The Dart: Vol 75 Issue 4

the

DART

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

consumed The Dart examines consumerism from its inception as it affects the planet, leaves developing countries poor and creates a culture of disposability in the STA community. story on page 18

undie the tree gift drive | 5 volunteer agencies | 28 photo illustrations by VIOLET COWDIN and MAGGIE KNOX

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

PRINT

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

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

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LETTER FROM

THE EDITORS

Dear Readers, This cover of the Dart simply reads “consumed," the perfect word to accompany our cover story about the destructive cycle of consumerism at STA. Not only do we partake in and encourage consumerism, but we are continually enthralled by it. The psychological need for material goods overwhelms our society and has infiltrated the STA community.

Think about it. How many times have you dropped $20 on a lululemon headband when you could buy a dozen generic ones for the same price? As a culture, we have decided that lululemon is the most elite brand of headband.

But in reality, why should a brand even matter? It’s just a headband. And if a new and “better” version of the lululemon headband came out, we would all feel compelled to purchase that one and disregard the old and out of style edition.

We want the newest, the best and the coolest--this is consumerism at the STA level, but it plays out in more extreme forms throughout society. Read the article on page 18 and our editorial board's opinion of the issue on page 22.

The centerspread itself explores the detrimental impact consumerism has on many aspects of life, including our unquenchable desire for satisfaction through material possessions, the destruction of the environment, and the oppression of developing countries.

We felt this was an important issue to

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

address during the upcoming holiday season because instead of focusing on what to ask for or what to buy others, we should all set aside time to appreciate our many blessings and give back to those without them.

Other than our exploration of consumerism, this issue contains a feature story on page 15 that investigates the prevalence of so-called "study drugs," both at STA and area schools. As finals loom on our schedules for the coming weeks, we thought that an in-depth look at the effects of these drugs would help students stay safe.

Lastly, we profiled a few local service agencies that need volunteers over this winter break. On page 29, take a look at the organizations and use your time off from school as an opportunity to help our dear neighbors.

In addition, remember to stay tuned to DartNewsOnline and our social media accounts for holiday reviews, activities and giveaways.

As always, let us know what you think!

Have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Stars!

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15 The Dart vol. 75

Table of

Contents

ISSUE 4

4 december 2015

23

18

28

30 | Last Look | Christmas and DIY gift guide

28 | communty | Volunteer oppurtunities over break

26 | Sports | students play ports outside of sta

24 | Perspectives | promoted conformism at sta

23 | A&E | artist of the issue: lizt hagan makeup artist

22 | Main ed | students should be aware of wealth

18 | Cover Story | the causes and effects of consumerism

15 | Features | not being catholic at a catholic school

10 | Reviews | Pizzaeria locale: a local prize

8 | Star Spotlight | Isabel Fitzpatrick: pastry chef

4 | News | dancing with the stars replaced with raffel contest

Monthly

Question

If you could live in the shoes of any person (living or dead) for a day, who would you choose?

I’d be a judge on Cupcake Wars because I’d get to eat cupcakes all day. freshman olivia swinney

I’d like to stand in the shoes of Thomas Jefferson for one day to understand how someone who could write “all men are created equal” reconciled that with being an actual slave owner. teacher steven himes I would probably pick Danny Devito because he’s a really amazing actor. I really admire his comedy work. junior caterina derousse compiled by CHRISTINA KIRK | page designer

cover designed by Maggie Knox | page designed by Alex Frisch

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NEWS

Editorial Policies

teachers get pied for senior class

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.

american pie Senior Hallie Ryan smashes a pie into science teacher Mary Montag's face during the new senior fundraiser Nov. 23. photo by MADDY MEDINA

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.

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Lack of interest in dancing contest yields to new event.

by ELSA FEIGENBAUM sports copy editor

The senior class held a Pie Throw Nov. 23 to raise money for their prom and class gift, veering from the Dancing With The Stars fundraiser held for the past 3 years.

According to STA science teacher and senior class moderator Sarah Stranz, the plan at the beginning of the year was to continue with Dancing With The Stars as the senior fundraiser.

Due to a lack of volunteers and the time commitment required, planners decided to try something new this year.

“The senior class was not quite interested in the idea [of Dancing With The Stars] and wanted to mix it up,” Stranz said. “So they decided to come up with a new idea.”

According to Stranz, she has found over the past 5 years as a senior moderator is the likelihood of a rotation in fundraisers, believing Dancing With The Stars would return in the coming years.

“I think that each class wants to do something a little bit different,” Stranz said. “They don’t always want to do the same thing every year because it loses its excitement.”

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

To participate in the Pie Smash, students first bought raffle tickets for 50 cents apiece. During both activities of Nov. 23 students who had their ticket drawn received the opportunity to smash a whipped cream pie in one of their teacher’s faces.

“I think my girl, junior Kayton Froeschl, had some pent up hostilities,” said history teacher Craig Whitney after being pied.

According to Stranz, it was important to choose a fundraiser that was relatively simple. The Pie Smash allowed for an activity during the school day, and something the entire school could be interested in. Stranz also thinks the more laid back style of the event made teachers that were more reserved or unable to make the previous time commitment more willing to participate.

“What is nice about a raffle is you can sell as many tickets as possible,” Stranz said. “It just depends on how enthused the seniors get and how enthused the rest of the school gets. If they are really interested, they will sell more tickets.”

Stranz believes Dancing With The Stars will return in the coming years.

However, many whipped cream pies later, the Pie Smash brought in a little over $700. H

"Undie the tree" replaces shining star gift drive Community Service Club collected underwear this year for Catholic Charities.

by TORIE RICHARDSON | editor-in-chief

Instead of hosting the Shining Star Gift Drive this year, Community Service Club will be collecting underwear for a drive they have named “Undie the Tree.” The drive will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, according to Campus Minister Meredith Snyder. The change comes after Catholic Charities expressed that corporate businesses had met the need for the Shining Star Drive, but a need for clean underwear remained.

“What [Catholic Charities] really needed was for us to help with a collection of underwear and diapers... some of those more basic things that essentially aren’t as fun to buy,” Snyder said.

In past years, advisory members teamed up to buy gifts for families in need through Christmas Shining Star, Catholic Charities’ annual campaign.

Last year, St. Teresa’s helped serve 108 children, according to Snyder.

“There was definitely a generous response,” Snyder said.

Though Snyder said the Community Service Club was “disappointed” about the switch from the usually-successful Shining Stars Drive, they decided to host the underwear drive after reflecting on their purpose, according to Snyder.

“I think Community Service Club is open to what the need is,” Snyder said.

“We’ll continue to be open to meeting the need in the future. If that’s with underwear then that’s what we’ll do.

I think part of being people of service is asking ‘what is the need?’ and not assuming that we know what that is.”

Community Service Club members were not the only students disappointed by the change this year. Science teacher Mary Montag said she and her advisory, which has participated in the Christmas drive every year and “adopted” four stars for the drive last year, was, at first,

deck the halls | Freshmen Maggie Vasquez, from left, Kate Euston and Caroline Franke decorate a Christmas tree in the front hall of M&A Nov. 30. photo by ANNA HAFNER

disappointed about the switch as well.

“I completely get the initial disappointment that in terms of how we can help that we’re only giving more essential things,” Montag said. “Because you know [when] you’re providing toys and clothes for little kids, there’s also so much more - it’s an enjoyable way to give.”

While Community Service Club co-president and STA senior Caitlin O’Toole agreed with Snyder that the main goal of Community Service Club is “to give what’s needed,” she also agreed with Montag that the underwear drive may seem less fun than previous drives. She and other club members, O’Toole said, are “still kind of scared that people won’t participate.” “[The underwear drive] is just kind of less personal,” O’Toole said. Snyder agreed.

“Often times when we do a drive for something, we really try to tug on the heartstrings of people to help them be aware of the ways in which we take for granted the things that we have and be mindful of the needs that other people have that are not being met,” Snyder said. “I think that’s going to be self-evident with this drive and so we’re really just going for the ‘fun’ component.”

According to O’Toole, Community Service Club tried to figure out how to make the underwear drive fun from the beginning - starting creating a comical name.

“There was ‘No Holy Nights,’ which was funny,” O’Toole said. “Undie the Tree won, though, because it was the funniest.”

