V35 Issue 6

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FINDING PRIDE Eagle Edition • Episcopal School of Dallas • April 27, 2018 • Vol. 35 • Issue 6

Spring play highlights actors’ skills with quirky script, Page 2

LGBTQ+ students navigate coming out, community strives to be more inclusive, Pages 12-13

A continued push for marijuana legalization sparks debate, Page 17

New Varsity Track coach enhances teams potential, Greenberg jumps to college level, Page 20

2 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

NEWS

Spring drama’s vignettes challenge actors

“The Dining Room” comments on societal standards, leaves audience to interpret AROUND THE TABLE: Junior Christopher Talbot plays an eight year old boy, questioning why the maid, played by sophomore Gracey Thomas, is leaving the family to go get married. "I don't get a lot of chances to act so young, so it's pretty interesting to act as an eight year old and try to remember all those little mannerisms that you had when you were that age," Talbot said. Photo by Sohaib Raza

“

By Anastasia Sotiropoulos

It’s open to a lot

of interpretation,

W

but I hope

everyone walks away with something. As long as they walk away with something, we’ve done our job.

”

— Director Dusty Davidson

hat would your character do?” Dusty Davidson, director of the Spring play, playwright A. R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” asks his class of advanced acting students.

Davidson asked this question multiple times per student, as 52 characters were divided among just six actors for the April 26 and 27 production.

As various vignettes—each in a different era and featuring its own characters—tying into one play, the nature of the production itself is unique. The show is a form of drama that attempts to comment on societal standards.

Ranging from a high schooler who corrupts her innocent friend into drinking during the ‘80s, to a father frustrated during the Great Depression, some characters are intended to be taken more metaphorically than others.

“At first, Mr. Davidson let us think about what our characters would do, and then he perfected it,” junior Alexandra Everbach said.

Everbach, who has been involved in theatre for the past three years, considers her eight roles in “The Dining Room” to be one of her most challenging acting experiences so far.

“The hardest part was figuring out what my characters’ differences were,” she said. “When I’m memorizing lines, that’s usually when I do all my ‘character choosing,’ or when I figure out what my characters are about. I had to change it every time—it was complicated.”

One of Davidson’s main goals in coaching each actor was having them discover the contrasts between their characters to portray effectively onstage.

“One character I play is really jittery and uptight, recovering from alcoholism,” Everbach said. “She’s nervous and wants everything to be perfect, whereas my other character Carolyn is a rebellious teen who’s going against her mother. My most challenging scenes are my maid scenes because I have to act really innocent and respond to authority.”

The only character Everbach plays twice is the maid, in the first scene when she’s young and in the last when she’s aged.

“Some scenes are supposed to portray the struggles of that time period,” Everbach said.

“There’s not really a plot. It’s because there’s only one set, this same dining room table. It’s never portrayed to the audience whether it’s the same dining room table or not—the audience has to guess.”

A deeply philosophical play, “The Dining Room” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985.

“I just hope that audiences were touched by the scenes, and I hope they understood them,” Everbach said.

Senior Wesley Banks looked forward to the

deep nature of the drama—something divergent from the department’s usual Spring comedies.

“The main thing is that it’s new,” he said.

“The only thing I was worried about is the audience being a little confused, which it’s supposed to be in the beginning. Each vignette has a different story or a different angle—family issues, race issues.”

Davidson put on the drama over a decade ago and fell in love with the unique show.

“I was trying to find something different from what we usually do,” he said. “We have done some things similar to this before, but it was a comedy and this a drama. It is a sweet, sentimental play.”

Everbach interprets the play as Gurney’s attempt to embody both variety and consistency through the play’s centerpiece: the dining room table.

“The dining room table represents that there’s always going to be something the same, even as time goes on,” she said.

To Davidson, the beauty of the play lies in how up for interpretation it is.

“It’s open to a lot of interpretation, but I hope everyone walks out with something,” he said. “As long as they walk away with something we have done our job.”

The dining room is the absence of a metaphor.

“The dining room is more a common place, not necessarily symbolic of anything besides the fact that everyone has one in their house,” he said. “[The play’s] really about the relationship between all the different characters and all the different scenes.”

Davidson recognizes the challenges that come with directing 52 separate personalities.

“A lot of it will be hard because it is done very representationally,” he said. “It's all done through characterization."

Banks, who has acted all four years of high school, views this as the culminating, most intensive performance of his high school career.

“It’s not like coming out on stage and saying two lines,” Banks said. “We have full pages of lines that each of the eight of my characters have. The difficult part is not only memorizing all those lines, but also having different presentations of each character.”

In one scene Banks portrays an adult, and in the immediate next, a six-year-old.

“That kind of dramatic change is really testing us,” he said. “Even though each vignette is random, they all end up having the same working theme—it all ends up tying together.”

“The dining room table represents that there’s always going to be something the same, even as time goes on.”

— Junior Alexandra Everbach

News to Use Apr. 26-27 Upper School play, “The Dining Room,” 7-9 p.m.

May 7-18 AP Exams

Apr. 28 Coffee House, 7-10 p.m.

May 14 Spring Strings Concert, 6-7:30 p.m.

May 1 Upper School dance performance, 6-7 p.m.

May 15 Blue and yellow shirt day for rising seniors

May 2 Pass it On, 2:45-3:45 p.m.

May 21 Honors Assembly, 10:30-12 p.m.

May 3-5 Spring SPC

**Send us your events! Please email upcoming events to the Eagle Edition at eagle edition@gmail.com.

Upper School dance spring show hits the stage in May The Upper School dance students will perform in the Bray Theater for their annual spring show on May 1.

The performance consists of four group dances, five solos and two duets. Guest choreographers helped teach the students new styles of dance.

Junior Maggie Lipscomb has danced with the campus group since her freshman year.

“I am so proud of how much the program has developed,” Lipscomb said. “I hope we can continue this development [in] the future.”

NEWS

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 3

Upper school librarian named new Honor Council adviser Librarian Mary Jo Lyons was appointed as the new adviser of the Honor Council on March 7. In early March, AP Calculus teacher Maggie Ferris stepped down as the Honor Council adviser. Lyons’ experience in both academic integrity and the ethical use of technology and information at the University of Texas at Arlington made her an ideal successor.

“I love to learn, and I am not afraid to try something that I have never done before,” Lyons said. “While I have never done this specifically, I certainly have the parts and pieces in my experience that culminate to this opportunity.”

Head of Upper School Henry Heil sent an email to all faculty asking who was interested in the position. Lyons responded and interviewed for the spot.

“The top thing that drew me to the Honor Council is its values, because I believe they align with my personal goals and values in terms of education, ethics, service and community,” Lyons said. “I feel that honesty is one of those things that I hold dear, and this is an additional way for me to live that in a very visible and public way.” – By Sohaib Raza

Dedman lecturer uses her work experience to motivate

Dr. Linda Abraham-Silver spoke to juniors and seniors in the Bray Theater for the semi-annual Dedman lecture on April 5, offering academic advice.

Silver is the chief executive officer at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Previously, she worked for the government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, serving as the associate director of the Technology Development Committee. Before her stint in Abu Dhabi, she spent eight years as the president and CEO of Great Lakes Science Center.

“When I got hired as the CEO of the Great Lakes Science Center, I was 34 years old—there aren’t that many people who will hire a 34-year-old to be a CEO—they hired me because I had a PhD,” Abrajam-Silver said.

Junior Nicole Raines stayed after the speech to ask Silver questions and found her viewpoint on young people keeping their options open refreshing.

“I like how she said you don’t have to know what to do with your life when you’re going into college because so many people our age don’t, and that’s such a common expectation,” Raines said.

Senior Emma Cabrales thought that Silver’s journey as a woman in a male-dominated field was inspiring.

“I loved how when she discovered what she wanted to do, she went for it all-in,” Cabrales said. “She was able to balance her work life and family life, along with her love for travel.”

– By Margaret Smith

National Honors Society welcomes 48 juniors to group

The initiation ceremony for the National Honors Society took place on April 17, with 48 students inducted into the organization.

Guest speaker, alum Claire Cahoon [‘13], a SMU law student, spoke to the inductees. After the speech, pins and stoles were handed out by Head of School Meredyth Cole, Head of Upper School Henry Heil and Assistant Head of School Jeff Laba as recipients received their certificates.

NHS is a society that consists of students that meet a 6.5 GPA, three leadership positions and 100 community service hours. Members help provide free tutoring as well as organize the bake sale and other service activities around campus. “[NHS] represents the idea of the whole student to me–– not just academics,” NHS leader Lauren Redmond said. “If you only focus on grades, you can’t open your eyes to the world around you and see the ways you can be an active participant. The service and leadership [tenets] allow you to go beyond yourself, and it’s those experiences that I think help mold your character.”– By Sohaib Raza

THIS IS ME: Juniors Alexandra Everbach, Ella Varel, Maggie Lipscomb and freshman Emma Sucato end Cabaret with “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman” at choir’s annual Cabaret Night on Thursday, April 19. “We always close our show with a group number picked by the senior officers, and it’s really special because it is the last performance where we have everyone in the choir together,” junior Maggie Lipscomb said. Photo by Anastasia Sotiropoulos

Cabaret night ends choir season, ISAS provides artists with valuable feedback

By Lauren Egger

B

utterflies in her stomach, freshman Emma Sucato steps Selam Mekbeb-Gillet and Sumner Wooldridge. The only All on stage, ready to perform her solo of “On My Own” State Choir award was received by Emma Viquez. from the play “Les Miserables” at choir’s Cabaret Night Snyder then took a moment to thank seniors Wesley Banks concert on April 19. and Julia Beckel for their commitments to the choir program.

“It was the best environment to showcase our songs in The concert allowed students to express their creativity front of an audience because we were uplifting of each through songs other than daily chapel hymns. other and excited to sing together in the end,” Sucato said.

“It’s different than the other choir performances that Cabaret Night originally began as a pre-show to a we have done because we get to choose the music that we concert and then gained popularity from those in choir. perform and can diverge from our usual songs and be as “We first had [Cabaret Night] in the old theater, then creative as we want, which is a fun experience,” sophomore the study Commons and now the Bray,” choir director Joe Amanda Peet said.

Snyder said. “We chose the name Cabaret because it means Choir also recently participated in the ISAS Arts Festival, people sitting around, sometimes with food, and listening alongside the other fine arts, after months of preparation. to other people sing, which is exactly our intent.”

Students showcased their own works and viewed other Cabaret Night is a choir tradition started by Snyder in schools’ on April 12 through 14.

2001, after students wanted a chance to express their vocal ISAS was held at the Hockaday School this year, to inspire abilities through a song of their choice, students and improve their skills through closing with a group performance. Since its “This is our fine arts professional critiques. This year, the fine arts inception, it has been a much anticipated department sent around 85 students. program’s time to event for student performers.

“This is our fine arts program’s time to The choir finished the concert with “This shine and show our shine, show our work off to the rest of the is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.”

ISAS schools and to support each other’s art,” work off to the rest “The song has such an important photography teacher George Fiala said. message of self-acceptance and love, despite of the ISAS schools, Students chose from an array of specialized what others think, and that’s a message workshops, some focusing on particular and to support each subjects most students have never delved into that everyone needs to hear,” junior Anisa Noor said. “We weren’t just singing it before. other’s art.” for the audience––we were singing it for “I tried a water-marbling workshop when — Photography ourselves.”

