kansas City Repertory Theater, or the Rep, to see the performance of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” They brought their sack lunches to eat during intermission and prepared to see the play. “It was really long, it was like three hours long, but it was really in-depth of the play that we read,” Saxe said. The play, written by Tennesse Williams in 1955, focuses on a family living on a plantation in Mississippi. Earlier in the year, English teacher Sarah Taber saw that the Rep was going to do a performance of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and decided to teach the play in class after being curious on how the Rep would keep a classic relevant. “I definitely was interested to see how a play about values that are seemingly outdated can still be relevant in 2019,” Taber said. “And it was by the way.” Taber thinks that seeing the play performed helped students develop new interpretations of the play, such as seeing the main character Brick in a more tender way. For Saxe, seeing the play proved helpful in class. “It was really helpful to see the play and to get a better understanding of what was happening,” Saxe said. “It was easier because we had an in class essay the next couple of days, it was easier to recall and say ‘oh that was a good example of this.’” The AP Literature class also got

Tay Love as Ty, Jordan Luty as CJ, Catera Combs as EM, and Khrystal L. Coppage as Dayz in The Coterie’s production of “Rise Up: The Struggle of the Freedom Riders.” The play is written by Lisa Evans and directed by Jeff Church, and runs from Sept. 17 through Oct. 20. photo by Erin Stricker and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre

to see “Rise Up” with the rest of the junior class at The Coterie Theatre Sept. 20. The play focuses on freedom rides in the South during the 1960s. American history teacher Craig Whitney believes this is the fourth or fifth year they’ve taken the junior class to see a play. The Coterie offers stories about civil rights in the fall, from stories about Martin Luther King Jr. to the Little Rock Nine. “That’s actually a small glitch in it because we typically teach history chronologically so this civil rights stuff doesn’t come up until spring,” Whitney said. “But I think it’s nice to see history presented in a different way. It puts a new look to it.” The play was performed by four actors with each of them playing multiple roles, regardless of race. “It was also interesting because on a few occasions, the black performers played a white person and the [white] performer played a black person during the course of it,” Whitney said. Whitney said that seeing “Rise Up” made him consider doing something similar in his class. He believes that it would allow students to learn the same content in another way. “The student does the work, which I think is great, and you’re

engaged with the information and the research in a little bit different way which is kind of nice,” Whitney said. Last year, Whitney assigned students in his history class to create a documentary over a history topic as he likes trying different techniques with teaching. “It’s easy to get locked into PowerPoints and standardized tests and that kind of thing and there’s a lot of different ways to do things and still have it get across the same information,” Whitney said. Taber believes that seeing performances is a way to bring project based learning into her classes. “We are sending teachers to High Tech High and starting these R&D courses and we are trying to bring that to the English department and show students that the written arts have a life in the community and they have a lot of relevance for us,” Taber said. While Saxe preferred “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” she said overall seeing the plays was a fun experience. “They were good excuses to miss school but still have something educational,” Saxe said. The AP Literature students will also see a one man performance of Frankenstein in February.B

10 REVIEWS

A mocha from the Roasterie Cafe. photo by Anna Ronan OCTOBER 14, 2019

Coffee, community and couches: the best in KC

Each coffee shop in KC has its own quirks and lovable features. These shops have been judged by the taste, atmosphere, decorations and service. Story by Lilly Frisch | Page Designer

he Roasterie Cafe in Brookside

aaaab

When I first walked in, I noticed the long tables and the laptops illuminating people’s faces. This shop is definitely a place to come and get work done. I pulled out my headphones and some history homework and felt right in place. The areas were large enough for me to spread out all of my stuff and get to work. Their food selection mostly consisted of fluffy pastries and breakfast muffins. There was a lesser variety of food for later in the day, like lunch and dinner. Next, I ordered a vanilla latte. The barista bustled about, using an array of different pumps and blenders to complete each drink. After about five minutes, the barista handed me my drink. My drink filled me with warmth as I sipped on the smooth, whipped latte. The drinks were similarly priced to other popular coffee shops, such as Starbucks. The average price was about $2 for a cup of coffee. Overall, I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, friendly people and well-priced drink. Hi Hat Coffee aaaab The second shop I visited was Hi Hat Coffee on State Line Road. The owner of the shop was buzzing around the space, chatting up familiar customers who live nearby. From overhearing these

conversations, customers talked to the owner about their families and homes. This shop knows how to fill up its limited space with small lights and nic nacs to keep your eyes busy as you wait in line. There are three stools inside, and the entire shop is only supposed to hold 10 people. This creates a cozy atmosphere to settle in and enjoy your coffee. Hi Hat surprised me when I saw their original drinks like the Bee High, the Mona Lisa, the Honey Lavender Latte and many more. This made me want to try all the different drinks.Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford to do that even though the drinks are very well priced. A small espresso was $1 and small chai tea latte was $3.30. Eventually, I settled with the Bean Butter Latte. I was a little nervous that this drink would be far too rich for my taste, but I was taken aback by the creamy goodness that filled by cup. It was a very sweet drink but was the perfect treat on a cold afternoon. Due to the size of the place, customers may have to wait outside for their coffee after they order. It’s easy to lose track of time sitting on the wooden picnic tables looking into the quaint, busy shop. If you’re looking for a cozy neighborhood coffee shop the Hi Hat is the place to go.

PT’s Coffee in the Crossroads District aaaab The crisp white and brick walls covered with local art is pleasing to the eye as you wait in line to order your drink. Compared to other coffee shops, this one is spacious which leaves room for its customers to settle in and get comfortable. This allowed me to whip out my math book and crank out a massive review for my test. It’s easy to enjoy the industrial aroma and relax because of the neat and clean environment. If you’re like me, I work best when I’m in a clean and organized environment. Once spending time in the shop, it was time to order some coffee. Their menu was long and had three different types of espresso. I ordered the Flying Monkey. This blend of milk chocolate, graham cracker and honey was a wave of tasty, sweet flavor. PT’s Coffee keeps up with its local community by inviting local artists to display their work, and posting flyers for upcoming performances. The ratio of laptops to conversations are fairly equal, leaving the customer confident in deciding to get work done or socialize with friends and fellow customers. I would recommend going there any time of day due to their diverse food menu and upbeat environment. b

STUDENT POLL: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP?