In addition, Community Service Club has made announcements over the intercom endorsing the drive by replacing lyrics in Christmas songs with lyrics about underwear.

The club even considered more extreme measures of promotion.

“We thought about wearing underwear over our leggings….but Ms. Snyder said no,” O’Toole said.

Donations from this drive will go to Catholic Charities, which serves men, women and children in the KC Metro area, according to Snyder.

To Montag, STA’s years-long relationship is one of the most important things to consider with this drive.

“It’s fun to do the shopping,” Montag said, “but it isn’t really about us. It really is about the relationship we have with Catholic Charities and filling that need that they have.” H

page designed by Anna Hafner

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NEWS

school's out | A banner reading "A Provisionally Accredited School" hangs above the front doors of Southwest High School on Wornall Road in KCMO. Southwest High School was opened in 1925, but is scheduled to close its doors along with two other elementary schools in the Kansas City area. photo by PAIGE POWELL

Southwest plans to close The Kansas City Public School Board plans to close local high school despite new renovations.

by KATIE DONNELLAN | staff writer

The Kansas City Public School Board has made a recommendation to close 90 year old Southwest High School next fall due to the lack of students attending the high school and where these students live.

The closure is part of the Kansas City Public School District’s Master Plan.

This plan began in 2013 to improve the school district. Students, parents, community members, and employees were invited to join in developing the Master Plan by completing surveys and attending meetings.

The plan includes closing Southwest along with elementary schools Attucks and Satchel Paige. The board received the school closure information in early November and is still deciding on the recommendation with the help of feedback from families and students of the district.

Interim Superintendent Allan Tunis and the School Board have received feedback that the highest priority is a need for improved teaching and learning. Other feedback included a need for improved extra-curricular

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activities, program and budget equity, improved transportation services, and customer service.

“We are hearing something needs to be done because we don’t have enough students to fill all the facilities we currently have,” Tunis said. “There are questions about which one is the right one.”

The District has five high schools below the desired school size of 7001200 students and eleven elementary schools below the desired school size of 350-600 students.

“The proposal was made two years ago because of the number of facilities the district has versus the number of students in these facilities” Tunis said.

“The district hopes to consolidate the schools with struggling numbers to have more resources.”

There are currently only 350 students attending Southwest. The building’s capacity is around 1,500 students. In addition, few of the students that attend Southwest live in the neighborhood, and many are traveling across town to school.

“The students that we serve are

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

more centered around Southeast, rather than Southwest,” Tunis said.

According to Tunis, despite Southwest’s great facilities, Southeast was recently renovated both internally and externally. The campus has newer athletic facilities and is located closer to where more students from the district live.

Junior Mary LePique lives down the street from Southwest High School and saw the school reopen in 2010.

The school was criticized for behavior problems when it first reopened.

“If Southwest closes the neighborhood will be quieter, not that it is loud now, it will just have less traffic and activity,” LePique said. “As the years since the school reopened have passed, I have noticed less kids skipping school and less cops at the school.”

Most students on a map are located around Southeast, so the students currently attending Southwest are traveling farther than they need to.

The push for neighborhood schooling in the District will create new District boundaries and better transportation.

Southwest High School's Closing: Step by Step compiled by KATIE DONNELLAN | staff writer

Sept. - Dec. 2013 KCPS conducts technical assessment and community engagement

Oct. 2014 - March 2015 Consultant (MGT) conducts technical assessment and community engagement April 2015 MGT presents recommendations to School Board / Superintendent

Feb. 2016 Board decision on recommendations

Nov. 2015 KCPS staff presents recommendations to the School Board

Feb. - Aug. 2016 Transition into school year and plan activities / programs (if approved)

These new boundaries along with a feeder system are efforts to keep more students together from elementary school to middle school to high school to create a community feel and relationships.

In addition to new boundaries, the District’s transportation will be improved. Currently students walk up to six blocks from their house to a bus stop. With the new plan, students would only have to walk to school if they live within half a mile and bus stops would be no more than two blocks from home.

The Southwest building will not be for sale. The District is looking to find a good community partner to use the building.

“Our intent is to mothball the building,” Tunis said. “We want to find good use of all of our facilities that we are not using.”

By consolidating the number high school buildings the District will have

Each issue, the Dart highlights groundbreaking events in the world, US, Missouri and KC.

by ELSA FEIGENBAUM sports copy editor

Nov. 2015 Stakeholders hold engagement meetings

May - Oct. 2015 KCPS staff reviews / assesses MGT recommendations

the NEWS FEED

Fall 2016 Implementation of Master Plan (if approved)

more resources. These resources can be used for effectively to make more opportunities available to students at all schools.

“We can take those resources into higher priorities,” Tunis said. “We believe by that consolidation we’ll be able to provide better opportunities for kids, give them what they are looking for and meet their needs more efficiently.”

The Kansas City Public School District regained provisional accreditation on August 6, 2014.

According to Tunis the District is looking to continue to improve by completing the Master Plan.

“I believe that the District is definitely making major improvements not just from an academic standpoint, but from a social perspective for our students,” Tunis said. “We are not where we want to be yet, we still have improvements to make. I believe these closures do allow us to get where we want quicker.” H

in the world Though Turkey denies any ties to ISIS, Russia has accused the country of shooting down its warplane near the border of Syria in order to protect oil trade with the Islamic group. The Turkish government has refused to apologize for the incident, claiming the jet entered their airspace.

in the u.s.

Robert Lewis Dear is suspected to be responsible for 3 deaths in the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting Nov. 27. Authorities believe Dear was trying to shoot propane tanks located near his car to cause an explosion.

in missouri The House Budget and Senate Appropriations committees met Nov. 30 looking to find ways to stop Syrian refugees from entering Missouri. Dozens of lawmakers have advised blocking refugees from Missouri, stating concern over the lenience in the screening process and how this could lead to admitting terrorists into the state.

in kansas city Human remains were found at the house of Michael A. Jones after the police were called to investigate a domestic disturbance.

The body is suspected to belong to Jones’s son, A.J., who has been missing for an extended period of time.

page designed by Katherine Green

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Star spotlight

Isabel Fitzpatrick story by VICTORIA CAHOON | staff writer photo by KATE SCOFIELD | staff photographer

Sophomore Isabel Fitzpatric talks about her job at André’s bakery.

When and why did you start cooking? "[I started when I was] really little because my mom always liked to cook. She lived in Austria with my grandmother for a long time [when she was young], so she learned different styles of European baking and she passed them on to [my sister and me]. My parents don’t bake for a job but it has been a hobby of my mother.”

How did you get your job and what is it like working at André’s?

“I got my job by going in and asking until it was actually time for them to hire new people. I went in about four times over the course of two years, and I eventually went in at the right time. I plate desserts for the restaurant and put whipped cream rosettes on the deserts, so the servers take around the trays of pastries that I plated. In the morning I help the bakers cut out marzipan and shape them. I just do little tasks for them, [in the future] they said I might get to bake some stuff but I haven’t been doing that yet.”

When do you get the chance to bake some of your own pastries?

"During the week, I don’t get to bake a lot unless we’re having an advisory party or clubs, but I try to bake as much as I can on the weekends, so I’ll bake from when we get out school on friday till midnight and same with saturdays when I get out of work. My absolute favorite thing to bake would have to bee chocolate soufflés.”

Do you want to be a chef when you get older?

“Yes! I want to own my bakery, that’s what my dream job would be. I prefer European baking, so I don’t like working with American stuff... It isn’t really my forte, it would be more like a French patisserie.”

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Don't forget to check out DNO to see Ellie Grever's illustrations.

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

BITS & PIECES

DAYS OF OUR

LIVES

Count down with the Dart to important STA events.

by CLARE KENNEY | page designer

1

Only day until Christmas Dance.

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE smashed | Science teacher Renee Blake, left, pies senior class secretary Sophia Cusumano in the face during the new senior class fundraiser in the auditorium Nov. 23. photo by MADDY MEDINA

My life sucks // My life rocks compiled by ZOE BUTLER | social media editor

“My family and I were driving on the highway, home from Lawrence, when we hit a deer straight on. Our car was the first of about five that hit the deer, and the sound was horrifying. Luckily, everyone was okay, except the deer, but our car was completely totalled."