I went with the choir,” sophomore MekbebAfter the show, Snyder handed out teacher George Fiala Gillet said. “I loved learning something new, awards given in the form of either a and it was an exciting way to meet students category I or II to each student. All region from other private schools.” choir awards were given to Emma Viquez, Christopher ISAS is not only for the celebration of work, but is also a Talbot, Jackson Breard, Wesley Banks, Ava Thompson, way for students to meet others they can collaborate with in the future.

“Many of our students have friends at other schools, but they’ve never seen them perform or seen their piece, so it’s a great opportunity to remedy that,” technical theater instructor Lauren Redmond said. “The students also get the chance to meet kids from other schools and then become friends, staying in touch over the years.”

Eight string students attended the festival, the most in school history.

“There is nothing like exposure to how other orchestra programs are doing, and how other students are playing for a strings program as young as our US strings program is,” strings teacher Adrian Demian said.

Faculty see the festival as a safe place for artists to be with others who respect the arts just as much as they do.

“Where else can our artists mingle with artists from other BELT IT OUT: Senior Wesley Banks sings a solo during Cabaret Night schools,” Demian said. “There are so many opportunities in on April 19 as part of the group performance of “This is Me” from the sports and academics to compete, and ISAS offers something musical “The Greatest Showman.” “I was really thankful for Mr. Snyder giving me the opportunity to sing the solo at the end of the show to wrap unique: to realize there is a whole world full of like-minded people and to feel less alone.” up my choir career at ESD,” Banks said. Photo by Anastasia Sotiropoulos

NEWS

4 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Old positions in Student Council consolidated, responsibility more evenly distributed for next year New system established to improve efficiency, better represents each position’s purpose

By Amanda Warren ext year, the structuring of class officer The class officers tend to work as a team, so positions will be adjusted with the they should be a team.” position of president remaining the This restructuring was discussed at a same but other positions like secretary, vice class officer workshop held in February. president and treasurer morphing into “class Additionally, the GPA requirement is being leaders.” raised from a 2.5 to a 3.0. The election for The job descriptions for Student Council class president is first. Elections for class members and class officers are different. Class leaders follow to provide students who may officers, which now include the have lost the presidential class president and the three class race a chance to still serve leaders, deal with the running of “The secretary wasn’t their class. their individual grade, including taking notes, the “The new class officer class events, behavioral issues and treasurer wasn’t dealing structure is just much planning class-sponsored dances. more practical,” Junior with money all the time— Class Vice President Student Council is lead by the allupperclassmen Executive Board, they do things together. Clayton Mulford said. “In and members-at-large deal with The class officers tend to the previous setup, officers events regarding the entire Upper work as a team, so they had technical titles like School, like Homecoming and ‘treasurer’ and ‘secretary’; Student Body Week. However, should be a team.” they never really did class officers also hold positions on — Assistant Head of Upper anything that had to do Student Council. with their actual position School Jeff Laba The goal of this adjustment is title.” to better represent how the officers function If the president must be removed from his since they work more as a team, rather than or her position for whatever reason, the class the hierarchy that the former position titles leaders will decide amongst themselves who established. will become the president and the grade will “The deans started thinking and talking elect a new class leader. about it and decided that it was a very old “I enjoyed being a class officer because we fashioned structure––it did not make a lot coordinated Technotica and junior privileges,” of sense anymore,” Assistant Head of Upper Junior Class Treasurer Danny Kung said. “I School Jeff Laba said. “The secretary wasn't enjoy Student Council because it’s a family feel taking notes, the treasurer wasn't dealing with where everyone is working together to try and money all the time––they do things together. make the best student experience ever.”

N

FRIENDLY COMPETITION: Sophomores Ty Johnson, River Woods and Selam Mekbeb-Gillet present their speeches to their grade on April 23, as all three ran for the position of President for next year. Woods won the class vote. “I was nervous yet excited to present my speech,” Gillet said.

“I want to run for president because it is time for a change, and I believe through integration, communication and collaboration our class can achieve anything.” Photo by Lauren Egger

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NEWS

Literary magazine to be unveiled at Coffee House

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 5

LIVE LITERATURE: Junior Maddie Tong practices reciting her poem at the Coffee House rehearsal in the Bell Theater on Friday April 20. “I’m happy I get to read my poem but I’m mostly excited to see how the volume of Itinerary turns out,” Tong said.

“The whole club has worked really hard on it.”

Photo by Melissa Rivera

Variety of performances featured, night hosted by student for first time

By Melissa Rivera

T

is going to be really exciting.” he newest Itinerary volume will Owens has been in charge be handed out at Coffee House of planning Coffee House April 28 in the Bray Theater at since November. With the 7 p.m. help of freshman Coffee House is a “Just being able to Susanna Newsom, celebration of the school’s literary see those forms of Assistant Head of magazine, Itinerary, art being celebrated Communications, and other Itinerary showcasing students performing their works is going to be really members, she has organized catering, for the community. exciting.” created invitation “We basically bring —Senior Emilie layouts and selected our publication to life Owens, head of the lineup of pieces. with live readings of communications “I usually pick pieces featured prose, poetry that I feel really speak and film showcases,” strongly to showcase the strong senior Emilie Owens, Head of writing we love to feature in our Communications of the Itinerary book,” Owens said. “[The lineup] club, said. “Just being able to see carried a variety of voices, imagery those forms of art being celebrated

and even grade range to show that this is very much a comprehensive showing of our entire Upper School body.”

Itinerary members took submissions until January, and editors decided on which pieces would make it into the magazine.

This year, Itinerary received 133 literature submissions, 37 of which were published, and 264 art submissions, 57 of which were published. Of the works published, 14 were chosen to perform at Coffee House.

For the first time, the presentation will be led by a host, junior William Hargrave.

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front of a lot of people because from the Columbia Scholastic Press being able to be comfortable in Association. those situations is really helpful,” They hope to receive a Gold Hargrave said. “I Crown for this “Even if we don’t win year’s magazine after used to get nervous easily, but years of incorporating new a Gold Crown, I’m exposing myself to especially proud about elements and content that kind of anxiety so that the magazine how many changes by reading in Chapel reflects both the arts and we implemented in literary community. or acting in films or “Even if we don’t hosting an event like the magazine, many this has done a lot to of which I hope will be win a Gold Crown, I’m mitigate that.” useful for future staff.” especially proud about Hargrave plans to —Senior Caitlyn Tong, how many changes we implemented in the ease the transition Itinerary editor-in-chief magazine, many of between presenters. which I hope will be Itinerary Editor-inChief Caitlyn Tong traveled to New useful for future staff,” Tong said.

York over Spring Break with Owens “Both officers and new staffers learned so much.” to take home a Silver Crown award

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 6

LIFE

Buying into Greek life

By Sydney Rezaie

really focused on being in sororities to make crolling through Naviance, junior friends,” Scott said. “They just went in with McKinley Lawson stares at the potential the idea making friends, regardless of Greek colleges on her list. Questions run life. My mom wasn’t in a sorority, so I have through her mind. Am I going to rush? Will I never felt the familial pressure of being in have to be in the one.” same sorority as Moving to ESD from a different “There is so much hype my mom? Will I state, junior Karenna Traylor was about being in a sorority make friends if I surprised at the influence of Greek life don’t? that it makes you feel like in Texas.

Partially due “In California, no one really you’re missing out if you to pressure talked about [rushing], and it was don’t join one. Even if you less common for my friends to be in from family and friends, [sororities],” Traylor said. “Since I came don’t want to do all the 66 percent of from a public school, not everyone stereotypical stuff–like students will could afford to be in one.” chants–you almost feel like join Greek The pressure of joining Greek life life in college, is not purely societal, but financial you have to do it...” according to an as well. Sororities demand recurring, — Junior Lilly French April 23 poll of substantial payments from members in 249 students. order to participate.

As the Greek system becomes more prevalent According to the most recent data taken by within the ESD community, sororities and USA Today in 2014, the average new sorority fraternities become a powerful social force. member will pay $1,280 per semester, not While these organizations can positively including room and board at the chapter impact a campus, they also tend to cause house. Many chapters also charge fines as unwanted social pressures. punishment for unexcused absences and even “There is so much hype about being in tardiness at events. a sorority that it makes you feel like you’re At the University of Alabama, where missing out if you don’t join one,” junior Lilly some of its sorority houses are featured by French said. “Even if you don’t want to do all Southern Living magazine, the highest price of the stereotypical stuff—like chants—you for a member living out of house was $3,400. almost feel like you have to do it because That amount doesn’t include one-time fees everyone always says that’s how you make associated with pledging. friends in college.”

“I feel like joining a sorority is the only way Through false rumors, many girls have been I’ll make friends,” junior Annie Sawers said. led to believe that sororities are the sole way “I would be sad in college if I didn’t do it. I to making friends. don’t know how “One of my biggest fears is that else I would have “I feel like joining a if I don’t rush, I won’t have any friends or have a sorority is the only way I’ll social life.” friends,” junior Grace Inglis said.

“At Vanderbilt, where my sister Unlike many make friends. I would be went, she would always hang out girls at ESD, guys with all her [sorority] sisters and got sad in college if I didn’t do do not feel as really good friends because of it.” it. I don’t know how else pressured to join In addition to pressures from Greek life.

I would have friends or peers, 35 percent of students “I am all for have a social life.” feel pressured to join because of brotherhood and family legacy. Sixty-four percent meeting people, —Junior Annie Sawers of students’ parents participated in but I’m not into Greek life in college. intense partying,” “Since I am a legacy in two different junior Mason Gosslee said. “It wouldn’t fit sororities, my sisters constantly pressure me to my lifestyle. It is the same societal norm as do it,” Inglis said. “They always say it was the joining any stereotypical thing, like joining best four years of their lives.” the football team. It’s all just a stereotype.

Junior Bella Scott has not been affected by One of the reasons I wouldn’t want to join is outside forces driving her to rush. the rape stereotype and the stigma associated “Since I lived in London before, no one with it.”

S

“

Since I am a legacy in two different sororities, my sisters constantly pressure me to [rush]. They always say it was the best four years of their lives.

”

– Junior Grace Inglis

April 29 “Les Miserables,” the award winning play, will will be performed at Musical Hall in Fair Park at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at ticketmaster. com.

Now - June 3 Actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s modern lifestyle company, Goop, is in Dallas for a pop up in Highland Park Village. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

May 5 The Deep Ellum Outdoor market will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event hosts artists and crafters.

Main Events

May 5 The annual Cinco de Mayo party at Taqueria La Venana will feature D.J. XClusive, music by Tamborazo De Arranque and street tacos from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

May 9 The annual 2018 Salvation Army Fashion Show and Luncheon will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show raises awareness and funding for over 70 service groups in the DFW Metroplex.

May 12 Held at the Toyota Stadium from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., FC Dallas soccer­will play the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The club based in Frisco competes as a member of Major League Soccer.

JMBLYA festival hosts popular rap artists The JMBLYA music festival is Friday, May 4 and will be held at Fair Park. The festival begins at 2 p.m. It will benefit the Texas Organizing Project, Angel by Nature Foundation and Grounded in Music. The lineup includes J. Cole, Migos, Cardi B, Kevin Gates and six more performers.