ATMOSPHERE

Blip Roasters

“Their roasts are so good, and the atmosphere is edgy and cool.” Izzy Bryars, junior

AFFORDABILITY QuikTrip

“It is cheaper than most coffee shops, but I think it tastes the best!” Lauren Fallis, senior

HISTORY OF HORROR These films have defined horror in their decade and in their wake, define the horror films to follow. Story by Lauren Brackney Page Designer

ales of horror have existed throughout time in fables and storytelling. Since the creation of film, directors have been able to capture the elements of horror that we know today. There are certain horror films that have lasted through time like Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” Stephen King’s “The Shining” and more recently, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” These films have been viewed time and time again as they continue to scare viewers with their unique twists on horror. What makes a horror movie iconic? Scream 1996 aaaab “Scream” is one of the classic scary movies that most movie lovers have heard of or seen. Its most identifiable feature is the Father Death mask worn by the killer. The film opens on the gruesome murder of a teenage couple. The small town was shook up as this was the second horrific murder the town had seen. I was surprised with how insensitive the teens were about the recent death of their fellow classmates. They started cracking jokes about how the couple died the morning after their deaths were reported. “Do you like scary movies?” the killer said into the phone before his attack. The killer’s fascination with scary movies is what allows

him to get away with the murders. I liked when the characters would reference a scary movie because it made the movie more realistic. The film puts its own ironic twist on scary movies. In one scene, a boy is seen yelling at a character in a horror film to turn around as the killer is right behind her. As he does this, the real life killer is right behind him, and I was the one telling him to turn around. This scene was meant to be comical rather than horrific, and it was a nice break from all of the chase scene and scares. I watched “Scream” for the first time this year, and I loved it. I thought that it was just the right combination of horror and mystery. I had not heard much about the film’s plot prior to watching, so the twist ending caught me by surprise. By the end of the film, I realized that I couldn’t always predict the outcome of a horror film. I thought that what made the film so terrifying was its take on small town crime. The police force was inexperienced and ill prepared to tackle a murder like this. The head cop on the case was only 25 years old and he was constantly getting distracted by female reporter Gale Weathers. I will watch this film again soon and look for clues that I missed. I would recommend this movie to anyone interested in mysteries or true crime. IT Chapter 2 2019 aaaab Pennywise is back and creepier than ever to haunt the town of Derry, Maine. Seven childhood friends must return to Derry to

A screengrab of Pennywise the Clown from It Chapter 2. photo courtesy of News Tribune Service

defeat the clown, but this time, they are not going to let him come back. I saw “It Chapter Two” in theaters, and I had seen the first “It” about a year earlier. I didn’t let any of the bad reviews I read about chapter two affect my experience. I’m glad I did because I thought that the film itself was wonderful, and I can see myself watching it again in the future. I thought that it was great in its character development like when the characters confessed their feelings for one another. But the film itself somewhat lacked in its horror aspect. Yes, the film startled me with its jumpscares and monsters but it wasn’t much to keep you up at night. I liked the realistic horror I saw in “Scream” and “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” rather than the supernatural horror I saw in “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and now “It Chapter Two.” The film also put in easter eggs filled with Stephen King references. Stephen King even made a special appearance as the bike salesman in one of the scenes. I noticed that in the bloody bathroom scene the notorious “Here’s Johnny” line from the film, “The Shining” was said. I think that I would have to know more about Stephen King novels to pick out the remaining easter eggs. I would recommend “It Chapter Two” to all Stephen King fans. For the sake of understanding the film, I would also recommend watching the first “It.”b

Check out the full review including more movies on DNO

12 FEATURE

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Innovating Inclusion: Affinity groups educate STA

Affinity groups on campus aim to create a shared space for minority students to build community and provide the student body with a greater understanding of their respective cultures.

Story by Mary Massman| News Editor Photos by Olivia Powell | Lifestyles Editor Alternative Coverage by Ella Norton | Editor-in-Chief

Sophomore Keyla Ramos is one of about 15 students who gather in room M205 during a monthly activity. Ramos, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, turns her attention to the front screen as she watches a video of Hispanic and Latinx students from around the world grappling with the stereotypes they face in the United States because of their heritage: they must be from Mexico if they speak Spanish, they can’t be of Cuban or Puerto Rican descent if they appear white. The students in the video express frustration with these stigmas, a feeling Ramos and the other Hispanic Affinity Group students in Spanish teacher Maria Lopez Gonzales’s room are familiar with when it comes to embracing their Hispanic heritage in a predominantly white environment. As the video concludes, the students arrange their desks to hold a what Lopez Gonzales calls a “circle talk,” which is an opportunity for the students to voice their thoughts. “Some students share with the group that due to misconceptions or lack of information, peers inadvertently confuse or make mistakes regarding their heritage,” Lopez Gonzales said. “Educating people will avoid this type of issue.” The Hispanic Affinity Group is one of three affinity groups at STA, along with the Black Student Coalition and the Asian Affinity Group. Each consist of students of a common heritage and purpose. “I’m really proud to be Peruvian and American and whenever not

there’s an opportunity for me to “I just want people in the share my culture and my heritage, group to know that you have a I’m there,” Lopez Gonzales said. “I voice, even though it might seem think in my college years, I would intimidating,” Landrum said. “We have loved to have a group like have a purpose on this campus, so this.” let it be known.” When Ramos graduated from The Black Student Coalition an eighth grade class of 18 people in a diverse public school, she was nervous about the change STA would bring. Finding other students with a shared Hispanic background meant that she didn’t feel as different in her new school. “Hispanic Affinity Group is not really formal, it’s more about finding friends that also come from a Hispanic background that can say you’re not alone,” Ramos said. Black Student Coalition president Nicci Landrum is using her leadership position this year to better inform the student body on issues black students face. “I think the goal of Black Student Coalition is to inform others that racial issues are real,” Landrum said. “This isn’t just like something off the TV.” Landrum hears the concerns other students have about code switching, tokenism and cultural appropriation. She wants all students in the affinity group to feel comfortable sharing their Freshman Isabel Reyes creates paper windows for a Puerto-Rican flag style display opinions with each apartment in Hispanic Affinity group Sept. 25. Students create a display for Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, to be displayed at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. other but also

is moderated by director of the girls to participate in would but serves as a reminder of why diversity and inclusion and be a fundraiser, for example, for Hispanic heritage is special. admissions assistant Brianna Christmas, help a family or Latino “My brother said, ‘Don’t be Walker, who Landrum says family in need.” embarrassed or shy of where “understands like an older sister.” To Ramos, her Hispanic heritage you come from’ because that’s Walker found the experience reminds her of family. She learned, how he felt when he first moved of stepping into her first lecture by watching her brother graduate to Rockhurst,” Ramos said. “As hall at Mizzou, a predominantly from Rockhurst High School, that he started growing up, he said, white institution, daunting. She she can feel empowered by ‘where I come from, it’s good, cites diversity student groups heritage when she stands out. The I shouldn’t be embarrassed by and resources on campus as ability to find time and space to it.’ Yes, it’s different, but that’s some of the most important connect with girls who look like her also what makes me different, experiences she had while in and can relate to her background unique.” B college. not only eased her transition to STA, “There were people that looked like me, I could put my bags down and I didn’t have to worry about hiding what I’m saying or anything like that,” Walker said. “That was refreshing for me on that campus.” The goal of affinity groups goes beyond creating a safe space for minority students to meet. The Hispanic Affinity Group makes is currently collaborating with the NelsonAtkins by building a Day of the Dead altar to display at the celebration Nov. 3, which features colorful buildings and countries in a big city display. “The activities in the school are important, but also helping the community, I think it’s so important,” Lopez Gonzales said. “I would like them to make connections with community Teachers Alexa Varady and Jazzmin Earl talk during an Asian Affinity group meeting Oct. 2. Members of the group leaders and organizations from discussed their heritage and their experience during the Inclusion Project meeting. Kansas City. Another thing I want

Affinity groups at sta

There are three affinity groups at STA, all under the inclusion project. The Dart compiled on the groups according to Brianna Walker, inclusion director, and the St. Teresa’s Website.