- Katherine Cory, sophomore

That’s what

she said

Each issue, the Dart shares entertaining student tweets. complied by LILY MANNING social media editor

“I’m on the National swimming team, and that means I have to go to the Virgin Islands twice a month to train.

When I go down there, I train twice a day with my coach. I also train with this guy who’s a family friend named Rex, who’s gonna be in the Olympics next year.

I was even home schooled there for a semester in eighth grade so I could swim.” - Kate Lowe, freshman SOphOmore Emilie Blanck @emiblanck Wishing that my snapchat score could be added to my Gpa SENIOR MADDIE SUMMERS @SUMMERSMADDIE1 TODAY I ATE FOUR PLATES OF THANKSGIVING FOOD AND THEN WASHED MY HAIR IN THE SCHOOL SINK TWICE. IT'S A GOOD DAY TO BE ME SENIOR SHELBY SCOTT @SHELBSSTHOO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DON'T HAVE FAITH IN ME!" *TRIPS GOING UP THE STAIRS*...

NEVERMIND

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Exactly days until Finals begin.

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Exactly days until the end of first semester.

Approximately

100 days until spring break.

140

About days until the Walk of Fame.

170

Exactly days until Graduation

173

And only days until summer break. H

page designed by Clare Kenney

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REVIEWS

Pizzeria Locale is a local prize

by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS features copy editor

HHHHH If you’re anything like most of the urban world, you’ve probably eaten at Chipotle before and enjoyed it. Hopefully this isn’t a stretch, but I’d guess you’ve probably eaten pizza before and enjoyed that, too. The thing about pizza, though, is that the usual pizza experience is accompanied with either long waits in a restaurant or awkward encounters with pizza-delivering personnel. So, I offer you the perfect solution to rid yourself of the painful experience of watching a waiter walk by with what you believed to be your own pizza, only to learn that your pepperoni pie is last on the list: Pizzeria Locale.

In January of 1993, co-owners Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson launch arguably the most influential fast-casual restaurant to date: Chipotle Mexican Grill. By the end of 1993, Stuckey and Mackinnon-Patterson had already opened 16 other Chipotle locations outside of the original in Denver, Co. Five years later, the entrepreneurs were looking to expand Chipotle’s success and turned to Kansas City as the location for the first restaurant outside of Colorado.

Come 2011, Chipotle’s co-owners decide to launch Pizzeria Locale in Boulder, Co after their success with the assembly

line style. According to the KC location Pizzeria Locale manager Chris Deperalta, Kansas City’s support for Chipotle had been one of the “strongest locations in the nation.” So, when Stuckey and MackinnonPatterson decided to take Pizzeria Locale a step further, they once again looked to Kansas City to test the waters.

In July, Pizzeria Locale’s first location outside of Colorado opened just next door to a Chipotle Mexican Grill on 75th street. The location is perfect, conveniently close to Brookside and in a quickly growing restaurant and bar district in Waldo.

For McKinnon-Patterson, Waldo “seems like a real neighborhood with the same kind of captivating feeling that we have at our locations in Colorado.”

Once you walk in the door, you’re greeted with the familiar and enticing smell of Italian food and an open, welcoming feel. Similar to Chipotle, you’ll find an assembly line with ingredients behind the counter toward the back of the restaurant. A friendly employee might greet you with a smile and an “I can take your order when you’re ready” and you’ll be ready to start the process.

Just like Chipotle’s Kansas City journey was successful back in 1998, Pizzeria Locale has been well-received by the community of Kansas City. Not only is Pizzeria Locale here to stay, but come 2016, they hope to open two more locations in Overland Park.

perfect pepperoni | Pizzeria Locale is new in Kansas City this year. The restaurant is located right next to Chipotle Mexican Grill in Waldo, owned by the same entrepreneurs. photo by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

1.Pizzeria ORDER Locale offers a variety

of Neapolitan Style pizzas on its “Classics” menu, or an option to “build your own” with any toppings you could possibly think of. The dough is fresh -- the restaurant makes around 100 pounds of it each day -- and the sauce is inspired by the ripe tomatoes found in Naples, ensuring a strong flavor.

2. observe

After you order, you’ll be able to watch your pizza be prepared by the employee behind the glass. As it moves down the assembly line, it’ll get dressed up how you like and placed in the 1000-degree oven at the end of the line. After two minutes, your pizza will come out of the oven and get placed on the counter to cool down.

3. pay

As you pay, you’ll see another menu with inexpensive sides and sweets, salads, and drinks. Your own 11-inch pizza will only cost around $7.00, so as long as you come in equipped with a few dollars, you’re bound to eat something you enjoy and maybe experiment with another Italian delicacy.

4. enjoy

After you make your way through the line and wait for your pizza coming out of the 1000-degree oven to cool down, you’ll get to do what you actually came to the restaurant to do: eat your food. I opted for my own pepperoni pizza, but the restaurant’s “signatures” and the build-your-own option include a variety of simple ingredients, from meatballs to green olives to fresh basil. Compared to other pizza restaurants’ greasy and artificial tastes, Pizzeria Locale’s pizzas are real, light and delicious. The natural mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce on thin crust are a great representation of Neopolitan-style pizza, and as the lady sitting next to me said, the salads are “perfect for two to share.”H

"Know it all:" a "The Martian" soundtrack for exceeds expectations angst, edge, ambition

by ALEX FRISCH page designer

HHHHH The fear of isolation is ingrained in the human psyche. We are social creatures made to interact with and rely on each other. Alone, everything is infinitely more complex and dangerous. Andy Weir's "The Martian" plays into this fear from the first page. The book follows the story of an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after a space exploration mission goes wrong. He is abandoned by the rest of the crew because they think he is dead. After being left behind, the main character is forced find ways to survive on a Mars base only designed to last for about a month.

This book, while technically sci-fi, is primarily a survival story almost like Robinson Crusoe . It’s a man vs. nature novel made exciting by its unique setting.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to imagine the impossibility of surviving in such a hostile environment. The plot of the book is primarily about human perseverance in the face of extreme adversity.

Fans of survival stories will enjoy this book.

"The Martian’s" energy never flagged and was even extremely funny at times.

The main character was both likeable and believable.

Despite being clearly smarter than an average person was still relatable and

entertaining as a result of using humor to cope with life or death situations.

Part of what made "The Martian" so interesting was the extensive scientific facts throughout the novel. While some elements of the novel were science fiction, many of the details were based on real chemistry, engineering, and even botany. Weir's writing makes the science extremely believable and detailed. Avid science students will find this book very interesting. It’s easy to see that Weir put tons of research into his novel. One of the things that makes this novel so interesting is that, although it’s set a bit in the future , the science is still very relevant with all of the current interest in Mars exploration.

Despite the way this book highlights the many dangers of space exploration it almost makes me wish I could explore myself. I have never taken a course specifically on astrology or outer space, so it was interesting to read a book which focused so heavily on space exploration. I enjoyed reading a book that kindled my interest in areas I previously knew little about.

Although the story itself was fictional it contained bits of revelavent science and provided a glimpse of what space exploration may resemble in the near future in way that was entertaining without being overly complicated.H

by MACKENZIE O'GUIN design editor

HHHHH A teenage girl with a spacey, standoffish demeanor hangs boredly in the corner of a congested house party, worn Converse tapping impatiently on the stained carpet. The air is rank with thick pot smoke, cheap alcohol and the generic pulsation of stereo speakers. Obnoxious laughter cuts through the inaudibility. A boy falls to the ground near a trash can overflowing with smashed beer cans and red Solo cups, sweating and heaving up something acidic.

I did not anticipate falling in love with Alessia Cara’s debut album “Know It All” until I was transported into the foreign yet nostalgic portraits of teenhood painted by tracks like “Here” or “Four Pink Walls”. Initially, I was offput by the almost bubbly girlishness of Cara’s contemporary R&B brand, but within the first minute and a half of her nostalgic opening track “Seventeen,” a trend prevailed: Alessia Cara is wise beyond her years, and she doesn’t care who knows it.

Young artists (as well as young people in general) are faced with the complex issue of being old enough to be wise but young enough to have said wisdom discounted by others. Cara

confronts this issue with a fearless elegance in other tracks as well, from jazzy old school jam “Outlaws” to the album’s heart wrenching closer, “My Song”. With a certain attitude and edginess, Cara demands at nineteen the respect of even the most seasoned artists.