Senior Ellery Spencer attended the festival last year and is excited to go back this year.

“It was so fun last year, because I was able to see some of my favorite artists and see all of my friends from every school in Dallas,” Spencer said. “It’s such a fun event, because it is sort of like a mini Austin City Limits.”

LIFE

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 7

Our time, now Social media sparks activism among teens Story by Meredith Moran Photo by Sydney Rezaie Graphic & design by Anastasia Sotiropoulos

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olding up a sign with “OUR TIME NOW” scrawled across in bold, freshman Ava Thompson was surrounded by nine classmates and over 7,000 strangers––all united to call for an end to gun violence­—in the March for Our Lives protest, held in Downtown Dallas on March 24.

Thompson helped lead ESD’s involvement in the march as a student ambassador, participating in meetings in the weeks leading up to the event and providing information for students who wanted to join the cause.

“I’ve always thought gun control was necessary, but I had never really listened to the people that were crying for it to happen,” Thompson said.

“But recently, as the amount of things that have happened increased, it was hard for me not to listen. Everybody owes it to people affected by gun violence to listen and start doing something about it.”

No stranger to political marches, Thompson also attended the Women’s March in January. She attributes social media to her political activism.

“Social media’s role in young people getting involved in politics is everything,” Thompson said. “For a lot of people at ESD, we grow up in a bubble, and so if it weren’t for social media, Twitter especially, I wouldn’t have been exposed to any mindsets besides those posed in front of me. I have not faced any systematic injustice in my entire life, and if it weren’t for social media, I wouldn’t be aware that this type of stuff is going on in the world and that I have freedom and the power to say stuff about it.”

Senior Trevor Hobbs follows news sources on Snapchat to keep up with current events and agrees that social media has changed the way young people access politics. “[Social media has] changed the entire political scene,” Hobbs said. “Anyone can tweet now, so anybody can be like, ‘This presidential candidate is a total idiot,’ but they can also follow an election a lot easier. It [puts] everything a candidate does, or a lawmaker in general, under a microscope, because everyone has access to it. [Young people] aren’t going to read the paper, but everyone has an Instagram or a Snapchat [account].”

Alum and current SMU graduate student Claire Cahoon ‘13 spoke at the Dallas March for Our Lives, calling for stricter gun control for suicide

prevention. She became passionate about gun control after her friend shot himself. Two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides, with an average of over fifty deaths per day, according to the CDC. “The problem isn’t depression–– studies overwhelmingly show that access to a gun significantly increases the likelihood of suicide,” Cahoon said. “Our country must consider gun control if we have any interest in lowering suicide rates.

Changing policy is an uphill battle, but put simply, if I don’t try, I’ve already failed.”

Cahoon works with the organization StudentsMarch.org that put on the March for Our Lives, and she hopes that young people propel their political passion into actually voting for change.

“If a march is just a bunch of people screaming, ‘I’m angry,’ it won’t effect change,” Cahoon said. “If a march is a bunch of people screaming ‘I’m angry, I’m going to vote and I’m going to keep marching until I see change,’ change might be on the horizon.”

Hobbs has grown up in a conservative family and hopes to become more involved in Republican organizations as he gets older. For his eighteenth birthday, his grandfather handed down to him his first shotgun and bought him a membership to the NRA. “Definitely being raised by a deep Southern-roots family and a strong religious foundation helps you to become conservative, also being wealthy, because that’s a factor, fiscally,” Hobbs said.

“It’s like a generational thing, and in college, I definitely hope to join a Young Republicans club.”

With conflicting political perspectives in his family, Hobbs finds civil discourse essential.

“It definitely changed a lot after [my brother] Rankin came out and [sister] Wynne went off to college,” Hobbs said. “It’s important to listen to other people beyond your family because you don’t want to be blind to what other people have to say.”

Although many young people are passionate about policy and social issues, statistics show that youth aren’t taking action by voting. Government teacher Mark Oglesby hopes that youth tap into their passion for social justice and make a change.

“If 18-year-olds to 24-year-olds actually organized and voted upon that organization, [they] could control politics and policy for a long time,” Oglesby said.

Senior Quincy Lynch spent a semester during her junior year in New York City at a program called CITYterm that allowed her to develop a balance in her political views.

“There were some people who were so liberal that they were [closed-minded], and it made me realize that I don’t want to be like that,” Lynch said. “I want to be someone who’s strong in my beliefs but can also have civil conversations with people, and still have opposing views, but at the end of the day, we’re still friends.”

Lynch attended the Women’s March in New York City after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and called attention to the environment in honor of Earth Day. “[Marches are about] getting a community together to feel empowered about something and to spread awareness,” Lynch said. “When more people spread awareness, more people take interest, and when more people take interest, more people do stuff about it.”

percent of students get their news from social media

percent consider themselves politically active

percent of students eligible to vote are registered according to an April 23 poll of 249 students

LIFE

8 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Engineering, robotics teacher looks to improve Wolf Run

By Melissa Rivera

B

orn and raised in the country near Fort Worth, Texas, environmental science and engineering teacher Barton Burnett considers himself old fashioned.

“I was raised on what was considered to be a man back then, to take care of your family and put food on the table,” Burnett said.“You come last, your family comes first.”

During his senior year, Burnett felt the need to get out of his small town, so he joined the Navy and was sent to boot camp in 1979.

“I literally believed in serving my country,” Burnett said. “I still believe that somebody has to stand watch to protect this country.”

While in the Navy, Burnett served as an Electronic Warfare Technician First Class and Electronic Warfare Supervisor. After 10 years of service Burnett left active duty.

“All the things I went through in the military literally made me into who I am today,” Burnett said. “And I am very proud of that.”

Burnett and his ex-wife had part-time jobs to make ends meet. With only 50 cents in his pocket, Burnett, his wife and his son went to the newspaper stand with intentions to buy the Dallas paper, as they usually did.

“I went to go get the Dallas paper when this hand grips my shoulder but nobody was there,” Burnett said. “This voice goes ‘get the Fort Worth paper.’ I froze.”

The first job he saw was a position for an electronics instructor for a high school in Fort Worth.

The position asked for a bachelor’s degree with two years of work experience or a four year work degree with technical training. Burnett took one year of electronics in the navy and was in the fleet for ten years, which made him eligible for the job.

The next day Burnett called and scheduled an interview.

Within 36 hours he had a teaching position at Green B. Trimble Technical High School.

“I never thought I’d be a teacher,” Burnett said.

“Three months into teaching I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

Burnett stayed at Trimble for three years and then went on to teach at Duncanville High School, where he stayed for 22 years.

At Duncanville High School he rebuilt the electronics program and set up the engineering program. Around his 19th year of teaching, Burnett began thinking about whether he truly wanted to continue teaching.

Burnett asked God for guidance. The following day a preacher visited the school and talked to Burnett. He told him that leaving the field would break the students’ hearts.

UNCODE THIS PROBLEM: Barton Burnett gives direction to senior Landry Shive with his engineering assignment in the robotics lab. “Mr. Burnett, like most teachers, has a passion for what he teaches, but it’s the passion he has for his students that truly separates him from the rest,” Shive said. “No educator wants his students to be given and solve real world problems more than Mr. Burnett, and his accomplishments so far reflect that.” Photo

by Melissa Rivera

“And that was it,” Burnett said. “In less than 24 hours this guy comes up and starts telling me I can’t think about quitting and all this other good stuff.”

For the next six years Burnett helped Duncanville build its program and received numerous medals for engineering, electronics, and robotics. While at Duncanville Burnett came up with a project that would help the environment.

Burnett and his students went to the nearby park with a portable engineering lab and surveyed out the park along with the fifth and sixth graders of the local elementary school. With information from the soil and water analysis that they did, the students came up with a list of trees and plants that were suitable for the park. After reviewing their research, the park and recreation department of Duncanville agreed to plant the trees.

When Burnett was offered the job of teaching environmental science and engineering at ESD, he brought up the project, wanting to do something similar at Wolf Run, which had never been done. People had taken samples in small areas but there wasn’t baseline data on the soil and water on a larger scale. ESD lacked a full understanding of the chemical makeup of the property.

“We’re going to do the first, comprehensive land survey for the water and soil of Wolf Run,”

“We’re going to do the first, comprehensive land survey for the water and soil of Wolf Run.”

— Engineering teacher Barton Burnett

Burnett said. “Collect it and turn it into usable data so we can take a look and see what’s good, what needs to be corrected and what can we start reintroducing to balance things out and to try to bring it back as close as we can to its original condition.”

After months of planning and preparing the project, Burnett and his 12 environmental science and engineering students went out to Wolf Run, on April 19, to work with the fifth graders and do the project.

The fifth graders were divided up into three groups, each led by four of Burnett’s students.

Each group went to a different area of Wolf Run and took water and soil samples. The students later met up at the pavilion and began running tests and recording data on a spreadsheet. The data on the spreadsheet will be used to decide what plants could be brought to Wolf Run. “It went as smooth as it possibly could,” Burnett said. “I couldn’t be more proud of [my students].”

BOY SCOUT: During his National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1973, engineering and robotics teacher Barton Burnett smiles for a picture at age 12. “I was in a little bitty town from Pilot Point, Texas,” Burnett said. “We scraped up all the money that we could to send nine of us to the Jamboree.” Photo courtesy of Barton Burnett FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: Engineering and robotics teacher Barton Burnett leans onto his naval ship during his service as an Electronic Warfare Technician First Class and Electronic Warfare Supervisor. “I stayed in the field ‘till I senior enlisted,” Burnett said.

“I was stationed in Puerto Rico for two years as the reign supervisor and I got to work with so many different foreign native cultures.“ Photo courtesy of Barton Burnett

Record store day gives chance to support local businesses When I told people I was dedicating the morning of April 21 to Record Store Day, the most popular response I received was, “What’s that?”

Record Store Day is fairly self-explanatory: A day where music and vinyl lovers unite

By John Kuehne to support their local record stores. Artists release special edition records that are exclusively dedicated to vinyl. Most of these releases will never see a streaming service, so for die-hard fans this is the only time they can get their hands on exclusive tracks, remixes and live albums.

“What if I’m not into weird hipster music?” you may ask. Not to fear, Record Store Day casts a diverse lineup of popular artists ranging from Taylor Swift, Lil Uzi Vert,

Eric Clapton, Arcade Fire, Johnny Cash and The Cure to name just a few from this year alone. These exclusives bring in thousands of record lovers to their local record store across the world. The numbers don’t lie either. For last year’s event, record store sales increased 484 percent in 2017 with record stores selling 409,000 vinyls, and that number is expected to increase this year with higher anticipated releases, according to Forbes. Record Store Day isn’t exclusive to just records either. Vinyl counts for 80 percent of Record Store Day sales, where the other 20 percent comes from CDs, memorabilia and a surging comeback of cassette tapes.

My recent Record Store Day experience was my first ever, and it certainly won’t be my last. I had a pretty hefty list of records I wanted, though nobody ever gets everything they want. I arrived to a line about 100 deep, nervously awaiting my entry. The store itself will only let in one at a time after the first 50

customers are let in because of a lack of space in the store itself. Once I was in, digging through the records hastily looking for what I wanted was exhilarating. It was like an Easter egg hunt, the exclusives I came looking for were spread throughout the store. I only walked away with three records, a Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” remix 12-inch, David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” 12-inch demo backed by a live version of the track pressed on a pink vinyl and a remix album by The Cure, which was really why I made the trip in the first place.