14 FEATURE

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Vape users face unknown dangers

Cases of vaping-related injuries have recentlly skyrocketed. What does this mean for high schoolers that e-cigarettes are popular with? Story by Cara Barone | Page designer Alternative Coverage by Iris Roddy | Writer Graphics by Lily Hart | Editor-in-Chief

s of Oct. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,080 cases of vaping-related lung injury in the U.S. and 18 deaths, with the numbers rising every day. Patients reported symptoms of coughing, nausea, shortness of breath and more. Symptoms reportedly developed anywhere from within a few days to over the course of several weeks. While the majority of these vaping-related disease cases were in patients age 18-34, 16% were under the age of 18, according to the CDC. The CDC has yet to determine the cause of the lung injuries, but suspects it to be due to chemical exposure, not an infection. Some have blamed the THC cartridges that most patients have reported using. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is not legal to sell in e-cigarette cartridges. According to Alexander Sharpe, store manager of Vapor World in Overland Park, this means that

this is a visual representation of ‘popcorn lung’ after vaping.

smokers won’t know what they’re inhaling, unlike with regulated e-cigarette manufacturers. “A lot of these [cases] are specifically trailing back to black market THC cartridges which don’t necessarily have to do with vaping,” Sharpe said. “Because they’re putting it on a vape pen, they’re lumping it in with vaping in general and saying that’s what’s getting people sick or creating lung disease, things along those lines, whereas with our company and all other companies, as far as people who have the correct licenses and the ability to sell in places like this, they all have juices that specifically talk about what they contain.” Vaping is defined as “the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device” by the Center on Addiction. Since the mass introduction of e-cigarettes to the U.S. in 2007, its popularity increased among young people. Vaping devices, commonly called vape pens, consist of a cartridge which holds e-juice, a heating device that turns that e-juice into an aerosol, a battery for the heating

Over 1.3 million more high school students use e-cigarettes now than in 2017. According to the FDA, the number of teens using e-cigarettes has So far this year there have been 12 sky-rocketed by 80% in the last confirmed deaths and 800+ year. reported cases of vaping-related lung injuries.

Usage of Vaping The number of teens using e-cigarettes has skyrocketed in the last few years along with number of vaping-related injuries.

device and a mouthpiece. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 20.9% of high school seniors in 2018 reported vaping nicotine in the last month, nearly twice the amount from the year before. Michelle Irwin is a community outreach specialist at FirstCall, an addiction center founded in 1958 that connects people with addiction to resources such as counseling agencies and tries to prevent youth substance usage. “It is the number one drug of choice by the high schoolers in Jackson County,” Irwin said. “It bypassed alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.” According to Irwin, e-cigarette companies have a history of being problematic when it comes to their young consumers. “They’ve been targeted and fined and made to remove their products off the shelves because it’s targeted towards youth,” said Irwin. “I mean, who else would want to smoke a vape...that tastes like chocolate chip cookies? Or cherry bombs?” She compared the recent outbreak of lung injuries to ‘popcorn lung,’ a disease formally known as bronchiolitis obliterans. Workers who initially got the disease were overly exposed to inhaling vapor from an artificial butter flavoring called diacetyl. This caused their bronchial tubes to swell shut, rendering them

More than 3.6 million middle and high school students have used e-cigarettes within the last 30 days.

Information compiled from “Vaping: It’s All Smoke and Mirrors” and “Outbreak of lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping”

unable to breathe. Eight cases of the disease in former microwave popcorn factory workers were reported in 2000, according to the CDC. “If you drink Kool-Aid or if you have had chewy candies or gum or anything like that you’re getting essentially the exact same products you would in any of these, sans nicotine,” Sharpe said. However, Irwin doesn’t believe it’s safe to inhale what you can digest, like in the case of the factory workers. “It’s safe to eat but not safe to breathe,” said Irwin. “...It’s not the job of the Food and Drug Administration to tell us what we can breathe and what we can’t, it’s what we can eat safely.” Vaping supply stores like Vapor World are currently regulated by the FDA and companies are required to list their ingredients. According to Sharpe, e-juices contain nicotine, vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, a foodgrade additive and flavorants. However, users of e-cigarettes face other potential dangers. According to the CDC, e-cigarette aerosols can contain diacetyl, the chemical that causes popcorn lung, as well as ultrafine particles and heavy metals. Additionally, consuming nicotine can lead to addiction. Nicotine is the fourth most addictive drug, according to American Addiction Centers. “I think the majority of [young

e-cigarette users] go on to smoke cigarettes because they become addicted to nicotine,” said Irwin. “It has been shown that yes, it is a gateway drug, and to other drugs as well.” According to the CDC, increase in e-cigarette use is causing a rise in tobacco product usage. Brian King, the Deputy Director of the CDC’s Office of Smoking on Health, believes that the cause is clear. “The advertising will bring a horse to water, the flavors will get them to drink, and the nicotine will keep them coming back for more,” King said. One e-cigarette company in particular, Juul, carries the majority of all U.S. e-cigarette retail market sales, according to Vox. Juul is different than traditional e-cigarettes, both in its sleeker appearance and how it works. It delivers more nicotine than other e-cigarettes, with about the same amount of nicotine that is in a tobacco cigarette. This is three times the nicotine levels allowed in the European Union. The company witnessed a slowdown in demand for products amid the news about illness outbreak, according to CNBC. Currently, the CDC recommends that people “consider refraining from using e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC,” until more is known. B

16 CENTERSPREAD

OCTOBER 14, 2019

BRANCHING OUT: Many teachers, both at STA and other schools, are turning toward more non-traditional classroom styles. Some teachers have embraced flipped classrooms, collaborative or experiential learning or blocked schedules in an attempt to create meaningful learning experiences for students.