However, this maturity doesn’t bog down Cara’s youthful beats. Ironically, the album’s crown jewel, anti-party anthem “Here”, wouldn’t be out of place at the claustrophobically rowdy house party Cara bashes within the song itself.

I don’t particularly enjoy the bubblegum pop sound of “Know It All,” but the lyrical content adds the edge needed to keep the songs from becoming entirely hollow.

Suddenly, the scene shifts. The same messyhaired teenager collapses onto an unmade twin-size bed, eyeliner smeared and headphones blaring.

She passes the rest of the night staring idly at one of the four bubblegumcolored walls. The beat pulsates comfortingly in her headphones, and she sinks contentedly into her wrinkled comforter in the personal triumph of her latest musical finding--a newly minted R&B singer with an endearing attitude, a freshly debuted idol who also once stared forelornly at her own four pink walls.H

page designed by Bridget Jones

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features

Non Catholic STUDENTS AT

STA Exploring how non-Catholic students and teachers at STA are affected by the religious atmosphere. story by GWYN DORAN | staff writer

revealing religion | Junior Eilis Leptien holds up her rosary in the chapel. Leptien was raised with Roman Catholicism and still continues practicing it. photo by CASSIE HAYES

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

view of religion.

“I was terrified,” Renee said. “I was so confused. Now, theology is my favorite class because I’m learning brand new things.”

Theology teacher Jennifer Greene said she knows there are non-Catholic students in her classes, but she refrains from asking.

“I don’t want to point [non-Catholic students] out or make them feel uncomfortable.” Greene said.

However, Greene was doubtful this is the best method. She understands that non-Catholic students

“

Distribution of Student Religions

I was terrified. I was so confused. Now theology is my facorite class because I'm leaning brand new things.

— freshman Margaux Renee

aren’t always aware of Catholic routines, leaving them feeling more lost during mass or theology classes.

“We start the year immediately with Catholic customs.” Greene said. “Some students may have no idea what '[St. Joseph] pray for us' is or what it means or why we even pray to the saints. We do need to be careful about that.”

Greene acknowledged that the theology department often discusses how to educate students

Religion at STA

compiled by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS features copy editor

65.7% are CATHOLIC 11.3% are PROTESTANT

of 320 students

“

L

ooking around, you see other teenage girls with their eyes fixed on the front of the room. They chant loudly in unison, never hesitating in their answers. At their leader’s instruction, they sit down, stand up, and respond to him. You feel like an outsider, never knowing what to say and awkwardly mimicking the actions of the others.

This is how freshman Margaux Renee felt at her first all-school mass.

Before attending STA, she had accompanied a friend to mass once, but Catholicism remained foreign to her.

“When I first went to Mass, I didn't know what was happening,” Renee said.

Even though she’s thrown by the unfamiliar setting, Renee is no stranger to religion.

“I’ve had a lot of exposure to Muslim culture because at my grade school, Academie Lafayette, there were a lot of teachers from Africa and my aunt and uncle are Hindu," Renee said. "My mom was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and teaches at a Jewish high school in Overland Park, so I know a lot about Judaism.”

Despite her diverse awareness of religion, Renee said she didn’t know anything about Christianity before attending STA. Still, Renee has learned to embrace her theology classes as an opportunity to broaden her already open-minded

11% are AGNOSTIC 6% are ATHEIST 5% are OTHER RELIGIONS

like Renee, who have no Catholic background, such as proposing a Catholic 101 class for incoming freshmen.

“We could offer something where we could at least give those students the context so they can maneuver through Catholic school,” Greene said. “We tell them what we believe and how it looks.”

However, students like Renee with no religious background are rare since most were raised Catholic or attended a Catholic grade school. Junior Sarah Ferron, while sharing her peers’ religious upbringing, identifies as an atheist.

“I never really believed in God,” Ferron said. “And [attending Saint Thomas More School] made me less religious. It was a very conservative and narrow view of religion, and a lot of people aren’t going to fit that narrow view of religion.

They’ll feel like they’re not religious because they don’t agree with what they were brought up to believe.”

Ferron said the closed-minded atmosphere of her grade school led to a shock when she first experienced STA’s more tolerant environment.

“I think we do have a liberal education at STA, as far as religion goes,” Ferron said. “I’m sure some people at the school don’t like that.

But most teenagers will probably want that more open-minded view of faith. I was a little bit surprised because I went to such a conservative grade school, so it was interStudent's Religious Continuity

78.7% identify with the religion in which they were raised 21.3% do not identify with the religion in which they were raised

0.6% are MUSLIM 0.3% are JEWISH

page designed by Christina Kirk

13

features esting to experience this new take on religion.”

Greene agreed that high school and grade school theology differ. Some grade schools adopt a light hearted and straightforward view of religion, while others offer a more analytical approach. As a high school theology teacher, she receives students with a wide variety of religious education.

“Sometimes we assume there is good teaching of the faith going on, but that’s not always true,” Greene said.

“You don’t know what you’re getting when kids come to class.”

Though Ferron does not identify with Catholic values, she acknowledges the benefits accompanying faith-oriented education.

“If I really was opposed to religion, I wouldn’t have attended STA,” Ferron said. “I think that religion is beautiful and should be celebrated. I’m able to learn from theology class without the religious aspect. I can take Social Concerns class as a platform to talk about injustices in the world. I’m not viewing it as something that’s specifically made

for Catholics.”

Despite her greater insight into religion, Ferron’s atheistic views remain the same.

“The religious aspects of STA have not impacted me,” she said. “I’m here to learn and get a good education. I’m not here to convert...Religion just isn’t something that I have in my life.”

Sophomore Natalie Kistler, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, discussed how she approaches education rooted in Catholicism. When deciding which high school to attend, she considered three Catholic schools and the Pembroke Hill School. Though she wasn’t Catholic, she valued the principles of a religious foundation in her education.

“I liked the whole aspect of religion at school,” Kistler says. “I didn’t really care about it being Catholic. I just liked the idea of the school being faithoriented.”

Kistler noted that she also saw a difference between how grade schools and high schools approach other religions.

“I found that STA is a lot more welcoming to non-Catholic people [than my grade school],” Kistler said. “I feel like STA doesn’t teach specifically Catholic faith, but just faith...You get different perspectives.”

Though Renee’s first time attending mass at STA might have felt awkward, she is far more comfortable with Catholicism now than at the beginning of the year.

“I think I’ve kept up pretty well...I picked it up and it’s pretty easy to understand,” Renee said. “I’ve started to memorize certain things. It’s nice because I don’t take Communion since I’m not Catholic, but I get blessed and it feels more welcoming.”

A few of Renee’s friends from her grade school belong to other Christian denominations and also feel unfamiliar with some Catholic customs.

“We’re all just going through it and being confused together,” Renee laughs.H

1.

2.

3.

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

1. Religion teacher Jennifer Greene, a Catholic Christian, holds a bible in her room. 2.

Junior Eilis Leptien sits in the chapel during a free. Leptien is a practicing Catholic and attends church and a youth group regularly.

3. Senior Amber Brownlee holds up a large wall hanging displaying the Hindu god, Ganesha.

Ganesha is the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles. photos by CASSIE HAYES

an

illegal

STORY by MEREDITH MULHERN staff writer

It’s a Wednesday night. You’ve just gotten home from a long practice, you’ve still got hours of homework ahead of you, and you have a massive history test tomorrow. You are presented with two choices: seek the help of a study drug, or do the work on your own.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6.8 percent of high school seniors use Adderall, a prescription drug that is normally used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or ADHD. However, students across the country are now using “study drugs” in order to excel in school.

There are many different options for study drugs, such as Focalin, Vyvanse, Concerta, Adderall and Ritalin. All of these drugs have the same effect on the brain and all contain amphetamine. The amphetamine in the drugs increases the output of the dopamine hormone in the brain, which in turn increases focus.

Along with increasing focus, study drugs can also increase energy, according to STA senior Holly*. “[Taking Adderall] made me feel really good,” Holly said. “In about fifteen minutes, I noticed my energy level was boosted and I actually felt like studying for once.”