If you have never been a participant of Record Store Day or even record shopping, I highly recommend it. You don’t have to have some extensive knowledge in music or even be super into it. Flipping through records is aesthetically pleasing, and buying physical copies of music supports artists far more than streaming ever will. Record Store Day is fun for music nerds and newcomers alike, and

supports artists and local business through a love and appreciation of music.

LIFE

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 9

THE LIST

1

#FreedMeekMill. Rapper Meek Mill caused an uproar as people gathered outside the courthouse to dance in support of his release from prison on bail.

2

The British keep on coming.

Duchess Kate and Prince William had their third child on April 23. Now we wait on the baby boy’s name.

3

Rest in peace. Swedish DJ Avicii passed away at the age of 28 on April 20 because of an unknown cause.

4

Goldilocks? A man broke into Taylor Swift’s NYC brownstone, took a shower and napped in her bed before getting arrested.

5

Bucked by the Cowboys.

After being dropped by the Cowboys, Dez Bryant said that playing for the Giants would “be crazy.”

6

You can’t see me anymore.

With just weeks before John Cena and Nikki Bella’s wedding, they called off their engagement.

7 8 9 10

Tell us how you really feel.

Former FBI Director James Comey’s book, “A Higher Loyalty,” is filled with his opinions on President Donald Trump and he does not hold back.

It’s a girl! Khloe Kardashian and boyfriend Tristan Thompson’s baby girl arrived April 12. Khloe announced her name on Instagram, True Thompson.

Be humble. Kendrick Lamar becomes the first rapper ever to win a Pulitzer for his album, “DAMN.” From the screens to the big stage, “Yodel kid” Mason Ramsey goes viral from the video of him performing in Walmart. Since then, he has performed at Coachella and Grand Ole Opry.

Far From Home

Family ties to the military prove challenging, impact loved ones

By Emily Delgado

S

hortly after the fall of the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, Administrative Assistant Helen Skalniak’s son came into the room she was in at their home in Okinawa, Japan to inform her that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon.

Her husband, Phil Skalniak, worked as an aviation logistician for the U.S. military, and was on the runway of Reagan National Airport in a plane during the time of the attacks. But that didn’t stop her from worrying, afraid of what could come.

Helen had three young children to care for on her own in Japan while her husband was away in the U.S. She realized that she had to be strong for her children in case her husband didn’t make it home.

From moving around the world and living on bases, to spending time away from loved ones, people with family who serve in the military are heavily impacted by the service of their loved ones, living a different lifestyle than the average civilian.

During Phil’s time in the military, he and Helen were stationed in Florida, California, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina and Japan before having their youngest son, senior Patrick Skalniak, in Okinawa, Japan in 1999.

“We lived on base everywhere we went,” Helen said. “Some people don’t because it’s not required that you live on base, but we always did. There was a strong sense of community, and it drew us closer together because you had to depend on one another for love and support, especially since your husband or neighbors were gone.”

After living in Okinawa for the first three years of Patrick’s life, the family moved to California before moving back to Japan because of his father’s deployment.

Children who move abroad for a parent’s deployment usually attend the Department of Defense schools. The education and discipline received in these schools and on base differ from what children not in military families typically experience.

From having to square away their bedroom and bathroom, to always responding back with, “Yes sir and yes ma’am,” children with parents in the military have constant strict discipline “checkups.”

“I was raised differently compared to other students at ESD,” Patrick said.

“Because of the academic situation in Japan, the criteria is a lot different. No student

that doesn’t have a parent in the military can say that they’re more disciplined than a student with a parent in the military because they don’t understand a military type of mindset.”

Because Helen’s father was in the army for 30 years, she had to attend five different high schools. Similarly, Patrick attended eight schools before joining ESD during his freshman year. Helen considers herself a “military brat,” and she believes her experiences helped her children deal with their father being away at times.

“My experience kind of helped them with their confidence and dealing with any situation,” Helen said. “Meeting people and making others feel welcome is not difficult for them because they’ve been there [after] having to move around so much.”

It can be hard for children to understand their parent’s career and position in the military when growing up, especially when they’re deployed for long periods of time.

“I didn’t really understand what the military really was until I got older,” Patrick said. “When I understood, I was sad because [my father] was gone for probably six months at a time. I could still talk to him on the phone, but it’s not the same as talking face-toface and having those personal conversations and teaching moments.”

Sophomore Abby Ragan’s aunt and uncle, Amy and Heath Copeland, served as dentists in the Air Force for ten years before having their first child, Channing. Although Amy is no longer active, Heath is currently semi-active in order for the government to fund his daughter’s future college education.

“Their daughter is only six-years-old and I don’t think she fully understands [her father’s career],” Ragan said. “She just knows that her dad is in the military.”

A constant worry for military families is the idea of possibly losing a family member because of conflict overseas.

“While my mom’s dad served in the army during World War II, they didn’t have any communication, so he was gone for a

couple of years and she never heard [from him],” Helen said. “This day and age, it’s almost too much information. You worry, but you have to reflect back on the strong community around you. Our faith was also very strong.”

Phil served for 26 years as lieutenant colonel, squadron commander and Marine Corps colonel before retiring from the Marine Aircraft Group, the biggest group of Marines on the island of Okinawa.

Attending the Marine Corps Ball in Okinawa, Japan after Phil’s retirement served as the perfect celebration, as thousands of people attended in order to congratulate and honor him and his work.

“It was a really cool sight for him and for me because it put me in the mindset that I could do [what he did] one day,” Patrick said. “That is definitely my favorite memory because now I can spend more time with him, but it’s definitely sad because I know he loved doing what he did.”

After graduating, Patrick plans on following in his father’s footsteps and joining the military.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always wanted to be a pilot,” Patrick said. “I’d see the Blue Angels fly by over our house in Okinawa and my dad in his uniform, and it grew on me.”

He will attend the same prep school his father did in Rhode Island before transitioning into the Naval Academy where he will play on the lacrosse team.

“Ever since he was a little boy, I’ve always felt that Patrick is just a natural born leader,” Helen said. “Whatever his goals are and whatever he really wants to do, I am going to be very supportive of that.

God has propelled him into this pathway.”

Although having a family in the military led to many, often difficult, life changes, Patrick wouldn’t change a thing about his childhood.

“I’m happy because now I know that I’m going to go into the military,” Patrick said. “I’m excited for what my future holds, thanks to my dad being a great role model.”

“No student that doesn’t have a parent in the military can say that they’re more disciplined than a student with a parent in the military because they don’t understand a military type of mindset.” ­— Senior Patrick Skalniak

LIFE

10 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Making it work

By Gillian Campbell

Faculty,staff stafffind work odd jobs Faculty, their way to before careers startingother careers through jobs

Amy Heller

Senior Chaplain Reverend Amy Heller began working behind the bar at Froggy’s Restaurant her senior year.

Bartending and ministry are more alike than not.

“Ministry is really about conversation and listening and encouraging,” Heller said. “It is not about fixing and it’s not about judging. You never know what people are carrying. Somebody could walk in the bar and I might have all these assumptions going through my head, and I am totally wrong.”

Both professions emphasize not judging a book by its cover.

“To just learn how to make myself available to listen was a huge skill that I developed as a bartender,” Heller said. “People will tell bartenders a lot—things they won’t tell priests.”

There have been many changes in the craft since Heller’s day.

Back in the ‘80s, bartenders had free pours. Now, there are stoppers on the bottles that measure the alcohol.

The best part of the job was not the crafting of beverages. For Heller, the personal connections she made were the most rewarding.

Though no longer a bartender, maybe one day Heller will get back to her roots behind the bar.

“The big joke in our family is that should we ever win a million dollars, we are going to move to the Florida Keys and I am going to open up a bar and I’m going to call it ‘The Pew,’ Heller said. “That is my retirement plan.”

Mark Gardner

One day in college, a 21-year-old Mark Gardner was asked to consider modeling. Gardner, now head coach of ESD men’s soccer, decided to check the profession out.

The first thing on Gardner’s to-do list was to take head shots.

“Back then, you would carry around a little card that had a few pictures of you on it, and then it had what size you wear, color of hair, color of eyes, height, how you are built,” Gardner said.

One day, he was sent on an audition for a Burger King and Pepsi commercial.

“They just put you in a room and have you do what you’d be doing in the commercial,” Gardner said.“They had a girl on one side, and I am on

the other side. She runs toward me, I run toward her, I pick her up, spin her around, set her down. That was it.”

Less than a week later, Gardner got a call from his agent. Gardner grabbed the gig. He was flown to New York and driven out to the shoot at Montauk Point on Long Island to film the commercial.

The commercial kicked off some local jobs for Gardner. These included Walmart, a department store and even the front page in the Dallas Morning News style section.

“Even though it [was] not prestigious, it [was] a lot of work,” Gardner said. “I got out of it because it is hard for me to be around the self-centered people in the business. I haven’t ever changed who I am or how I feel about life in general. [Modeling] helped with confidence.”

WHAT’S THE BUZZ

Antonia Moran

She landed in Paris with no idea what she wanted to do after graduating from Stanford with her masters degree.

English and French teacher Antonia Moran started teaching English to high-level executives at L’Oreal. She taught scientists that helped develop new makeup and perfume products.

“I knew this was an opportunity I could not let pass me by,” she said. “I learned about how competitive the industry is and how people had to stay hush-hush about new products at all cost.”

Though she had to keep quiet about products, the constant flow of free products made up for it.

She received two boxes of Lancome and Giorgio Armani perfume and cosmetics. Her favorite gift,

a small gold snap-lid box of solid Tresor perfume, came from a student who had actually created the product itself.

“It was a beautiful piece, like a jewel,” Moran said. “It was so special to know that my student was the one who had helped create the formula a few years earlier.”

The French work culture is more relaxed than America’s.

“Based on what I learned from those whom I taught, living a quality life to the fullest was a priority,” she said. “There were constant access to pockets of magic: the architecture, the cobblestones, the feel of living in an earlier time in history, the river, the smells of the bakeries. It makes you feel so alive to notice and appreciate the little things every day.”

Jennifer Washington

Behind the front desk sits receptionist Jennifer Washington. A painting of big green leaves cascading from a tree hangs on the brick wall to her right. To most, it’s simply wall decor. To her, it’s inspiration.

In that painting, she finds inspiration for a dress with sleeves that are boas. Thin, green. Big puffy sleeves. Big hair. The concept came to her quickly.

“I have been called a strange bird by many people,” Washington said. “I am a designer of many things.”

Washington used her talent in college where she “I make statements. I don’t do majored in costume design. When her husband was sick, she decided to make jewelry. Washington walked dainty—it’s gotta talk and be a into a store with bright beads. For fun, she got a job conversation piece. Sometimes working there the next day. It was therapeutic.

Jewelry making came easy. A bead here, another one when I am wearing one of my there. pieces, someone will ask me, “Things talk to me,” Washington said. “I collect from ‘Where did you get that?’ and I estate sales or garage sales or flea markets. Mostly, it is broken or discarded jewelry—it is the junk that people say it is one of mine.” put aside. I redo it.”