Story by Carmon Baker|Web Editor and Lily Hart| Editor-in-Chief Photos and alternative coverage by Lily Sage| Writer

xperiential Learning

“I think [in Italy], the Palio was the biggest thing that just made me feel so connected to the Italians because they can tell if you’re into it, then they’ll accept you,” senior Avery Owens said. “It made you feel like an Italian, loving something that much.” Owens participated in the Italy pilgrimage based on Dante Alighieri’s Inferno this summer led by STA experiential learning director Kelly Fast. She especially places importance on her experiences at Siena’s Palio, the biannual horse race which allowed her to invest herself into Italian culture. “I think the biggest thing was I was able to feel so comfortable all the way across the world because I felt like I had such a connection with Siena and the Palio,” Owens said. Fast defines experiential learning as authentic real-world educational experiences that usually happen off-campus. Fast is focusing on bringing more experiential learning to STA. This

year, STA’s interim week will have 55 classes and there will be nine trips overall. “Hopefully [experiential learning experiences] inspire students to be more self-directed in their education,” Fast said. “To find things that they care more specifically about or are more interested in. Expose them to all kinds of opportunities that they wouldn’t get in that normal classroom at STA, either through travelling or a mission trip, academic trips, internships, interim courses.” STA English classes are evolving into a mix of traditional and research-based learning, as capstone projects are being implemented for all grades. These capstones are student-driven research projects comparable to thesis projects. The first three quarters of English classes at STA will be traditional learning, while fourth quarter will be dedicated to capstones. Fast hopes that capstones can help students develop researching and writing skills that are important in college.

“When you apply to college, [it is important] that you have something that you as a student have taken interest in, developed, you can really show yourself as a student,” Fast said. “Teaching students those skills freshman year and scaffolding them, building on them, until junior or senior year, that’s a great skill for students to learn.” Fast believes that recently experiential learning opportunities have improved at STA. “The things we’ve done in the last five years, with STEAM certificate, capstone projects in the English department, interim week, all of these things are new to STA, and I think we’ll continue to grow,” Fast said.

Flipped Classrooms

Science teacher Renee Blake laughed as she reflected on her days as a college student. “I hated lecture,” Blake said. “I had this professor in college who would lecture half the time, and then we would take a quiz over the reading that we did over the

Sophomore Nina Burke works on her computer during geometry class Sept. 23. This is a collaborative class where groups of two people can work on problems together, and gather into a group of four when needed.

DIFFERENT CLASSROOM STYLES CULTIVATE NEW EXPERIENCES week — over 50 pages. He could pull the most random thing and it was awful. I swore I would never ever teach like that.”

“

It’s been around for a long time, and they like that idea because students are doing so many extracurricular activities, they’re gone for sports, they’re gone for whatever, and now they’re not missing the content.

“

Renee Blake, science teacher Blake now has two flipped classrooms where she records videos for her students to watch on their own time. She uses class time for labs, hands-on work and questions. “When I first started teaching I would be like ‘oh, I forgot to tell

this one class something,’” Blake said. “And we didn’t have email, we didn’t even have computers at that time, so it was a little stressful. So now, being flipped, the content is consistent and if someone’s gone, they’re getting the correct information rather than relying on a student to give the notes which can be sketchy sometimes.” After attending FlipCon seven years ago with two other teachers, Blake became an advocate for the flipped style and reasons that it could work for any class subject, although admits she was initially suspicious about their claims. “They say, in these workshops, [flipped] can be for any class, even P.E.,” Blake said. “I rarely, and I mean rarely, have anyone get under an 80% in my class. And those that would get in the 70s, I mean it might be one every few years, she never turned anything in.” According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), flipped classrooms can often be more beneficial than traditional classrooms. In a survey out of 453

teachers on their experiences with flipped classrooms, 80% reported better student attitudes and 67% reported higher test scores. There was resistance to the change in Blake’s teaching style before the method was proven successful. “At first [students] hated it — even some of the parents,” Blake said. “I actually had a student on one of the end of the course surveys: ‘[Blake] does flipped class because she doesn’t want to do anything.’” The reactions of parents and students have shifted over time from adverse to intrigued. “Now, parents when I tell them, they’ve heard about it,” Blake said. “It’s been around for a long time, and they like that idea because students are doing so many extracurricular activities, they’re gone for sports, they’re gone for whatever, and now they’re not missing the content.” In addition to the high school effort, colleges have turned toward flipped classrooms. As of 2013, 27% of classes in United States colleges used flipped

OCTOBER 14, 2019

classrooms, according to Faculty Focus. “They’re responsible for their learning which I think they need to know how to do and manage their time before they get to college,” Blake said. “It does no good to spoon-feed them.” Sophomore Ellie Bolch chose to take Blake’s forensics class this year because of her positive experience with flipped advanced biology. “I knew her teaching style,” Bolch said. “I think that it’s really helpful, especially in a subject that you excel in — for science, I really like it and so when I’m doing worksheets, projects and even tests at home, it can be a lot easier to plan that on my own time and have a time schedule for it.”

would go to a traditional textbook and just copy out problems and say ‘here you go kids, good luck, teach it yourselves.’ Instead, we try to scaffold things and build on their previous knowledge.” Fietsam claims that geometry performance on the math section

Collaborative Learning

of the ACT is now more “on par with the other areas,” as it had been relatively lower than the other assessed math skills. Bolch is also enrolled in Fietsam’s collaborative geometry class. She describes her learning style as dependent on the content. “For the strong skills, [I prefer] flipped classroom and maybe more individual-based learning, which I guess goes with advanced classes — [they] should maybe be

Sophomores Maddison Faul and Kathyrn Hart receive help from Mrs. Blake Sept. 24. In a flipped classroom, students do most of the lecture-based work outside of class and then ask questions during the school day.

Renee Fietsam, math teacher

“

STA math teachers also faced adverse reactions when they began their collaborative-learning geometry class (students working together to solve problems) four years ago. Now the department holds shortened geometry classes for parents, where they can experience it firsthand. “Instead of lecture, students are given lessons — they’re mainly worksheet based,” math teacher Renee Fietsam said. “It’s not like I

“

I think teaching geometry is a whole lot of fun now, whereas I used to love geometry but hate lecturing it on it — it kind of sucked the fun out. But now I think it’s great.

more hands-on and less teacherreliant,” Bolch said. “And then the regular [classes] I think should be more lecture. I’d say it depends on the subject.” Because of her personal learning style, she finds some struggle in the collaborative learning environment. “I’m not super strong in math so I’d rather have lecture… but when you understand the content I feel like it’s a lot easier to get it done [with collaborative learning],” Bolch said. “When you don’t know and your whole group doesn’t know, then it’s hard to figure it out. But it does help with problemsolving and trying to figure it out.” Fietsam agrees that certain aspects of geometry especially lend themselves to this style of teaching and prefers moderating collaborative classrooms to teaching lecture-style classes. “It allows me to get to know students better and give them quicker feedback,” Fietsam said. “I think teaching geometry is a whole lot of fun now, whereas I used to love geometry but hate lecturing it on it — it kind of sucked the fun out. But now I think it’s great.” Many students agree with Fietsam. In an optional activity where her

students gave anonymous advice to future geometry students, one wrote, “I love the style of learning in this class because it’s not a lecture-class more of a collaborative note-taking class.” Fietsam believes that working in collaborative classes in school can help students be more successful in real life situations. “We work on a lot of soft skills — communication, how to work in a group, how to check in with other group members, monitoring their own pace,” Fietsam said. “We’re not only teaching geometry but we’re teaching all of this whole other skillset. It’s not for everyone but I think the kids who don’t enjoy it, they still gets something out of it, especially as far as how to work with a team.”

long time to fill. Plus, there’s real school of thought, particularly in math and languages, that they really like to see their students every day. The repetition is important for them, so this is kind of a compromise.” At Pembroke, “red weeks”

The Dart polled STA students on their preferred learning styles.