Rockhurst High School senior John* *Names have been changed to protect source's identities.

edge

ILLUSTRATIONS by ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

agrees.

“I enjoy learning as opposed to hating it when I’m on [Adderall],” John said. “I write every word down that the teacher says in class, absolutely everything. My attention span is so much better when I’m on it.”

Besides using the drug for studying and paying attention in class, a growing number of high school students use the drugs in preparation for important tests, finals, and the ACT or SAT. “I took the ACT three times and took [Adderall] before each test,” Holly said.

“Not only do [study drugs] make you hone in on what you’re doing, your confidence level is also boosted. I didn’t find myself worrying if I couldn’t get the answer to a problem. Standardized tests typically weigh me down and I get distracted easily, but when I took the pill, all of those feelings disappeared, I felt like I was a better student.”

According to John, taking Adderall caused all of his successes in the past two years.

“I bumped my GPA from a 3.2 to a 3.9 from sophomore to junior year,” John said. “I branched out more and I was varsity in every sport I was in. I met a lot of new people, made a lot of new friends, got in shape and my parents liked where I was going more. I’m pretty lazy, so it basically helps me to do the

pages designed by Christina Kirk and Violet Cowdin

15

features things I should be doing.”

While these students feel positively about the drugs, many studies show that there are several negative side effects that should be taken into account.

According to a study conducted by the University of Texas, the use of study drugs poses the risk of causing the user to develop a psychological and physical dependence on them.

Both Holly and John believe that they can stop their usage before they can develop an addiction.

According to Guidance Counselor Amanda Johnson, any student that develops an addiction should get help and talk to a counselor. “[An addiction to study drugs] is just like any addiction, you’d want to seek professional help,” Johnson said. “If you’re recognizing that your study drug is becoming an addiction, that’s just like alcohol or any other street drug.

You want to make sure you’re getting a handle on that, getting it in check and getting help.”

Along with running the risk of addiction, students who use study drugs should also take into account the numerous negative side effects that come with them.

According to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, study drugs’ side effects include aggression, depression, hallucinations, heart attack, painful menstruation, psychosis, stroke, vomiting and sudden death.

Although John and Holly have had positive experiences with study drugs, both have experienced negative side effects as well.

“I took [Adderall] on the very first day of [my sports practice],” John said. “I didn’t eat lunch that day, and I almost passed out at practice. You don’t sleep very well or at all the night after [you take it], and you get [angry] when people distract you when you’re on it.”

While John’s negative experience came during an activity outside of a learning environment, Holly’s

16

“experience hurt [her] when Adderall was supposed to be “helping” [her].”

“The worst thing that happened to me while I was on [study drugs] was during the ACT,” Holly said. “I got extremely thirsty, and of course they don’t let you leave during the test. I started to lose my focus.

I had to tell myself to calm down and re-center myself.”

When STA junior Heather* took Adderall for a test at school, she encountered similar troubles.

“I decided to take [Adderall] because I had a huge test coming up that I had to get a good grade on,” Heather said. “I had heard of my friends taking [Adderall] and getting positive effects, so I decided to try it.”

As she feared might happen, after Heather took her dose of Adderall, she was hit with various negative side effects that discouraged her from further use. “[Adderall] made my mind race a mile a minute,” Heather said. “I could not focus, along with shaking that lasted throughout the entire day. I also couldn’t sleep, and was very paranoid and anxious. It was terrible.”

According to Sean McCabe, who is a research associate professor at the University of Michigan, “Students may not know the stimulant's documented situations in which a drug might be harmful or recommended precautions or how it may interact with other drugs.”

Adderall is considered to be a schedule II drug, meaning that these specific drugs have a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, or the DEA. Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine and morphine are also on the DEA’s list of schedule II drugs.

Despite many doctors’ and counselors’ warnings, students continue to take drugs like Adderall and Ritalin to boost their academic performance.

“I think students take study drugs because they seem to help most people out even if there are negative aspects,” John said. “They’re also really easy to get a hold of.”

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

According to the Center for Disease Control, 6.4 million children in America are diagnosed with ADHD and have been prescribed drugs like Adderall.

However, instead of having a prescription, John, Holly and Heather obtained their doses from fellow students that deal the drugs.

“My friend was buying Ritalin for finals,” Holly said. “She asked me if I wanted to buy some, and I said yes.

Weirdly, when my friend offered to get me [Ritalin], all of [the negative information I heard about the drugs] seemed to slip my mind.”

While Holly may occasionally use study drugs herself to focus more easily, she says she “would not encourage others to take Adderall.” “[I don’t deal study drugs],” Holly said. “I would never want to be responsible for someone else's addiction or problem. I can’t say I encourage it since you’re technically not supposed to take them if you’re not prescribed them.”

John agrees, saying, “I don’t want to encourage everyone [to take study drugs]. [If someone wanted to take study drugs], I would tell them to do their research, tell them to be aware about addiction and the potential punishment if you get caught.”

Johnson warns that consequences of taking study drugs not only put students at risk for an addiction, but the consequences at STA hold the possibility of being severe, ranging from being considered “cheating, drug and alcohol use on campus, and deception.”

As for teaching STA students about study drug usage, there are no current plans in place, according to Johnson. “[The subject of study drugs] brings up a good point, so that may be something [that counselors] need to look at.

[Study drugs are] controlled substances for a reason; they’re very powerful substances.” H

drug data ALTERNATIVE COVERAGE collected from the ADDICTION CENTER

ADDERALL ADDICTION - Needing larger doses to feel the drugs effects - Taking the drug despite knowledge of the harm it+is causing - Not being able to finish work without Adderall - Spending COPIOUS AMOUNTS of money TO RECIEVE the drug - Being unable to feel alert without the drug

page designed by Violet Cowdin

17

CENTERSPREAD

photo by VIOLET COWDIN

con • sum • er • ism ism noun

1. a modern movement for the protection of the consumer against useless, inferior, or dangerous, products, misleading advertising, unfair pricing, etc.

2. the concept that an expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy 3. the fact or practice of increasing consumption of goods

by HELEN WHEATLEY and JEANNIE O'FLAHERTY opinion copy editor and staff writer

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

F

or generations,

children and adults in the first world have partaken in the constant trade of goods. The Friday after Thanksgiving becomes a feeding ground for the American consumer, and Christmas a season of purchase. Many will say we’ve developed a constant need for bigger, better, brighter, faster and more efficient. But as we dig ourselves deeper into this trade, where does the dark pit finally hit rock bottom? Beyond the iPhone and into the world of poverty and discontent, what is really being traded?

Finding the roots of consumerism Beginning in the 1950s, consumerism found its footing as thousands returned home from World War II to a newfound eagerness to spend, something many companies recognized and capitalized on. The war bolstered the economy, allowing Americans to spend more than ever on things like new appliances and furniture, according to a study by PBS. Senior Maddie Rubalcava sees consumerism as a “societal obsession with goods and produce”. Theology teacher Robert Tonnies believes it is “a culture in which people have a subconscious urge to purchase worldly things.” These definitions share the belief the issue of consumerism lies in the actions of buyers. However, by Merriam-Webster’s definition, consumerism is the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers. More simply put, consumerism is the act of making sure buyers get what they want. Why then do individuals assume their actions create the issue? Social Concerns teacher Mike Sanem acknowledges consumers hold the power in this system, but credits advertisers for allowing our “addictive distraction”.

“Advertisers are very smart about branding,” Sanem said. “We all attach symbols of meaning to what we own.

Advertisers have figured out how to advertise to people who have everything.”

Employee of marketing company Ogilvy and Mather Kat Brown believes overconsumption is an issue in our country, but advertising “is part of the world we live in” and necessary to keep the economy and jobs alive.

“I think sometimes there can be a negative view of advertising as an industry,” Brown said. “I think people see advertisers as going out there and advertising people things that they don’t need and that’s not good advertising. That’s not advertising in its truest form.”

Brown believes when a brand or advertiser is working correctly, it’s providing messaging that reaches a certain need in a person’s life.

“I haven’t really come across [selling to people things they don’t need] in my career before, because we are usually

looking for a place where there is a need and working to fulfill that need,” Brown said.