— Receptionist Jennifer Washington puts a piece of herself into everything Washington she makes, focusing on items that are avant garde.

Massive baubles, chunky beads, pendants, pearls and gems all adorn chunky chains. Metals are mixed and rules are broken.

“I make statements,” Washington said. “I don’t do dainty—it’s gotta talk and be a conversation piece. Sometimes when I am wearing one of my pieces someone will ask me, ‘Where did you get that?’ and I say it is one of mine.”

@The Episcopal School of Dallas

@ClaireMrozek

@pskuzz

“The Class of 2019 received their ESD class rings during the Junior Ring Ceremony this afternoon.

The ring bears the ESD shield which features three crosses, representing the values of religion, sound learning and self- discipline.

Congratulations, Eagles!”

“Jeff Laba. The real prom king...”

“When Helen says the chicken is ready. #shootah”

LIFE

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 11

Too cool for school

By Taylor Robertson

From horse crossings to hit and runs, drivers struggle to make it to school on time

POPTOPIC

Robert Tolbert, Senior

William Greening, Junior

“About a month ago, I was running late to school and hadn’t had much sleep the night before, so I wasn’t in the best mood. When I was trying to get into the left lane, this Mini Cooper cut me off. I decided to get on the tail of the Mini Cooper. I have a scary looking truck, so I knew if I followed him, he’d be annoyed and may even be frightened, and he deserved to pay for making me late. I sped up and continued following him for about a mile, then turned around and headed to school. I just wanted him to learn a lesson so that he doesn’t cut someone else off in the future. I was around fifteen minutes late.”

“The senior football players were taking football pictures with the senior cheerleaders. Tyla, my sister, dropped me off at the football field and took off to Walmart. I still had the keys to the car in my backpack, and it’s push to start. I got a call from Tyla and she said, “You left the keys in your backpack.” But she doesn’t just call me—she calls my friend, Caleb Harris. She was freaking out because she was stuck at Walmart and couldn’t drive back, but I was taking senior pictures so I told her, “Listen, I can’t leave right now.”

I looked at Caleb and I’m like, “Caleb, we have to go get Tyla from Walmart.” Caleb and I pulled back into the school parking lot at about 9 a.m.”

Caroline Singleton, Sophomore

Monse Rodriguez, Freshman

“I was on my way to pick up my friend for school, but Siri told me to turn on the wrong street. It was a dead-end street, so I had to pull into a driveway to turn around. I was backing up when a car moved up. I just didn’t see the car, and I didn’t know if I had hit it or not. I looked at the car, and there wasn’t a scratch. The driver didn’t do anything so I left. I went and picked up my friend, but my dad told me I was going to get charged with a hit and run, so I started crying.

I went back to the car I hit and asked the owner if they needed my insurance but they said no. I was 20 minutes late to school.”

“[My brother and I] were halfway to school when we came up to a whole bunch of stopped cars—no one was moving—but the light was green. I looked out the window and saw there was an actual horse in the road.

There was a barn, farm thing a block back, so he must have escaped or something, but he was just laying there and he took up most of the two lanes so no one could get around. I started freaking out. I had a test first, and I doubted my teacher would believe I was late because a horse was blocking the road. I was ten minutes late.”

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12 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

CENTER SPREAD

Fostering TOLERANCE Story and graphic by Kathleen Hobson and Julia Beckel

I

t was 2 a.m. and then-freshman Sophie Holland stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. A pang of anxiety kept her eyes glued to the ceiling as time slowly ticked by. She finally rose from her bed and walked restlessly to her bathroom mirror. Leaning over her sink, Sophie struggled to face her own reflection. She finally lifted her head, and stared into her own eyes. As tears spilled onto her cheeks, she worked up the courage to whisper aloud, only to herself, a secret that she had been hiding for years.

“I’m gay.”

“I whispered the words and it just tore me apart,” Holland said. “I broke down.

It was the first time I had ever really acknowledged it, because I had known for a long time, but it was the first time I really felt it and it was very emotionally raw. I had been stifling it down for so long, so to let it out, even if it was just a whisper, was so emotional, and I cried.”

Just four years ago, being openly gay at ESD was relatively unspoken of.

“I had a lot of insecurity and doubt, and it took me a lot of time to figure out my identity,” alumna Megan Sims ‘14 said. “My family had always been supportive, but because of the culture, I still had a lot of negativity and internalized homophobia. So as I started to figure out that I wasn’t straight, I don’t think it even crossed my mind to think about coming out—let alone at ESD.” Sims eventually came out to a few close friends in high school but without gay peers or lesbian women to look up to, Sims struggled to find herself at ESD. “It’s challenging to feel like you don’t quite fit in and for years, feeling like there’s something you’re missing or somehow you aren’t connecting with the rest of the world,” Sims said. “It’s really lonely.”

These feelings of isolation often lead to depression, and a 2016 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that almost 30 percent of LBG students had attempted suicide and 60 percent reported feeling hopeless.

“We see statistics about teen suicide and the biggest population is LGBTQ, so how are we, as a school, going to protect those kids?” Choir Director Joe Snyder said.

It took Sims years to finally feel comfortable with herself.

“Understanding my identity has been a process, and I don’t think it’s something I was remotely comfortable with in high school,” Sims said. “Even through my first year of college I wasn’t in a place where I could explore being into women, it took a long time to settle with that.”

ESD is striving to become a community where students can feel comfortable with their identity. Snyder, who has taught at ESD for the past 29 years, has seen a visible change in the culture.

“First of all, it wasn’t talked about—words

were never uttered,” Snyder said. “There were isolated students who came out, and I mean to some, it was no big deal. To some, there was push back either by parents or administration. But it just seems like we’ve turned a big corner the past few years.”

The culture shift on campus has mirrored the increased tolerance within society. The Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage encouraged equality across the nation, including within ESD. Class of 2000 alum and Network Administrator Bryan Barnett came out his junior year at ESD, but at the time, lacked the official support of the school, which could have helped him handle a tumultuous home life.

“I struggled a lot in high school,” Barnett said. “Dealing with it socially, dealing with my parents, if I’d had a better support system I think it would have been an easier time for me. It would have been really great to know that the school was officially behind me.”

Despite never being directly bullied or physically harmed, Barnett still felt present homophobia, such as when he was discouraged from bringing a male date to prom.

“I remember I wanted to bring a guy to prom but I wasn’t able to,” Barnett said. “A junior girl was really upset about the idea of me bringing a guy to her prom, that I was going to ruin her prom. So I made do with a rainbow polka dot bow tie. Even a few years ago, I would hear that students had claimed, ‘Oh, there’s no one gay at ESD.’” Although the school had a public policy and statement about diversity and inclusion, this statement did not mention different sexual orientations because it was difficult to decide how that inclusion would align with the school’s Episcopalian identity. This was changed by the Board in May of 2015 after much deliberation and discussion about the Episcopal Church’s understanding that sexuality is “a gift from God.” Students in schools with a comprehensive policy were less likely to hear “gay” used in a negative way, where as almost 68 percent of students in schools with no policy heard “gay” used in a negative way, according to the 2015 National School Climate Survey. “[We included sexual orientation because] when we say, ‘in the Episcopal baptismal covenant, we are to honor the dignity of every human being,’ and we’re creating a community here that says ‘except for,’ we’re not living out our mission as an Episcopal School,” Heller said. “Inclusion has always been a part of the community because everyone is a child of God. It’s at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus that I am going to make sure I am airing on the side of welcoming.

I’ve always understood that to live

“Over the years, it’s changed so much. People are just much more chill about it. They don’t care and it’s not a big deal.

Authenticity is always the best medicine for any situation.” ­— Senior Sophie Holland

the gospel is to live with great honor and respect for the vast differences in the world.”

Being openly gay at ESD is not taboo, although students still face challenges as they struggle with acceptance.

According to an April 23 poll of 249 students, about 60 percent of students think that ESD is sort of accepting of the community, but that there is still room for improvement.

“When I was a freshman, I was terrified to tell anyone about being gay because I had heard a lot of, ‘Man, that’s so gay’ and words used in a derogatory way that are so hurtful,” senior and self-identified lesbian Sophie Holland said. “I spent so much energy worrying about it. I would go home every day and just worry—it stressed me out so much.”

Dealing with her personal journey of self-acceptance and discovering her identity, Holland decided to open up to her trusted friend, senior Ellery Marshall.

“It took me like ten minutes to say the words, because I had never said ‘I’m gay’ out loud before,” Holland said. “Just saying those two words—I can’t describe how hard it was to get that out. I kept choking on it. And then, there were lots of tears. And she obviously was instantly accepting.”

After revealing her secret to her best friend, Holland spent the next two years debating whether or not to come out to her peers, finally deciding during the Class of 2018’s senior retreat.

“I didn’t want it to be something that created distance between me and other people,” Holland said. “Ultimately, I decided I’d rather have one person really know who I am and love me than a hundred people who don’t know who I am. If anything, it’s allowed me to get closer to people. I don’t have to pretend to have crushes on guys. I can just be more honest.”

Holland’s positive experience of her classmate’s acceptance changed her life, and she hopes others have the opportunity to feel the same happiness.

“Over the years, its changed so much.

People are just so much more chill.

They don’t care, and it’s not a big deal,” she said. “Authenticity is always the best medicine for any situation. If you’re feeling hurt or depressed, going and telling someone, even if it’s just one person, is such an improvement.

Tell your one person first. Someone who you know is going to accept you and love you, and that way, you’re not alone anymore. Because the loneliness is the worst part of it. If you can have a friend who’s with you, then you’re going to be fine.”

Creating the culture of acceptance on campus has been an ongoing evolution.

“There is this sense that the silence about it is more deafening than anything else,” sophomore Nick Harapanahalli said.

“I just instea like, ‘ Ha examp suppo “A gay be borne throu He tolera classro “[In conve as you forma Harap discus of peo assum Giv agains comm about

“We worked togeth create Spectrum be when students com and say, ‘We need place where studen proclaim who they live their authentic we need to suppor — Reverend Amy H

Harap roman where left ou All pe mode peopl you w Ha

CENTER SPREAD

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 13

Episcopal identity calls for inclusivity, Spectrum alliance group provides safe space on campus

t want to be able to walk the halls and have people, ad of being like, ‘Oh, there’s that gay kid’ have them be ‘Oh, hey, that’s Nick and he happens to be gay.’” arapanahalli said that he sees the senior class as an ple of how people can grow more accepting and ortive, despite differences of opinions. lot of the stuff that the people who are efore me have gone through, they’ve e the brunt of what I don’t have to go ugh,” Harapanahalli said. e believes that the school could help foster ance through more conversations inside ooms. n my experience], none of these ersations that we are supposed to have ung adults that are incremental to our ative years, none of that happens here,” panahalli said. “Some people can say ssions like this have no place in school. But for a lot ople, it’s just keeping straight as a default. If we don’t me anything’s different, why will anything be different?” ven that some students have used homophobic slurs st him, he does not always consider school to be a safe munity. In a 2015 National School Climate Survey, t 96 percent of students heard types of homophobic remarks such as “dyke” or “faggot.”