Block Scheduling

According to the School Superintendents Association, about 30% of secondary schools utilize block scheduling, a schedule in which students do not attend every class each day and class periods are longer. The STA Student Leadership Team, a student group concerned with academic affairs, has been discussing scheduling with administration, according to Bolch. “We’ve kind of been talking about [block scheduling],” Bolch said. “I think it would be hard for some people, including me, to change from the current schedule… A lot of people have said since we’re a college prep school, we should do block scheduling to prepare for college.” Other local schools, such as the Pembroke Hill School, utilize block schedules. Pembroke created a schedule in which two out of every eight days are blocked. According to upper school academic dean David Burke, it is a good balance between a normal schedule and a completely blocked schedule. “An 80-minute class is fine when it’s not every day,” Burke said. “But when it’s every day, that’s just a

consist of normal classes, while “blue weeks” have block days on Wednesday and Thursday. There is also a late start on Wednesday. Burke thinks that having these block days can create a more relaxed environment on campus. “[Blue weeks] really are just a great breather for everybody,” Burke said. “The pace is just a little slower, a little more relaxed. Red weeks tend to be a little higher paced and stressful, and blue weeks tend to be a little more relaxed, so we think that’s good for

students.” According to Burke, the slower pace is also helpful for teachers. “Every single thing that students experience, faculty experience,” Burke said. “So when [students] take a test, the faculty have to grade that test, they have to write that test. So [block scheduling] gives faculty a little bit better pace during blue weeks as well.” When Pembroke modified their schedule about seven years ago, their main focus was creating a rotating schedule. This allows students to attend their classes at a different time every day. “We were more motivated by the rotating part,” Burke said. “No offense to freshman boys, but if you had the same group of freshman boys before lunch everyday, the idea [is] that you’re not seeing them at their best.” Although he acknowledges that no schedule can be flawless, Burke is satisfied with Pembroke’s schedule. “Every high school is always in search of the perfect schedule,” Burke said. “Bluntly, we’re never going to find it because there’s too many things that we’re all trying to fit into a school day. We’re never going to quite satisfy everyone, but right now, we’re very happy with this, overall.” Fietsam advocates for the importance of experimenting with and implementing different classroom styles. “The classroom style should fit the content you’re teaching,” Fietsam said. “If the classroom style you have isn’t really helping your students learn the content then that’s when things need to change. I think variety for the sake of variety is not the purpose, but variety because that’s what the subject really caters itself to.”b

20 MAIN EDITORIAL

College length classes do not define “college prep” Although there are many benefits to blocked classes, they are not worth the negative changes they would impose on STA.

f one phrase can be used to describe the curriculum, culture and environment of STA, it is “college prep.” From built-in free periods to involved college counseling, no one can say that this school isn’t doing its best to get us ready for higher education. Many other college preparatory schools have moved toward block scheduling, including the Pembroke Hill School, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy and Bishop Miege High School. This means that students have longer and fewer classes each day. In contrast, STA has 40-minute classes and eight periods a day. Some would argue that the way our schedules are set up under-prepares us for the reality of college classes, which require long attention spans and more irregular class meetings. But for STA, block scheduling is not the solution. However beneficial it may

be for other college prep schools, it would do more harm than good for us. For one, in order to fit the typical four 1.5-hour classes into a day, free periods would likely have to be altered or removed altogether from our schedules. These are hugely helpful in managing the demanding workload STA students often have and for developing the time management skills needed for college and beyond. The advantages of built-in unstructured time far outweigh the benefits of block scheduling in terms of college preparation. There are certain courses at STA that already have one “block” period per week such as labbased science classes, certain art classes and yoga. These classes lend themselves well to a longer class period but many others do not. Lecture-based courses do not require the extended time

that lab and art classes do, and implementing a block schedule would only make it harder for students to retain the information. If schedules were adapted to make every class blocked, teaching styles would need to adapt with them. The schedule of an STA student does not need to exactly match that of a college campus in order for that student to be fully prepared for higher education. Fifth graders have different schedules than high school students because they cannot focus for as long as we can. The same can be said of high school vs college learning abilities. Teenage minds are constantly growing and improving — attention spans grow with them. A block schedule is not necessary in directing students and teachers toward a successful college-prep environment. 14/24 staffers agree

Right On Target Sophomore Sophia Beshoner

Junior Elizabeth Hayes

“I think block scheduling could cause students to lose focus after a long period of time. It could potentially help get in more learning and longer discussions. I think a shorter class may be more productive because of attention spans.”

“I feel that certain classes do require more time to better understand the lesson, like math or English. I believe that block scheduling can be helpful for a certain college prep environment, but I also believe that sometimes block scheduling can also be unhelpful in certain classes.

PERSPECTIVES

Give Taylor Swift more credit Taylor Swift deserves more credit for the graceful way she responds to her constant criticism with confidence and indifference. Story by Mary Massman Breaking News Editor

didn’t pay much attention to Taylor Swift leading up to the release of her most recent album “Lover.” I didn’t plan on listening to more than the songs that would hit the radio, but my 13-yearold sister disagreed. She remained bent on listening to as much of “Lover” as we could during the trek to her soccer practice. Yet, as the album commenced, I was taken aback. It wasn’t solely the beats or rhythms in the album. Instead, it was primarily the lyrics that made me have a change of heart. Taylor Swift deserves more credit for the graceful way she carries herself with strength and projects confidence. I certainly was a steadfast Taylor Swift fan long before “Lover.” I used to blast Swift’s “Fearless” album and sing about the injustice of being overlooked for the cool girl and the importance of staying fearless through new beginnings. As Swift became more famous, I didn’t see her as selfish for writing about broken hearts. She was channeling her lived experiences