Instead of advertising, Rubalcava cites materialism as the driving factor behind consumerism. In the American mindset, she says, materialism is a process-- it’s the idea that “the more we have, the more lavish lives we lead.” And for many, a lavish lifestyle becomes so desireable we sacrifice what we can to this “twisted system”, Rubalcava believes.

“No one likes feeling left out,” Rubalcava said, “So we try to compensate for our omnipresent loneliness by filling it with clothes that make us look like we fit the social standard, and pray that we begin to feel it too.”

18 year old Honduran Andrea Bustillo recently moved to the United States when her mother married an American.

She finds the root of consumerism in the way Americans value objects.

“The problem starts when we forget the value of the things,” Bustillo said. “We lose the sense of what is an object. We start to belong to the object instead of the object belonging to us.”

Bustillo also finds the tendency to partake in this culture comes from a lack of attention paid to consequences. She says the way people approach the use of their possessions in the nations of America and Honduras is very different.

“We’re not consumerists in Honduras,” Bustillo said. “We don’t have enough money to be consumers. We have a different mentality: when you buy something, you use it to the point where it breaks, or it’s useless, and even then you give it to another person. The last thing you would do is throw it away.”

While advertising and materialism may pull consumers towards a good or product, this attraction is not enough to keep customers returning regularly. In order to support a growing economy, America’s gross domestic product (GDP) must always be growing. Thus, people must constantly buy new items to sustain the steady economic incline.

Out of this idea came planned obsolescence: a manufacturing decision made by a company to make products in such

a way that they become out-of-date or useless within a known period of time, according to The Economist. The average purchase lasts six months before it stops being used or is thrown away.

“Interiorly, nobody wants to be wasteful, but we have been distanced from where our waste ends up,” Tonnies said.

“We are encouraged to move from one interest to another at a rate that is literally hurting our attention spans.”

Brown, who works in advertising specifically for luxury brands, doesn’t come across the idea of planned obsolescence in her work, she says. “[My company] invests in brands that really stand behind what they believe in, and you won’t see practices like that,” Brown said. “There is a degree to which advertising sets trends and … I think it’s important for advertisers to think about what they’re putting out there.”

For Sanem, the idea of a disposable culture encompasses the system of consumerism: the goods being traded and the people involved in their production.

“What if you start throwing away the people who make [the goods]?” Sanem said. “How do you decide which humans are worthy and which are not?" consumerism at sTA For students of St. Teresa’s Academy, consumerism is present due to its prevalence in teen culture and society.

From an education standpoint, many institutions like STA are continuing to value the importance of staying current with technology.

“The student experience is increasingly important in education and part of that is supplying [students] with things they’re used to from corporations,” Sanem said.

“Education is an industry.”

Sanem believes the level of consumer awareness at STA is “so obvious.”

Rubalcava states that this awareness is often downplayed because of things like uniforms and lack of makeup worn by students, but it flares up when outside influences are introduced.

“I think a lot of people like to pretend STA is special because we aren't very materialistic... but when Teresian or Prom rolls around, all you ever hear is, ‘What

page designed by Mackenzie O'Guin

19

dress are you wearing?’, ‘Where are you going for dinner?’, ‘Omg post those pics on instagram,’” Rubalcava said. “We complain incessantly about how slow the netbooks are, or how upsettingly slow the internet is, but in reality we are extremely lucky to have laptops.”

Sanem finds the symbols of consumerism as STA, like headbands and cars, are often present because of choice by students. But when it comes to things like technology, he believes it’s “hard and expensive” to purchase ethically made products. Tonnies comments on the STA community’s issues as a whole.

“We see [consumerist tendencies] in every person,” Tonnies said. “Nobody is above it. As a school community we could be more conscientious about whether or not certain school functions are encouraging ecological consciousness. We could all do better. Catholic Social Teaching demands we do better.”

Consequences of consumerism

For Americans and laborers alike, consumerism rarely gratifies. The world of trade, as Sanem describes, is a wide spectrum with consumerism as a distraction on one end and consumerism as the degradation on the other.

During the idea's inception in the 50s, America’s national happiness peaked and has been dropping ever since, according to The Harvard Business Review.

Sanem believes wealth and accumulation of goods beyond a certain extent makes one less happy than otherwise.

“Ultimately, if you’re empty, you’re just going to keep consuming things because you’re empty, and you’re going to feel more and more empty the more you consume,” Sanem said. “[Advertisers] create new needs, and you’re basically prescribing your happiness to something that can’t make you happy.”

Rublcava finds materials create distance between humans.

“Happiness is something that only comes through being present for the human moment,” Rubalcava said. “As we grow more concerned with monetary and proprietary gain, we become less concerned on how we spend moments.”

Aside from affecting American happiness, consumerism plays into the livelihood of underdeveloped nations. Many companies capitalize on their ability to use sweatshops in developing countries for cheap labor increasing profit

20

at home. Nike is one famous example, brought to light in 2000 through the Behind the Swoosh documentary.

For a foreign laborer, first world consumerism is one of the only things he/she can depend on for steady income-- an income that, for 896 million people worldwide, is below $1.90 a day, according to The World Bank. If laborers depend on this wage to survive, what’s the harm done by making goods cheaply in developing countries?

Sanem says our dependence on these goods gratifies a weak central government for developing nations. He believes the only way to allow huge corporations to pay workers so little is for the peoples in these nations to desperately need the small wage they would earn.

Thus, because of their reliance, it’s in the favor of consumers and corporations for these nations to remain unstable.

“If you go out and buy these things does that mean you’re supporting terrorism?” Sanem said. “No, but it means to serve the needs of countries that can have the most, you want Indonesia to have a weak central government so you can pay your workers less.”

Honduras is the top producer of coffee in Central America, but Bustillo says this production rate causes suffering among people of the country.

“You just see the beautiful [product] in the commercial, but you don’t know people have suffered in the making of those things,” Bustillo said. “People have to realize what is happening not only in their country, but other countries.”

The effects of consumerism don’t die out with each generation. The goods we create and throw away every six months leave a permanent impact on the planet.

If every person were to consume the way the average American does, we would need four more earths to supply enough materials, according to The BBC. “We're going to start seeing the effects of climate change and it’s going to be in lesser developed countries,” Sanem said.

Not only will those already suffering suffer more, those of us in developed countries will eventually see the impact of our actions.

“There’s an environmental problem that will put our very existence at stake,” Tonnies said, “and then we will wake up.”

The poor are more at risk when it comes to the negative effects of climate change, according to The Economist.

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

Bustillo knows firsthand the effects consumerism has on the land and people of poor countries.

“One company was paying nearly nothing to its workers, and using really bad things for the environment,” Bustillo said. “It was so bad the people working there had children with birth defects.”

The future of consumerism

In a world where consumerism is an institution fixed in our social structure, change is very acute if it occurs. Where our economy depends on continual consumption, the power for change lies in the hands of the consumer.

“We've seen companies rise and fall based on the American consumer,” Sanem said. “And that’s the good news-that this is a people-powered system. If we want to change parts of that system, it has to be people powered.”

Bustillo believes change will only start when the individual looks at what purpose goods actually serve in the consumer’s life.

“Something important we don’t realize is if you buy a watch that is $300, you see the same time as you would on a watch that is $10,” Bustillo said.

For Tonnies, change can only come if individuals convert their minds and thought processes.

“It’s learning where real happiness comes from,” Tonnies said. “If you learn that, you can build your life from there.

We need to transform people’s minds and hearts, and the system will fix itself. ” Sanem, Bustillo and Tonnies agree for one person to end consumerism is impossible, and that the process is a slow one. The three share one main idea: individual change creates systemic change.

Sanem says that something “magical” happens when people cultivate their inner values and put them into action.

“If you can't fight the system, work the system. One way to work the system of consumerism is to be aware of your tendencies,” Sanem said. “You can choose your values through what you spend money on. You vote with your dollar.

When people start demanding it, companies start making it. Let’s put pressure on companies to produce more ethically...

If everybody chose a middle ground, you would see huge changes. If you did a little, you'd have massive change.” H

Society of

The Dart examines the cost of three consumer goods' compiled by MADI WINFIELD production and sale.