Beyond offensive homophobic slurs, common sayings such as “that’s so gay” are also offensive and were reported to be heard in a negative way by more than 98 percent of students.

“Being gay is actually a big part of who I am and to know me, you kind of have to go through that one rainbow of a layer, and denying that kind of makes things seem gray,” Harapanahalli said.

“Even people I’ve come out to, some of them call me a fag. School should be a safe place.”

LGBTQ youth struggle with being gay in a predominantly straight society.

“It’s hard to date as a gay,” panahalli said. “It kind of makes you feel not just ntically alone but also this weird depressing loneliness e you see all your friends are going out and you feel ut. I would really like to have a high school love story. eople are entitled to it. There aren’t that many role els for you to talk to and not an abundance of [other gay le] so you can’t have the normal conversations that wish you could.” arapanahalli wants to help those

her to ecause me a safe nts can y are and c selves,’ rt that.”­ Heller

who come after him so they don’t have to go through the same hardships he did.

“I want to create a safer place for people so that when middle schoolers get here, they can feel comfortable with themselves,” Harapanahalli said. “I want to give them that feeling that I never had until high school when [older grades] gave it to me. That starts with awareness.”

Spectrum, an alliance group, was created in 2016 to provide a safe space for LGBTQ students, as well as allow students who do not identify as LGBTQ to show support for their peers. According to a Center for Disease Control Prevention study, LGBTQ students had fewer suicidal thoughts and attempts when schools had gaystraight alliances and policies prohibiting expression of homophobia in place for three or more years.

“ESD’s goal and mission is for every student to feel welcome,” Diversity Director Elizabeth Goatley said. “When you are underrepresented in a space, it’s helpful when you can be around people of like culture who understand what you are going through and have similar stories. A [group] like Spectrum gives students who are figuring out what sexuality means to them a space to come together and talk about issues.”

Four students from the Classes of 2016 and 2017 first approached Heller about starting Spectrum, and she recognized the importance of it and went with the students to present the idea to Head of School Meredyth Cole.

“We worked together to create Spectrum because when students come and say, ‘We need a safe place where students can proclaim who they are and live their authentic selves,’ we need to support that,” Heller said. “Otherwise, we have people in our community who don’t feel emotionally and authentically safe, and that’s not who we are.”

Students who have these school resources report better school experiences and academic success. Groups such as

“First of all, it wasn’t talked about, words were never uttered. But it seems like we’ve turned a big corner in the past few years.” ­— Choir Director Joe Snyder

84

percent of students consider themselves to be supportive of the LGBT community

Spectrum make students feel more connected to their school community and students are less likely to feel unsafe.

“Spectrum is really important because it shows people that [the topic] isn’t taboo,” pansexual senior Brianna McLarty said. “When I first came to ESD, there was nothing like that and people didn’t speak about it my freshman year. Now with Spectrum, it’s still seen as controversial to an extent but it [is being] normalized.”

Research shows that students are more successful when they have teachers who represent who they are. About 43 percent of students think ESD does not provide enough representation through ESD faculty and staff, according to an April 23 poll of 249 students.

“Knowing that there are other people who are gay [is so helpful],” Harapanahalli said. “For awhile in eighth grade, I thought I was the only one, like in this entire city. I know it sounds dumb, but there was no one I could talk to—­­­­­­­­no one I could look up to.”

Current teachers value their opportunity to serve as a role model and provide students with support.

“It is affirming in my job to be so supported now and to be helping provide some of that support network for the kids,” Barnett said. “It’s something that excites me about my job.

Expanding inclusivity into curriculum is also seen as beneficial by some. About 62 percent of students believe that gay rights should be included in ESD’s history curriculum and taught in United States history classes.

“Education makes everyone more confident and would certainly combat ignorance,” alum Gray Malin ‘04 said.

Through the school’s creation of Spectrum and inclusivity of its mission statement, there are continued steps toward tolerance that can help students feel supported.

“If you create an [inclusive] curriculum, what you’re going to [see] is a more diverse and interested community who know a lot more about basic things,” Harapanahalli said.

“Things that really put our minorities not as the ‘other’ but within the context of society, and by doing so, you really integrate them and you don’t marginalize them.”

89

percent of students identify as straight

according to an April 23 poll of 249 students

LIFE

14 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Sound Skip basic artists, press play on these fresh suggestions instead bytes

By Gillian Campbell

The try hard hip hoppers: Instead of Bruno Mars, G-Eazy, Jason Derulo and Justin Bieber, listen to Khalid, Frank Ocean and NoMBe.

The sickly sweet voices: Instead of Ariana Grande and Julia Michaels, listen to BØRNS, Maggie Rogers and Billie Eilish.

Ariana Grande needs to go back to the time she played Kat on Nickelodeon’s Victorious. She used to be so innocent, and now her songs are vulgar. We already have Mariah Carey, so I don’t understand why we need Grande too.

The reign of Bruno Mars is over. While Mars is talented and a great artist, he is overplayed. It is sad, but when a great artist is played too often, their special luster is often worn away. G-Eazy lacks talent and Justin Bieber lacks even more. Derulo only tries to produce hits, while Khalid produces art.

The empoweress: Instead of Taylor Swift and Maren Morris, listen to Bishop Briggs, Rihanna and Kesha.

Taylor Swift tries to be edgy and she simply is not. Recently, people have finally awoken and realized that Swift should fade away. Swift’s reputation for writing about boys is now tiresome. What happens when she gets married and no longer has any breakup baggage to write about? In my wildest dreams Swift will never be played on the radio again. Maren Morris is inching closer to the line where country meets pop. Just as Swift jumped genres, Morris is soon to do so as well. Her song “The Middle” is proof that pop has stolen this singer from her roots.

The wannabe oddballs: Instead of Katy Perry, Halsey and Janelle Monáe, listen to Lady Gaga, St. Vincent, Sylvan Esso, FKA Twigs and Banks.

Katy Perry has become worse as the years go on. The contestants on American Idol, which she serves as a judge on, are better than her. Perry’s prime began in 2008 and ended in 2012. Her first albums, “One of The Boys,” “Teenage Dream” and later “Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection” were catchy and a little bit naughty.

Perry has since tried to veer away from this style, but this has simply resulted in a bad mix of the old and a wannabe new. Halsey is very much a girl trying to be tough. Her music is whiny, basic and over-produced. Her claim to fame is her boyfriend, G-Eazy, a fellow music flop.

The angst is transparent and hard to rally behind. Halsey tries to be weird with colored hair, daring makeup and obscure fashion, but her choices aren’t all that weird. Monáe’s “Yoga” is repulsive and should be deleted from existence.

The basic boy band: Instead of One Direction’s now solo men, 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Nickelback or any other boy band, listen to Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Judah & the Lion, Sundara Karma, the Glass Animals and Moon Taxi.

To follow it up, there are a lot of basic boy bands that need to be erased. Thankfully, One Direction eliminated themselves.

Besides Harry Styles, 1D has struggled to veer away from their boy band style.

Bands that market to preteens just should not be listened to anymore. Young groupies: Apply lip gloss, kiss your band posters one last time and then tear them down.

The big voice bombs: Instead of Meghan Trainor, Rachel Platten and Tori Kelly, listen to Elle King and K.Flay.

All of the rasp and more. Meghan Trainor is average. Her songs are frankly annoying.

While she attempts to sing with soul and passion, it comes off as tacky. She broke into the music scene with her song, “All About That Bass,” and I honestly thought she’d be a single-hit artist. Tori Kelly and Rachel Platten, like Trainor, attempt to empower the population with their music.

Yet, these lackluster fight songs could not hold up in a fight against Elle King and K.Flay. King and Flay have a fiery rasp that is ignited in real passion—something that Trainor, Platten and Kelly lack.

Meanwhile, I am still scratching my head as to how Julia Michaels became famous.

The try-hard pop queens: Instead of Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha and Hailee Steinfeld, listen to Lorde and Alessia Cara.

Camila Cabello will always be known as the girl who ruined Fifth Harmony. Because she ditched her team, I just can’t be a fan of hers. Bebe Rexha is faker than plastic and Dua Lipa just sounds like all of the other girls in the pop genre.

The lackluster teen kings: Instead of Charlie Puth, Jon Bellion, Shawn Mendes and Ed Sheeran, listen to Kaleo, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, George Ezra and Hozier.

Teen boys singing about their broken hearts are not special. Similar to boy bands, these boys are overrated because they are attractive. I need to get Mendes and the rest of these puppets out of my head.

* For your convenience, a complete playlist with the suggested artists can be found on Spotify @gilliancampbell11 entitled “Easy on the Ears”

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 15

OPINIONS STAFF STANCE

School should foster political discussion, promote activism

K

ids should not be used for a political agenda,” one YouTube comment reads in response to the student-led March for Our Lives on March 24.

As a staff of high school journalists, we believe we aren’t being passively “used” for any agenda.

We are active. We are, as our history classes have taught us, thinking critically of the government and engaging in the democratic process.

According to an April 23 poll of 249 students, 11 percent attended the March for Our Lives protest in Dallas. An estimated 800,000 others marched in D.C. that day—over three times the number who attended the March on Washington in 1963.

There is no doubting students are catalysts of change, and during the chaotic past two months, have proven themselves as not the leaders of tomorrow, but of today.

Within a month of joining Twitter, Parkland school shooting survivor and gun control activist Emma Gonzalez, @Emma4Change, accumulated over one million followers—double the National Rifle Association’s, who have been on Twitter for nine years.

With millions watching nationwide, the 18-year-old stood in front of thousands in D.C., listing the names of the 17 killed in the Parkland shooting. This was followed by six minutes and twenty seconds of silence—the amount of time the gunman took to kill her classmates and teachers.

“When did children become such a dirty word?” Gonzalez wrote a week after the shooting. “Adults are saying that children are lazy, meanwhile Jaclyn Corin organized an entire

trip to Tallahassee, three buses stuffed with 100 kids and reporters who went to discuss our pitiful firearm legislation with the people who can—but won’t—do something about it…

Adults like us when we have strong test scores, but they hate us when we have strong opinions.”

At ESD, unlike some public schools, we argue that the adults in our community encourage us to express our opinions—whether that be through a class debate, the SAGE suggestion box or a uniform policy discussion.

On April 20, students were offered the opportunity to walk out in honor of the 13 who died in Columbine on the shooting’s anniversary as well as in support of better regulated gun control. We hope that all students feel comfortable to express their political opinions on campus. Doing so fosters an environment of civil discourse and mature conversations that help shape us into educated citizens.

One can argue that a school is no place for politics, but why do political discussions need to be arenas of contention, packed with subjects too taboo to be educated on?

Almost 40 percent of students find themselves politically active, and nearly 88 percent are informed on political issues and current events, according to an April 23 poll of 249 students.

We may not use that Precalculus formula or memorized history date once we graduate, but an understanding of the importance of being informed, how to constructively criticize the government and—most importantly—how to have mature, political conversations are integral to being an active citizen who will one day vote.

We don’t always have to agree, but the

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE: Students walk out in solidarity on April 20, the Columbine shooting’s 19th anniversary. “I originally went to the March for Our Lives Downtown, and the speeches there made me want to get more involved,” senior Leta Flores, pictured above, said. “People are losing their lives, and we need to stop that. We’re the future generation who are about to go out into the world and do something about it.” Photo by Taylor Robertson

conversation is worth having.