into art. When “Shake it Off” became the biggest song for seventh grade girls, I belted the lyrics as though the knowledge that the “haters gonna hate” was enlightened wisdom. “Shake if Off” felt like a natural message from Swift; she had always seemed to put accusatory criticism below her. In 2016, a video spread that tarnished Swift’s reputation. Kim Kardashian had filmed Swift agreeing to a lyric about her in Kanye West’s song, which Swift claimed in the media to not be okay with. Kardashian labeled her a snake and Twitter users celebrated her demise with “#TaylorSwiftisOver.” Swift’s response came in 2017 with her edgy “Reputation” album, where she claimed the old Swift was dead. This album didn’t fully redeem Swift for me. In “Reputation,” it seemed to me that Swift was denying herself closure in dwelling on her shame about the scandal. I decided that if retribution would become the guiding mantra of her future albums, I was no longer a Swift fan. With the release of “Lover,” I saw Swift in the same inspirational light as I did before her reputation hit a roadblock. With the opening song, “I Forgot That you Existed,” Swift demonstrates her peace on the bullying she received, and her sentiment isn’t love or hate: it’s just indifference. With “The Man,” Swift refutes doubts about her truth

and criticism of her power moves as sexist. What both these songs exemplify to me is that Swift is able to look retrospectively at her backlash and know that she holds power in how much of it she takes to heart. “Lover” is helping me understand that the best way to deal with people who have hurt me in the past is to forget them. The retrospective wisdom of Swift helps me take a step back from scenarios where I have been cheated and recognize that I cannot be blamed for all of my failures. What’s difficult for me to do when I have been wronged, but what “Lover” and Swift advocate, is shaking off shame and continuing to embrace the prospects of what lies ahead. It’s been over a month since the release of “Lover.” In that time my appreciation for Swift has reached the level it was at while “Shake it Off” was playing on radios and I had no reason to doubt the strength or truth in Swift’s narrative. In fact, it’s possible that now I have even more respect for Swift, because I understand it takes even more courage to reveal your truth after being shut down.B

22 PERSPECTIVES

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Customer service workers are people too Working in the service industry for over a year has given me insight into how the treatment of employees matters. Story by Aspen Cherrito Multimedia Editor

mid the June heat and a five-hour shift, I step behind the shiny ice cream case to help the next customer. I smile as hard as I can and in the most upbeat voice I say, “How can I help you?” However, what they don’t know is that I was taking deep breaths in the back with my coworkers, trying as hard as I can to be patient after helping a large, touristy, indecisive, tip-less family. That my back was killing me from having to reach down into the ice cream case. That my head was counting down the minutes until the shift change. That I really, really, did not want to be there. This was a daily occurrence at my old job at an ice cream shop. On paper, it may sound like a dream job. You’re surrounded by ice cream all day, you get all the sweets you want. However, no one tells you about the customers. You have to deal with the people who yell at you for something that you couldn’t help, the large groups that don’t tip and you have to put up with it, because, of course, the customer is always right. Making me feel like I was in a way their servant, not a 17-year-old girl trying to save up money. I consider myself a people person. However, working in the service industry made me revert

back into my shell, scared of how people may treat me. Of course, you get great experiences, like the time a man told me I was “pregnant with happiness.” But then you get the people who will yell at you for not having cookie dough and demand to speak to the manager. These people are the extreme examples, not the normal example of a couple coming in on a Friday night getting a sundae. Hearing from other people, they believe service workers have to love their job, I mean if they don’t they could always get a new one. What is the point of staying miserable? However, this isn’t the case as I hear from my ex-coworkers. I naively thought that the workers loved their job and wanted to be there, or that they could always just quit. However, this isn’t the case. I was surrounded by college students, graduate students and adults who needed a second job just to get by. Although we loved our job and our coworkers, no one ever really wanted to be there. The long hours, indecisive customers, while we just wanted to chat and do our own thing; clean up the back, pint some flavors, but the customers were always there to rile us up. Working in the service industry humbles you. The roles are switched — you get to see what it is like to have to wait on others rather than being waited on. You realize not leaving a tip can ruin someone’s day because I promise you that $2 can add up after a six-hour shift. Treating the wait staff as if they aren’t people can

make them insecure, they are just trying their best of course, and not having patience can increase the tension between the customer and employee. Going out to restaurants with friends is a whole new experience now. I don’t sample as many flavors as I want, I try not to be indecisive, I tip. I do all the things that made my day when I was the one behind the shiny ice cream case. If the staff is a bit short with me or seems stressed out, I assure them that it’s okay. Their life doesn’t revolve around their work and they aren’t super bubbly all the time. Some of the best moments I had whilst working in the service industry were when people asked me how I was and wanted to start a short, but sweet, conversation. I’ve recognized that we all need to be more understanding of everyone. Put yourself in their shoes, understand what they are feeling, treat them like people, they are just doing their job. All of these things seemed so small to me before I worked in the service industry, but now I make it an effort to be kind to those waiting on me, make sure I tip well and treat them like they are real people. They enjoy the same things as we do, just because they are the ones waiting on us doesn’t mean that they are less human. Working in the service industry, for a low hourly wage is essential because not only does it humble you, but the amount of empathy it teaches you helps you to treat others properly now that you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. B

Library services are underestimated Libraries are easily overlooked, but they serve the community quietly in many ways. Story by Cara Brone Page Designer

s a small child, I loved learning how to read. Naturally, when I got old enough to read books on my own, I loved visiting the library as well. However, I think that public libraries are often underappreciated and passed up for bookstores and coffee shops, despite the value they bring to their communities. Unlike bookstores and coffee shops, libraries are completely free for public use. I can go to a library to study, do my homework or anything else without the expectation to spend any money. I grew up going to the plaza branch of the library. In elementary school, my mom would take me there to get as many books as I wanted, which would never be the case if we always had to buy the books. This allowed me to improve my literacy. The librarians organized stacks of picture books by topics that children might be interested in that week, and my sister and I attended art classes — all for free. The library provides many community needbased programs like these, such as test proctoring services for students, opportunity and services programs for immigrants and refugees, book clubs and more. In fact, I got my first interview for a job by attending their teen job

fair as a freshman, which was for a job painting faces at the Kansas City Zoo for a company that hires for the zoo and Worlds of Fun. I didn’t get the job, but I gained experience from it. The library also provides a sense of community. At the plaza library, there are librarians that remember my sister and I from when we were little, and they are always kind. For instance, when I was 4 years old, my mom enrolled my 8 year old sister and I in an art class at the library that was for kids ages five and up. My mom assured me that no one would guess I wasn’t supposed to be there, but during the lesson I felt scared of being found out because I was the youngest child there. However, I will always remember how kind the librarians were to me during the session and they made me feel more comfortable. Recently, the library has advanced their mission to make sure “more people in our community have greater access to the Library’s vital materials, resources, and services” by doing away with overdue fines, according to the Kansas City Public Library website. This “Freedom From Fines” program makes the library more accessible to those who can’t afford to pay the fines, and prevents financial status from discouraging people from accessing the library, which is important because libraries are one of the few educational resources that are completely free and accessible to all. This is just one example of how public libraries in