Spending

web scheduling editor

tee shirt

COST OF LABOR: COST OF MANUFACTURE: SELLING PRICE:

$.22 PER HOUR $8 $14

gmc sierra COST OF LABOR: COST OF MANUFACTURE: SELLING PRICE:

$58 PER HOUR $45,712 $48,055

iPhone 6 plus

Statistics courtesy of: Maclean's Wall Street Journal True Car China File Business Insider IHS Information Week

COST OF LABOR: COST OF MANUFACTURE: SELLING PRICE:

$1.62 PER HOUR $220 $749

consumerism in

MEDIA

The Dart asks students how media promotes consumerism in women.

compiled by MACKENZIE O'GUIN | design editor

"There is a heavy market of body and skin care targeted towards women. Now, add endless brands, styles and scents, and you've suddenly opened a world of endless possibility for production and consumption." - Michaela Coleman, junior "We see ourselves in how we look.. which comes from our reliance on 'something else' to make us feel good about ourselves, which is the essence of consumerism." - Marin Brown, junior

cosmetic obsession | An STA student tests makeup at H&M during Black Friday shopping Nov. 27. photo illustration by VIOLET COWDIN

page designed by Mackenzie O'Guin

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MAIN ED right on

TARGET

How do you think the STA community can be more conscious about excessive purchasing? compiled by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS features copy editor

Kellie O'Toole senior "STA can be more conscious about excessive spending by taking classes like personal finance and social concerns.

Personal finance teaches ways to save money and social concerns teaches how much we already have compared to the rest of the world."

Americans should use wealth for

the common good

Fueled by extreme greed, Americans follow Thanksgiving, a holiday made for gratitude, with Black Friday, a day where we trample others in pursuit of a slightlydiscounted, newer version of something we already own. Then, a mere month later, we turn to Christmas, a time meant for expressing love to friends and family, into a competition to see who can give the best present.

The American obsession with material goods and services has its place at STA. Regardless of what we want to believe, the constant cycle of buying t-shirts, paying for food and keeping STA's technology top-notch can be dangerous.

We choose to disregard it all, convincing ourselves that our hearts are not guilty of anything. Granted, it’s not always going to be easy to fix the root of the problem. But we should recognize that the cycle doesn’t always show itself: our school’s obsessions with the newest iPhone, the cutest lululemon leggings, the comfiest Ugg boots and the coolest Jeep are perfect examples of times when we choose to be oblivious to the

Claire Witt sophomore "Girls seem to think that shopping and spending a bunch of money is in their nature. For me, I always try to pay with cash instead of a debit card because it makes me aware of the actual amount I’m spending."

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

[

]

9 of 9 editors voted in support of this editorial.

illustration by ELLIE GREVER | visual illustrator

Claire Franey junior "STA has done a lot to make students aware of excessive spending with food and clothing drives, but maybe we could dedicate a wall or bulletin board towards writing things on it about the countless things we’re grateful for.

That would be a good reminder of how abundantly we’ve been blessed".

extra worth and power we give to brand names and large corporations.

Being indifferent and unaware of the effects of a materialistic lifestyle can cause devastating harm to the wellbeing of our community and others.

We should take this season of thankfulness and giving to realize our luck-we’re blessed more than we can fathom.

But we should not feel bad about being born into well-off families in a wealthy country. Some people are bound to be more rich than others, and that’s okay.

However, we should recognize that we are privileged. Realizing our good fortune is essential to noticing the human dignity of all. If we put our excess wealth to good use in aiding the poor and marginalized, we’ll get the biggest bang for our bucks. Our money will be put towards the thing that matters most: humanity. H

Artist of the Issue:

A&E

Junior Lizy Hagan spent this fall working at Halloween Haunt, bringing fantasy to life with visual effects makeup.

by LILY MANNING | social media editor

Junior Lizy Hagan stands in the middle of a crowd at Worlds of Fun. She isn’t waiting to get on a rollercoaster or buy a funnel cake.

Instead, she’s applying makeup and creating the werewolves, witches and zombies that lurk in the fog and jump out to scare passersby at the theme park.

Hagan spends her time outside of school turning fantasy into reality through visual effects makeup. She spent this fall working at Halloween Haunt, fixing up employees’ makeup to pop out and frighten parkgoers. “[At Halloween Haunt] basically all we use is liquid latex and cotton balls,” Hagan said. “I rip the cotton balls into different sizes I need and coat the

cotton in liquid latex, that will stick to skin and become 'fake skin' that I can tear apart or rip open or whatever. It dries for three to five minutes then I paint it to match skin color and add other paint to make the skin look bruised or irritated. If I'm using blood, I'll add it last.”

Hagan was first introduced to makeup by her sister when she was younger and began using it in eighth grade, but it wasn’t until her sophomore year that she really became interested in creating art with makeup.

“In fourth grade my sister did my makeup for Halloween," Hagan said. "I was a bumble bee and she put yellow

shimmery stuff on my eyes and ever since then I’ve just been fascinated with makeup.”

Hagan has done her friends’ makeup before, but she mainly enjoys practicing on herself. She says she enjoys doing regular makeup more than special effects and would love to continue doing makeup as a career, but she is unsure if it would work out.

“I'm not totally sure what I want to do as a career, I've been looking into computer science or programming stuff and engineering but haven't decided yet,” Hagan said. “I’d love to be a makeup artist as my actual career, but obviously I’d have to go to college and get a real job first.”H

Take a look at her work: Makeup Masterpieces photos courtesy of LIZY HAGAN

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

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AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FIRST HEARTBREAK

PERSPECTIVES

by MARY HILLIARD | editor-in-chief

Dear Zack, I heard someone talking about you today. My ears immediately pricked up when I heard your name, a name I haven’t heard in at least 4 years. A name I haven’t uttered since you left me heart broken. I still have your jersey, number 23, hanging in my closet.

I took it out and wore it last year to prove that I was over you. And I am. But I hear your name and everything comes flooding back.

It’s a warm May afternoon, the sun glinting off of the crown on top of the Kauffman Stadium jumbotron, the smell of fresh popcorn wavers in the air, my friend next to me excitedly fidgets in her seat. And then we hear it.

Your name.

Starting pitcher, Zaaaaaaaaack Greiiiinnnnkeee!

We stand up and scream our support for you, and then settle down to

watch you pitch yet another stellar game.

Those were the golden days for us, if not the Royals. You were a starting pitcher for Kansas City, and I was your biggest fan. Your Sports Illustrated cover proclaiming BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL hung proudly in my locker at school. I frequented your games to cheer you on. It all seemed perfect: the best and most gorgeous pitcher in the majors playing with my hometown team. Despite your supermodel girlfriend (now wife) and 12 year age difference, I was determined we would one day fall in love.

Like all young love, it comes to a bitter end once the glory days of summer fade into fall. It was December. You were traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.

I was crushed. How could the team do this?

And then my young, almost twelveyear-old heart took the hardest blow to date: the news reported that you said you wanted to be traded, to be on a team with a chance to win.

I thought it was the end of the world.

Little did I know, all the self help gurus had it right. Our breakup was “for the best”.

While you went off to Milwaukee (later to be traded to the Los Angeles Angels and eventually the Dodgers), two relatively unknown players (at the time) made their way to Kansas City:

Shortstop Alcides Escobar and centerfielder Lorenzo Cain. Along with the future ALCS MVPs came pitcher Jake Odorizzi. A few years later, Odorizzi was part of the trade to the Tampa Bay Rays that brought All Star closer Wade Davis to Kansas City.

So really Zack, I guess what I should be saying is thank you.

Thanks for breaking my heart.

Thanks for focusing solely on the money and not recognizing the strong foundation for a championship team growing in Kansas City. Thanks for making way for three instrumental players who were key in bringing home the 2015 World Series title to Kansas City.

I saw you pitching the other day, in game five of the NLCS. Your L.A. Dodgers lost to the New York Mets, losing the pennant and a shot at facing the Royals in the World Series. I watched you walk off the field, head down.

It’s kind of sad, really. You’ve got your Cy Young Award, your Golden Glove, even a couple MVP nominations.

But there’s one thing you don’t have, and may never have: a World Series Championship.

Thanks for Escobar, Cain, and by extension, Davis. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for the heartbreak.