We recognize that some students chose not to participate in the walkout on the Columbine anniversary, making their own political statement. The vast majority did so respectfully, but we were disappointed in others who chose to shame those who did walk out—one student posting a photo on social media of a hand symbol of a gun with the caption, “This is what democracy looks like,” a play on one of March for Our Lives’ chants.

Whether a student chose to walk out or not, we commend those who made their own statement in a mature fashion.

The fact that ESD students not only attended but helped organize the Dallas march, in addition to organizing their own walkout on campus, means something. It means that they care enough about something to make a statement. It means that they are maturely critical. It means that they are active, and as fellow students, we’re proud of that.

On the

EDGE

Should students be

encouraged to engage in

political discussion and

expression on campus?

Nick Harapanahalli, ‘20

Charlotte Clark, ‘21 “High school is a great time to shape your political identity because ESD is accepting of all opinions.

Also, encouraging students to become politically active is crucial for a more diverse community. If handled respectfully, politics can make for a diverse community of activists and leaders.”

“Schools are political places.

The longer we ignore that they are the hotspots for becoming a global citizen, the more disservice we do to our students. Political activism is about expressing who you are as an individual and working toward a future that you can be a part of.”

Autumn Neurohr, ‘18

John Heldman, ‘19 “A good education requires speaking your mind politically, but it becomes a problem when discussions happen at inappropriate times, such as chapel, or opportunities to speak are only given to one group. It requires two opinions, which student political activism at ESD has yet to experience.”

“Students need to get talking about political issues that are going on in the world because without discussion, we will remain naive and we will be unable to form our own opinions. If you can’t think for yourself, you will follow others without questioning their intent.“

Eagle Edition

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Julia Beckel Kathleen Hobson

LIFE EDITORS Margaret Smith Gwyneth Zogg

MANAGING EDITOR Gillian Campbell

SPORTS EDITOR Sydney Rezaie asst. Emily Delgado

COPY EDITOR Anastasia Sotiropoulos DESIGN/PHOTO EDITOR Madison Willox NEWS EDITOR Meredith Moran asst. Lauren Egger OPINIONS EDITOR Melissa Rivera

BUSINESS MANAGER John Calvert STAFF WRITERS John Kuehne, Sohaib Raza, Taylor Robertson, Amanda Warren ADVISER DiAngelea Millar

MISSION STATEMENT The Eagle Edition is a student-produced newspaper published seven times a year with the intent to educate in a professional manner and provide a voice for the Community. The Eagle Edition earned Gold and Silver Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Pacemaker Awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and Gold Stars from the Interscholastic League Press Conference. Circulation is 1000 copies, and the student population is 667.

EDITORIAL POLICY The staff abides by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. The opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the adviser, faculty or staff.

This is a student-run publication and a forum for student voices. All images in the Eagle Edition are student produced, republished with permission, are in the public domain or fall within fair- use practices for criticism and news reporting.

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OPINIONS

16 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Stop the Facetuning

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Eagle Edition, I’ve got a problem...a time problem.

As hard as I try, I am unable to keep up with my Twitter feed during the course of a normal school day. It used to be, I could pull my phone out in meetings or Chapel or lunch or any other time when I was bored and check on LeBron’s latest shenanigans or see how many “likes” I had gotten on my tweet about the huge lax win. But, all of a sudden, people seem to care—deans, administrators, and even teachers—and stare disapprovingly. I constantly hear all this silly talk about “we need to engage face-to-face” and “social media is addictive.” I know, I know, I am a crusty old man who always whines about the way things used to be.

But, seriously, can’t we just make more time in the day for this? After Chapel, flex, and the passing periods simply isn’t enough.

Inevitably, students are forced to turn in a fake phone at the start of class to ensure their Snap chat streaks stay alive during our ridiculously long periods. Doesn’t it make more sense to just have 15 minute classes with 10 minute passing periods to allow us all to catch up on what is really important?

Until we can figure out a way to create more time in our days for this purpose, I will continue to stay up until 2 a.m. every night to get through my feed. While sleep might seem a high price to pay, it is way less meaningful than my digital presence.

Please help!

– Henry Heil, Head of Upper School Dear Eagle Edition, In a world with so many people and beliefs, it is hard to please everyone, but the fact that we are able to express our opinions is a fantastic freedom that should never be stifled or overlooked. At ESD, we have the opportunity of going to school with people from all walks of life and can talk about our differing opinions civilly, which is important in fostering an open-minded person.

But as we all know, politics have become very exhausting, so it is important to find an escape from the constant nagging and focus on ourselves, our faith and the community.

I believe that our daily Chapel was a perfect time for this, but recently I have found that in this sacred space, it is all too easy to find controversial topics with nothing to do with faith or community.

There is no room for agenda-pushing in Chapel, yet the assembly of several hundred people has lured political rants. Topics which are clearly controversial should never be found in chapel, because it draws divide in our community, ignores and disregards those who do not believe in that certain agenda and distracts the sacred time from God. Debate and well thought out discourse is critical to an education, but Chapel is not the place for this—unless we also open it up to a two sided discussion—but until then, all we get is a one-sided rant. Chapel is supposed to be an all-inclusive place of reflection, yet this political bias only excludes and alienates. There is a place for politics, but Chapel cannot continue to be corrupted by it.

— Junior John Heldman

O

ur social media feeds are our own personal museums, each photo hanging on our walls as part of a specially curated collection showcasing our best angles, best moments, best everything.

They’re a highlight reel.

Although we have been dubbed “the selfie generation” by far too many as a quip at our narcissism, I would argue that our virtual, meticulously handcrafted shrines to ourselves are an artform. Sure, they may not take as much depth, effort or talent as real museum pieces, but our Instagrams are forms of selfexpression, whether they display themes of identically VSCO-edited, teal-gray-faded DSLR snaps or not.

I’m not one to sappily scroll through my feed, thinking to myself: “Ugh. Look at that perfectly tanned skin. All these perfect people with their perfect lives.” First, I know spray tans exist. Second, to me, spray-tanned or not, outer appearances don’t equate to a fulfilling life.

Instead, I view the photos in my feed as what they are: highly-curated, aesthetically pleasing highlight reels.

But not up until recently did I realize that these filtered, exposure-edited pictures are also—more often than I ever imagined— Facetuned. According to an April 23 poll of 56 upperclassmen girls, 41 percent report digitally altering their photos through the use of apps. To me, the typical teething-whitening and barely noticeable spot-treating isn’t dangerous. As the wise Tina Fey, someone who has had her fair share of magazine cover edits done to her, explains: “Feminists do the best Photoshop because they leave the meat on your bones. They don’t change your size or your skin color.

They leave in your disgusting knuckles, but they may take out some armpit stubble. Not

Forty-one percent of girls retouch photos, promotes false image

because they’re denying its existence, but because they understand that it’s OK to make a photo look as if you were caught on your best day in the best light.”

And that’s why I believe Photoshop on magazine covers—within reason—shouldn’t be made out to be a sin. Not only do people view magazine covers with a more suspicious eye, aware that they’re looking at the final product of hundreds of shots, professional lighting and a team of stylists, but a magazine cover isn’t advertised as reality. It’s advertised as an art piece.

Yes, reshaping an entire figure into an unattainable image with intense thighthinning is not OK. But making the photo look as if you were caught on your best day, as Fey explains? Understandable.

Unfortunately, the reality is that most magazine content does take it to the extreme,

showcasing the age-old unhealthy beauty standards that, at the end of the day, are simply fake.

Where Facetuning and the like crosses a line is when it’s advertised as reality, which on social media, it always is. No one is viewing their friends’ posts under scrutiny, thinking, Is her stomach that flat? Does she have that thigh gap? Is her waist really that small?

According to a survey by the Renfrew Center Foundation, half of adults retouch their social media posts. Let that sink in.

I’m not advocating for girls everywhere to start posting streams of Finsta-esque selfies.

Instead, I hope we can start encouraging each other to post that Spring Break bikini pic, Facetune-bodytune-free. Because in all honesty, Facetuning is only unrealistically morphing the real art: you.

—Anastasia Sotiropoulos

Photo retouched using Facetune.

Free speech must stay on the Internet Web allows for important discussions, is threatened by companies

The Internet is terrible.

In fact, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that it has always been. From ancient AOL chat rooms to modern day Twitter feeds, the World Wide Web has

By John Calvert served as a dumping ground for, it seems, nothing more than memes and personal insults since its inception, a lesson in the risks run by allowing people to instantaneously communicate with at least a facsimile of anonymity.

Yet, for every hundred or so of these immature postings, there is at least one truly valuable idea––one enlightening perception that awakens the mind to a host of other concepts and allows it to substitute paradigms. We must not forget the role taken by the web in the organization of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, in the elucidation of NSA spy activities against American citizens and in even the election of Donald Trump, among other things. The Internet is a facilitator of change and a spreader of

ideas just as much as, if not more, than it is a dumpster fire fueled by crude jokes.

It is this way only because of a longstanding tradition of commitment to the ideal of free speech on the part of both posters and the platforms they post on.

Free speech is one of, if not the, most important values a society can possess, so it stands to reason that it would be so for websites as well. After all, progress can only come through debate, which itself only occurs in environments where people are allowed to disagree.

In recent years, however, we have seen many social media platforms spurn free speech in favor of user comfort.

Some moderation is, of course needed; discussions are best when kept on topic and trolls are not all too conducive to a pleasing browsing experience. But, more often than not, trolls are ignored and allowed to continue their activities, while accounts that feature social opinions even slightly right of center are either “shadowbanned,” a state in which posts by a user are not seen by anyone but themselves, or outright removed from the site.

Being against gay marriage, for example, may be offensive, but because it is a political

issue, people should be allowed to share their perspectives on it. Nobody should be prevented from voicing an opinion on a topic concerning public policy. They can suffer negative social consequences if a viewpoint is distasteful enough, free speech doesn’t guarantee that people will approve of what someone says, after all, but they should still be allowed to say it in the first place.

Twitter, Facebook, Google and Instagram, among others, are all corporations, and thus are allowed to moderate behavior on their platforms in any way they please. But these websites are where most people receive most of their news, most of their entertainment and most of their social interactions, so much so that banning a person’s account is tantamount to disallowing them from sharing their opinions in any meaningful, or practical, way. For some company to stifle debate about important governmental affairs because a person’s feelings could get hurt is immoral at best, especially when considering how integral the Internet is to life in the 21st century.

The Internet is too valuable a tool and too popular a platform to allow to slip into political censorship.

We must not put aside the right to speak one’s mind in favor of corporate interest.

OPINIONS

April 28, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 17

Minim ize t peopl he numbe r of t e in o h ur pr isons! e

Legalize it. Regulate it. Tax it. Grow the economy.

Disjointed

drug! y a w e t is a ga Wee d We should decrease the punishment, not legalize!

As more states legalize marijuana, the debate continues

graphic by Amanda Warran

PRO: Legalization of cannabis would generate revenue, decrease incarcerations

CON: Marijuana legalization leads to more drug use, waste of consumer money

The legalization of cannabis has taken over the media for months, and as more and more states begin legalizing, the answer grows increasingly clear: the legalization of marijuana would improve our country’s health, safety and economy.