Kansas City actively strive to meet the community’s needs. Libraries also offer access to technology such as computers, research databases and more. In 2010, 67% of public libraries reported they were the only free source of computer and Wi-Fi access in their community, according to the American Library Association. This access is increasingly important as having computer access becomes more critical. Because of this, libraries are helping to close the gap of opportunities between people with and without internet access. One of libraries’ most valuable attributes is their reliability. The library is an institution that continues to be open day after day to everyone, and has been for generations. They are often quietly integral to a community — beyond the programs they offer, they contribute to census information collection, and act as gathering places. According to the Brookings Institute, a nonprofit public policy organization, librarians often act as “ad hoc social workers and navigators” that “help local people figure out the complexities of life.” Because of this, over 90% of adults view public libraries as “welcoming and friendly places,” despite there being an estimated 116,867 libraries in the U.S. today according to the ALA. Libraries remain so important and valuable to the community. Support your local library by participating in it through utilizing its services and visiting. After all, it’s free. B

24 SPORTS FEATURE

SERVING SCHOOL SPIRIT

OCTOBER 14, 2019

Spirit Club vice president Anna Johnson smiles at the STA students section during a Notre Dame de Sion High School volleyball game Sept. 10. Johnson often leads cheers and the student section during sporting games.

Spirit Club’s efforts to facilitate a positive student culture impact community-wide enthusiasm for STA sports games. Story by Sophia Durone Features Editor Photos by Claudia Benge Sports Editor Alternative Coverage by Sophia Rall | Page Designer

reshman Darby Beddome’s periphery fills with visions of aliens and rock stars as she prepares for her serve. An anticipating quiet falls over the stands, comprised of students, parents and community members. Attempting to focus herself, Beddome’s energy instantly spikes as she hears the eager crowd’s chant: “that’s our freshmen, that’s our freshman!” The serve is a success, another point against Notre Dame de Sion High School. According to Beddome, audience support frequently inspires increased motivation levels for

athletes like her. “If you have more energy and your crowd is there and both teams are cheering against each other, it just makes it a better game and makes the team better,” Beddome said. The seven-year volleyball player witnesses the implications of crowd participation in each game she plays in and watches. “Overall, the team with more energy can win and is probably going to win,” Beddome said. Varsity volleyball player Elise McGhie agrees with Beddome and believes this positive influence is especially vital to their case as players on a school team. “I think that having school spirit and support gives you confidence and an extra driving force,” McGhie said. “That’s what’s so special about playing for your school versus playing for a club or competitively — you’re playing for

School Spirit information compiled from Varsity Brands

something bigger than yourself.” According to McGhie, playing for STA is motivating at its core. “Having that mentality that you want to win a State championship, not just for you but for your school, pushes you harder and makes you want to work harder,” McGhie said. Spirit Club vice president Anna Johnson has worked with her fellow officers to make facilitating this positive culture a priority for her club. “Through [my] sophomore and junior year, it seemed like people didn’t really care about sports games, plays, musicals or any events,” Johnson said. “This year, we’re really trying to, especially for the Future Stars night that just happened, get people to hype up the games because it really helps the athletes.” Spirit Club president Elle Schloegel believes an effective way to interest students in games is to create unique costume themes. “This summer, we [officers] spent a day gathering costumes and taking pictures,” Schloegel said. “I think that people seeing that themes are a main part of our club and watching us dress up in costumes for no reason is a big deal for them.” According to Schloegel, this tactic has proven successful in increasing support for athletes as well as promoting self expression.

“Some people that always go all out are inspired by the theme and feel like they can be themselves,” Schloegel said. “It’s not like a normal thing; you don’t just put on a costume every day. It’s a kind of rare experience.” McGhie believes the increased social media presence of STA on official and student-led accounts has also contributed to student engagement. “This year we’ve had a super good amount of support and maybe that’s somewhat to the

“ the team with Overall, with more energy can win and is porbably going to win. “

Darby Beddome

credit of the new Instagram and Twitter accounts,” McGhie said. “I think that does help with people keeping up to date with all of the sports.” Spirit Club member Alex Kerr began posting on the club’s Instagram after a one-year hiatus of the account, to better promote game attendance. “If I post the day before saying there’s a game tomorrow, [students] are thankful for the reminder,” Kerr said. Johnson believes the account provides publicity for all of their club’s endeavors. “There’s Instagram pages for the athletics department and the big STA page too, but there wasn’t really one that showed support for everything,” Johnson said. “We thought that reviving the Instagram would be a great idea because there would be a place to showcase everything.” Spirit Club moderator Maddie Watts appreciates the unification that social media provides. “I think social media involvement makes people feel more visible and connected so they know what’s going on and

how to engage in it,” Watts said. According to Schloegel, the increased level of school spirit, partly due to Spirit Club’s Instagram posts, has also enhanced STA community members’ experiences at games. “During the last Sion game we were at, we started singing ‘Party in the STA’ and lots of parents got out their phones and started recording us,” Schloegel said. “I know they see so much of the at-home stress of homework and papers, but when they’re at the game seeing all of us have so much fun in costumes and singing songs, they love that.” Watts believes this impact extends further than just parents. “When you have little girls that come to the game and they see us cheering each other on and they see everyone here as friends and that everyone belongs and everyone is working toward a common goal, I think that moves them a lot,” Watts said. Spirit Club will further promote inclusivity this year by including underclassmen in pep rallies rather than primarily featuring seniors as previous Spirit Club officers have, according to Johnson. “For the winter pep rally, that video is going to be mostly freshmen and sophomores because in past years it’s been

awkward for them,” Johnson said. “I feel like it was awkward for mine — you’re in a new club with people you don’t really know and you’re supposed to be pumping up the school but you aren’t even in the videos.” As a former STA student, Watts has witnessed this concept firsthand. “When you just have juniors and seniors being in front of everything, I know sometimes those freshmen and sophomores don’t feel as included,” Watts said. “But when you have those freshmen and sophomores in Spirit Club pep rally videos, they can relate to that.” According to Watts and the Spirit Club officers, the club’s ultimate goal is to create a supportive culture for all STA students, faculty and community members through the promotion of enthusiasm for the school. “In a sense, I love that seniors take ownership and are proud of their school but at the same time when you have those freshmen and sophomores engaged, instead of having 150 girls engaged and feeling like they belong, you have 620,” Watts said. b

Check out the photo gallery on DNO.

Senior Alex Kerr dresses in theme for the Notre Dame de SIon High School volleyball game and poses for the camera Sept. 10. Kerr took over Spirit Club’s instagram this year as social media coordinator.

26 COMMUNITY

OCTOBER 14, 2019

KCYA: Allowing space for growth

After their move to a larger location in Midtown, local arts education organization Kansas City Young Audiences has seen a 35% increase in enrollment. Story and Photos by Beatrice Curry I Writer

ansas City Young Audiences is a non-profit arts company that used to call STA home. KCYA shared STA’s dance studio, auditorium and a few rooms on the third and fourth floors of M&A. KCYA now has a building that is all their own. Their new location at 3732 Main St. has allowed them to expand in space and numbers. Their newly renovated building, formerly an Office Max, gives them more space for performing and more room for storage. For example, their two large, airy dance studios and flexible auditorium space can hold 125 people. Their tall, capacious costume closet requires a ladder to reach certain tutus. The building also has an open lounge space and microwaves for families that may be there for long hours.