Because I wouldn’t trade the feeling of a World Series victory for you back any day. You’re a free agent now, but don’t bother coming back to the team that was never good enough for you. H

OTHER COLUMNISTS THIS ISSUE INCLUDE:

JONES 24

RICHARDSON

SCOFIELD

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

MEDIAVILLA

MORE CAN'T START HERE WITHOUT INDIVIDUALITY

by VIOLET COWDIN| page designer

As I unfold the St. Teresa’s Academy promotional magazine, I see the quintessential Catholic, all-girls high school student. Natural hair color, white socks, plaid skirt touching the knee cap, sweater with the emblem and white collar peeking out. This is the ideal, this is the money maker. This is the mold that we should strive to be.

Heaven forbid our donors saw a girl with pink hair and patterned socks on the front of our annual magazine, or one of our students cheering on the soccer team in a tank top.

I understand that we are a private high school and that we will have policies and rules enforced that I may not agree with, yet what seems to be happening at our school is a clear hypocrisy. Our administration boasts its dedication to the empowerment and preparation of its students, yet they force us to be consumeristic

GREVER

conformists, rather than individual and creative citizens. Administration advertises our voices as influential, but seems deaf to our ideas when we advocate for change.

Stated on the St. Teresa’s website, under Core Beliefs, the words “Through the collaborative effort of the administration, faculty and staff, parents, board of directors, and alumnae, students learn the relationship between freedom and personal responsibility, empowering them to contribute positively to their world.”

How are we, as a student body, able to “learn the relationship between freedom and personal responsibility” if our voices are not even heard? Last year, a policy restricting unnatural colored hair was enforced. There was a fair amount of anger from the student body, and eventually a petition was made, which collected over half the student body’s signatures. This petition, as well as a persuasive essay regarding freedom of expression was brought to administration. The administration responded by stating “Our goal is to encourage students to express their individuality through personality, academic or extracurricular achievements, not outward appearances.”

Essentially, administration wants us to appear as the polite, sweet, and

O'GUIN

POWELL

harmless Catholic school girl, yet also expects us to go above and beyond societal expectations in all possible realms other than appearance. If I am expected to be a powerful, capable, and independent young woman, then why shouldn’t I be able to express myself freely? Especially if the way I choose to express myself is completely harmless. Because if I don’t conform, then I will not represent the ideal student for our consumers.

Yes, our donors are our consumers, and essentially we are the product.

And yes, the way we are disciplined directly correlates with the way our administration wants to profit from us.

So why should I expect change when I pressure administration?

As much as I love my school, I want to see us moving forward and being a people of change and growth. I wish we could better live up to the slogans that we boast. What aggravates me is when our administration hides behind their commercial sayings of empowerment and independence, and tells me that I can’t wear a tank top on my dress down day. We as a school must realize that in the real world we will be challenged, like we are here, but instead of complying to the consumerist ideals, we in turn must challenge them. I want us to be a community of change, not a community of idealistic conformity. H

MOLLOY

page designed by Helen Wheatley

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SPORTS

The 2015-2016 varsity basketball team consists of one sophomore, two juniors, and six seniors. A self-proclaimed “squad,� the seniors are a close-knit group. Of the seniors, three have played varsity every year at STA (Grace Kitts, Eleanor Lueke and Ryan Wilkins), and one has already committed to play basketball in college (Ryan Wilkins).

They all agree that their goal is to make it to State this year. Get to know this year's

SENIOR SQUAD

by MARY HILLIARD|editor-in-chief Photos courtesy of Jason Hannah Photography | jasonhannahphotography.com

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

Eleanor Lueke

Gillian Cutter

Grace Kitts

"I’m looking forward to just getting closer as a team and getting closer with all the girls and getting to State. We like to have fun but we work hard."

"I'm really looking forward to seeing how we develop and grow as a team… there's so much potential for us...I love all the seniors...We have a lot of chemistry off the court so hopefully it translates on the court as well."

"We have so much fun together and bring out the best in each other so I think we’ll have a very successful season. We like to have fun but at the same time we’re all serious about basketball."

Guard

Forward

Guard

Kathleen Herrington

Rachael Skeens

Ryan Wilkins

"I’m looking forward to playing one last year with everyone and hopefully going to State. We’ve played together for so long...so we kind of have to be close to play that long together."

"I’m looking forward to having a great last year with our seniors and our team… We really are like a squad...You have to work together and you can’t be selfish in basketball, you have to focus more on the team."

"We’re going to State, and we’re going to win State. We’re just pretty close, you know? We’re just like one big happy family."

Guard

Forward

Point Guard

page designed by Meg Thompson

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COMMUNITY

Volunteering across the

Map story by ALEX DAVIS | web editor of copy

1.

1. The Harvesters building, located at 3801 Topping Avenue in Kansas City, works to distribute millions of meals to its agencies each year. According to Harvesters' website, every $1 donated provides three meals. 2. The Bishop Sullivan Center building offers donation dropoff locations in the front of their building. The mural on the side of the walkway reads, "The angel came and touched Elijah and said, 'arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.' (1 Kings 19: 4-8)". photos by ANNA HAFNER

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2.

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

A

ccording to the Missouri Key Findings Hunger in America Report for 2014, nearly 1.2 million people receive emergency food assistance and other necessities annually through the Missouri food bank network.

These programs see per month thousands of people who are poor or homeless and in need of assistance.

Many of these programs rely solely on volunteer services. The Hunger in America Report states that 44% of agencies have no full time staff, and that 44% report difficulty in obtaining volunteers. For students looking to spend their holiday break out in the community, the Dart has compiled a list of different organizations needing help this holiday season.

Read more about the following organizations and other agencies in need at dartnewsonline.com

Bishop Sullivan Center 6435 Truman Road Kansas City, MO 64126 www.bishopsullivan.org Volunteers can work in one of the pantries, assist in the offices, and help with job placement “Our mission is to provide basic necessities to people who are unable to do so, and to assist those who are able, to become financially selfsufficient by finding employment.”

Hands to Hearts 9007A W 51st Terr, Merriam 66203 www.handstoheartskc.org Volunteers can help pack BackSnacks, help with the Bookmobile, work at the Clothing Closet, as well as provide donations.

“Hands to Hearts is an entirely volunteer nonprofit organization. Our greatest asset is volunteers with willing hearts who want to make a difference. The volunteer opportunities are many. Come work together for the Good.”

Harvesters 3802 Topping Avenue, Kansas City, MO, 64129 www.harvesters.org Volunteers can make food or money donations or volunteer at the Harvesters facility Since it’s founding, Harvesters distributes millions of pounds of food to its agencies, bringing food directly to the poor. In 2014 alone, Harvesters distributed 39 million meals to those who were hungry in the Kansas - Missouri region.

page designed by MaryMichael Hough

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LAST LOOK For Your Sister Nail Polish From Target $12.99

For Your Dad Face Mug from Uncommongoods $18

Christmas Gift Guide compiled by KATHERINE GREEN | news copy editor photos compiled by KAT MEDIAVILLA | web editor of photography

For Your Brother Canvas Club Belt From Vineyard Vines $49.50

For Your Mom Infinity Scarf From J Crew $65

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the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015

w

For Your boyfriend Men's light Sweatshirt From Patagonia $99 For Your best friend Portable Record Player From Urban Outfitters $98

DIY Your gift guide Want to buy cute gifts without breaking the bank?

Visit your local craft or online music store for thoughtful, affordable Christmas presents. compiled by TORIE RICHARDSON | editor-in-chief

For Your Mom Arm-Knitted Scarf $14

For Your bestie CD of your favorite songs $10

page designed by Torie Richardson

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The Dart Vol. 75

In the DNO Check out the coverage on dartnewsonline

Elf wanted:

battle of the BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUM

PROJECT BY audrey carroll

Columns by MaryMichael Hough, Mary Hilliard and Jeannie o'flaherty

tales of an elf on the go

STA - sion rivalry DartTube: pie smash cheats both schools

column by mackenzie o'guin

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

videos by maggie knox and mary hilliard

Check the twitter: @dartnewsonline highlighted snapchat: @dartpaper accounts daily youtube: dartnewsonline for a social vine: @dartnewsonline media advent instagram: @dartnewsonline calendar by facebook: /dartnewsonline Madi Winfield

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 December 2015 |

page designed by Madi Winfield

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