Their prominent location in Midtown and increased space has significantly boosted their enrollment. “In the first year since our move our enrollments have increased by 35% so a lot more kids are able to find us and participate in the programs,” KCYA’s Director of Marketing & Business Development Marty Avizu said. “It’s really been a good move for us.” However, the increased visibility from their new location did not come without a cost; the building’s mortgage along with the transformation from Office Max to arts education space required them to raise $3.65 million. In September, they successfully reached and then exceeded that amount. “That’s super exciting because it

“ a really exciting I That’s thing that we’ve reached that big of a goal and now we are essentially debt free on the building so that’s really great news and that allows us clearly, to serve more kids Marty Avizu

“

The KCYA displays a wall of decorated tiles Sept.30. The tiles were made by members of the KCYA community.

allows us to pay off our mortgage, pay off the renovation loan and put a little bit of money in a building maintenance fund so when things go wrong as they do in a building we’ll have a little money put away to help us pay for those repairs,” Avizu said. This financial security allows the non-profit to shift their focus towards programs and students. Their new space offers more than just traditional dance studios — there is a garage band studio, fully equipped with drums, various guitars, even recording equipment. This space is used by several local youth bands for practicing and recording.

STA juniors Arwen Dickson and Lia Uhlenhuth are involved in Team Shakespeare, an apprentice company of the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, that uses the same building as KCYA. The space

Pre-ballet students line up for their turn to practice leaping Sept.30. KCYA pre-ballet students learn basic ballet moves in order to prepare themselves for the Ballet I class.

allows them to be creative with rehearsal styles. “I like that there are a lot of different rooms so if we want to split up teams and work in different spaces we all have a lot of room to work,” Dickson said. Although they do not work with them directly, Dickson and Uhlenhuth have had interactions with their staff and utilize their rehearsal spaces and auditorium for performances. “They are super accommodating and their dance rooms are such great spaces to work in.” Uhlenhuth said. “The ceilings are really high and it has an industrial feeling but now that KCYA and HASF are there it has kind of a reclaimed feeling, like it feels like art is reclaiming the industrial building.” For Uhlenhuth, the variety of artistic opportunities is something that sets KCYA programs apart from what is found at most schools. “The garage band that my friend Quilla plays in is something that schools don’t typically offer. I mean, they have bands and orchestras but a garage band isn’t really something that can be organized by a school,” Uhlenhuth said.

For Uhlenhuth, a local arts education organization is necessary, “KCYA is super important because it helps make

fine arts more accessible to the metro area. It just really serves as a nice oasis of arts.” B

STA’s artists take on new building STA students review the new building they use to practice the arts through KCYA. Alternative coverage compiled by Lilly Frisch | Page Designer

“I love the new building. It’s so clean and organized. It’s definitley better than the old building.” Molly Symmonds, sophomore

“I feel like it’d be easier for students to have classes at STA but the equipment in the new building will help students do things that they couldn’t before.” Audrey Flavin, sophomore

28 LAST LOOK

OCTOBER 14, 2019

The Top Haunted Places in KC With Halloween coming up, the Dart compiled a list of some of the most supposedly haunted places around Kansas City according to Fox 4 KC and Trip Savvy. While no one will ever truly know if there are ghosts, here are some of the most common rumors. Story and photos by Ella Norton | Editor-in-Chief

The Hotel Savoy The Hotel Savoy was built in 1888 and people have reported sightings of a young Victorian girl. Reports of paranormal activity date over the last 100 years. There have also been reports of objects acting strange, particularly the elevators according to employees. Located at: 219 w 9th St.

Built in 1888, the Hotel Savoy lies in Downtown Kansas City, Aug. 23. The Hotel is now also a grill and an art museum and supposedly haunted by a young Victorian girl.

St. Mary’s Episcopal Church St. Mary’s Episcopal Church was built in 1857. People believe that the odd sounds, such as footsteps, are caused by the ghost of Father Henry David Jardine who died in 1886 according to an article by The New York Times. Father Jardine’s ashes are buried behind the organ at the church. Located at: 1307 Holmes St.

Check out the full story including more locations on DNO.

A statue sits outside of St. Mary’s Church Aug. 23. The Episcopalian church was built in 1886 and supposedly haunted by Father Jardine, who started the church.

coates House Hotel The Coates House Hotel was built in 1827. In 1978, a fire broke out killing 20 homeless people using it as a shelter. People have reported seeing shadowy figures and appliances working without anyone using them. Recently, it was remodeled and is now apartments for lease.

The Coates House Hotel, built in 1827, is located in Downtown Kansas City Aug. 23. Many people believe that those who died in a fire in the hotel still haunt the building.

Located at: 1005 Broadway St.

folly theater The Folly Theater opened in 1900. People have reported sightings of a man wearing a bowler hat, believed to be Joe Donegan, the old manager of the Folly Theater according to Haunted Places. People have also seen a woman in a dressing gown rushing toward the stage. There have also been reports of paranormal activity outside of the theater. Located at: 300 W 12th St. A sign advertises the Folly Theater Aug. 23. The theater was opened in 1900 by Joe Donegan, who supposedly still haunts it.

Epperson House The Epperson family lived in the house in the 1920s. People have reported seeing the ghost of a woman walk around and hearing organ sounds. People think the woman is potentially the adopted daughter of the Epperson family, Harriet Barse. The house was featured in Top 5 U.S. haunted houses on the TV show â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unsolved Mysteries.â&#x20AC;? It is now the property of University of Missouri-Kansas City. Located at: 5200 Cherry St.

The Epperson house sits on top of a hill in Brookside Aug. 23. The house was built in the 1920s and is featured as one of the top five most haunted locations in the country.

30 PHOTO ESSAY

Celebrating the season

The fall season brings many community events around the metro area for citizens to go to and spend their time embracing the season. Photos by Becca Speier|Photo Editor

The pumpkin patch at Louisburg Cider Mill is one of the main visitor attractions Sept. 29. The pumpkin patch stretches across a huge field with many differing in size and shape, allowing buyers to search for their ideal pumpkin.

sophomore Alex Speier shops in Target for a Halloween costume Sept. 24. Target has a variety of costumes for all people that range from scary to funny.

The barn sits in the middle of the attractions, and contains the making process of apple cider Sept. 29. The cider mill is a year-round attraction many locals flock to during fall.

Starbucks releases its annual fall drink called The Pumpkin Spice Latte Sept. 24. The drink is a customer favorite with its spicy cinnamon taste and warmth of the fall season.

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