The uses of cannabis range from personal pleasure to medical aid.

Doctors around the world are prescribing medical marijuana to treat people with cancer, HIV and other illnesses. While information regarding the drug continues to pour in, the undeniable truth is that marijuana, when prescribed for medical purposes, is overwhelmingly beneficial to its user. Patients feel more comfortable when undergoing

By Gwyneth Zogg treatment like chemotherapy with cannabis, which has helped curbed nausea and has stabilized sleeping patterns and energy levels. Federal legalization would end discrimination against patients living in states where marijuana is illegal.

Legalization makes it more difficult for minors to access the drug via a drug dealer.

With current federal law, youth have just as much access to the drug as adults do.

If the goal is to remove the drug from those who are too young or would abuse the substance, the logical response is to make it legal for users who are responsible and of age. Marijuana stores decrease competing sales by drug dealers, lower street demand and eventually run cannabis dealers out of business, much like how the illegal sale of alcohol was vastly diminished following prohibition.

Legalization would also dramatically decrease the costs of individuals in jail for marijuana use. According to Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, the United States would save approximately $7.7 billion per year by not having to enforce a marijuana ban. Miron continues to explain that we would save another $6 billion if cannabis was taxed like tobacco. In savings, that amounts to $13.7 billion a year.

Statistics show that marijuana is less damaging than alcohol and tobacco, both of which are legal for 18 and 21-year-olds. Scientific Reports published that more than 2,000 Americans die every year because of excessive drinking, while marijuana intake has no reported deaths. Deaths associated with marijuana are often a result of laced cannabis or people driving under the influence, but the issue of marijuana being laced with other drugs decreases dramatically with the development of dispensaries.

Overwhelmingly, the data supports the notion that the legalization of marijuana would greatly benefit the U.S. economy, assist patients suffering from diseases and disabilities, reduce drug-related crime, slash costs associated with jailing users of cannabis and decrease the number of illegal substances on the streets. While the discussion is an important one to have, most in support of legalization believe the benefits will be vast and immediate.

I have never understood why people like to smoke weed.

Grass, herb, asparagus, dope, fatty, kush– whatever the hell you want to call that stuff, I just don’t get why people “blaze” it. Marijuana’s psychotropic effects, the only reason that it is a political issue in the first place, are baffling to me, namely in that so many people risk prison time in order to experience them. What is the appeal of sitting around for hours on end, too high to think, giggling at the slightest of interactions and complaining about the “munchies?”

Those in favor of the decriminalizing it claim reasoning through its supposed medical benefits, portraying it as a wonder drug that can

By John Calvert solve almost every ailment from bipolar disorder to cancer. Despite the fact that many who tell such tales mainly do so as a pretense, intending solely to use weed recreationally if legalized, most of the stories themselves are patently false.

According to a 2017 review by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, claims concerning the plant’s ability to soothe those suffering from ADHD and epilepsy, among other things, are unfounded. It, in fact, concluded that regular users of cannabis are at a markedly higher risk of developing schizophrenia and other mental diseases. The review also noted that smoking weed has no effect on the spread and severity of cancer. Like crystal healing and acupuncture, medicinal marijuana is a “miracle cure” that, in reality, has little positive effect on a person’s health.

Bear in mind that I am not too partial to our current way of dealing with the possession and use of marijuana, with felony charges and lengthy prison sentences.

Other than being quite severe, such measures break up families, can ruin young people’s lives, and are, worst of all, uneconomic, as it’s expensive to try a defendant and house them in prison for a year. A fine or mandatory rehab, logistical issues aside, would be a much better method of discouraging the buying and selling of weed. That being said, the government should still take an active role in controlling this substance.

Thinking about how many resources have been frittered away thanks to cannabis is disheartening, to say the least. In 2016, Americans and Canadians spent an estimated $53 billion on dope– $53 billion that could have gone toward an infinite number of other things. I am, of course, aware that “Cheech and Chong” isn’t a documentary, but it’s absurd how central marijuana is to the identities of those who abuse it on at least a semi-regular basis. They wear clothing adorned with cannabis leaves, they post on forums dedicated to the drug, they turn the fact that they waste their lives on crushed leaves with the ability to make them feel loopy for a bit into an integral component of who they are as a human being.

It is quite sad, really.

Belonging to two cultures provides opportunity for self-discovery

B

eing bi-cultural is one of my favorite things about myself.

There are two sides to everything I do, which has made me be more open to other cultures and to trying new things.

From speaking

By Melissa Rivera two languages to listening to different genres of music, I am lucky to experience diversity in everything I do.

Unlike most kids who just have a sleepover with their small group of friends for their birthday party, I had a quinceñera in Mexico, which about a thousand people attended.

A quinceñera is a celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday, which signifies her transition from childhood to adulthood. Family from both my parents’ sides came from all over

Mexico and the U.S. to celebrate with me on December 26, 2015 in Guanajuato, Mexico.

People ask me all the time as to why I chose to have my quinceñera in Mexico and why I did not invite anyone from school. The reason is because I knew people would have felt out of place. My family in Mexico only speak Spanish and my school friends only speak English, so they would not have been able to communicate with each other, which would have left me to do all the translating.

It’s not that I wouldn’t have wanted my friends there, but a quinceñera is something that you celebrate with your family, and I wanted to be able to do that fully and not be worried about my friends fitting in.

Although there are many advantages to being bi-cultural, it can sometimes be hard to feel accepted by both communities.

Whenever I’m in Mexico, I speak Spanish, but you can tell right away that I’m not from there because I don’t have an accent when I

speak. But back in Texas, I’ve been told I have an accent when I speak English. It doesn’t hurt my feelings when people point it out because I’m not ashamed of it, but it does make me feel uncomfortable.

Going to a high school where the majority of the students are white, I feel that some people want me to conform to the rest of society in order to be accepted.

I am often put in a place at school where I have to choose who I am going to be culturally to assimilate to the world around me.

Some people are truly intrigued about my Mexican culture, but others seem to resent it and believe the stereotypes. I have heard, “Are your parents illegal?” “That’s so cool, I wish I was Hispanic,” and “I don’t get why your parents won’t let you go out every weekend.”

My close friends know my parents are not illegal, find my Mexican culture interesting and know that my parents are strict like many

foreign parents.

The reason why they are strict is because they recognize that America is a land filled with opportunities and they don’t want to take any chances jeopardizing that.

Not only did my parents have a hard life growing up, but they also were raised in a different country with different customs and traditions. They have adapted to American culture in some ways but still stay true to Mexican culture.

When I first came to ESD, I felt that I had to adapt to fit in.

I changed the way I acted, made my mom buy me new clothes to fit in with the rest of the girls and was acting like someone who I wasn’t.

It wasn’t until this year that I embraced both of my cultures and didn’t care what people thought. I have made new friends, grown closer to some people, further from others, and I am happier.

18 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Finding a college roommate is more awkward than expected

Direct messaging a stranger on Instagram isn’t my idea of how to make friends, but that is what I had to do to find my college roommate.

After my acceptance into Elon University, the idea of finding a complete stranger to live with was daunting. At the time, I didn’t know a single person going to Elon, so I knew I’d have to reach out through the Class of 2022 Facebook group.

If you search any college on Facebook, a group will most likely pop up full of admitted students of the rising class.

Hundreds of people desperate for a roommate post an album of photos of themselves with a cheesy description of who they are and their social media information in an attempt to attract someone’s attention.

“I love to go out, but I also enjoy staying in. I love to have fun, travel and make friends. Message me if you want to be friends or roommates,” is essentially what every person says.

I rarely text or use Snapchat, so when I was scrolling through these prospective roommates I had no idea of how to reach out to them. I messaged around ten girls all at once trying out different approaches.

‘Hey gal! I’m going to Elon next year too!’

‘I saw your post and we’re like the same person!’ ‘You look super nice!’

I cringe every time I think about those texts—I didn’t know how to be myself over social media.

I’ve never once used the word ‘gal’ while talking and texting it felt completely unnatural. None of those girls ended up working out and I was immediately worried I wouldn’t be able to find a nice roommate.

It wasn’t until a friend mentioned they knew of a girl named Meredith from Philadelphia going to Elon that I decided to take another shot at Instagram direct message. I didn’t ask her straight away to be roommates, because I didn’t want to freak her out. I decided to take it slow.

Last weekend we both attended the prospective student weekend and I asked her if she wanted to get breakfast before the President of Elon was supposed to speak in the gymnasium.

On the way to pick her up, I went over a list of topics that I could talk about, but the second she got in the car I realized I had nothing to worry about. We talked for hours—it was as if we’d been friends for years.

Time flew by and it wasn’t until I checked my phone that I realized we were late to the President’s speech. We were in a rush as we asked a student where the gym was. She walked us there making small talk, asking us if we were definitely coming next year to which we both nodded.

“So are y’all roommates?”

There was a pause and we looked at each other unsure of how to respond. I was relieved to see she felt the same way I did— unsure of how to ask.

Finding a college roommate is oddly similar to the early stages of dating. You’re both nervous to make the first move, asking to be roommates.

Similarly to dating, it’s crucial to get to know each other before diving into any kind of commitment—especially the immense commitment of living together.

— Margaret Smith

SPEACHLESS? graphic

Private schools need to support free speech to encourage polite civil discourse, empower students for real world experiences

I

have been on staff of the Eagle Edition for the past four years, and as Editor-in-chief I have experienced the joy of reporting on meaningful issues and the frustrations of being censored. As

By Julia Beckel a journalist, nothing is more upsetting than a brilliant idea being transformed into something it wasn’t intended to be.

The point of a high school newspaper is for students to write and educate the community on issues and topics that are relevant to them. If all students are allowed to cover are news briefs and bland features, young journalists will be deprived of covering real and important issues that allow them to deepen their understanding of the world and their ability to communicate effectively.

ESD’s mission statement includes “community that fosters critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, personal responsibility and intellectual risk-taking in a safe and open environment.” Real journalism provides students with the best “inquirybased, real-world learning experiences that yield enduring understanding and encourage students to become life-long learners in an ever-changing global society.” And we need a space to do that in, a space that allows for freedom and mistakes, this is a student-run newspaper after all. None of us are perfect.

Junior year I wrote an article for the Eagle Edition, “Up in Arms” covering the shooting in Dallas of five police officers at a Black Lives Matter Rally. I was able to strengthen

my journalistic knowledge and skills by doing in-depth research and interviewing people on both sides who felt passionate about police violence. At the beginning of last year, students were constantly having arguments about Black Lives Matter.

Printing that story gave the community an educated, unbiased point of view that expressed the emotions of both sides.

Censoring articles with the fear that they might make a few people angry does the school more harm than good.

The newspaper is one of the few outlets for students, reaching so many people in a meaningful way. If the newspaper doesn’t call attention to an issue, then who will? School newspapers are not meant to be PR tools. They are mirrors held up to the community and if the school doesn’t like what they see, it’s up to them to change it.

I get it. I’ve learned in government class that private schools are allowed to enforce their own regulations. Students can’t plead the fifth amendment or argue freedom of speech if they get in trouble for something they have said. There are valid reasons for these rules. By being able to search lockers, backpacks and cultivate certain conversations the school has more control and ability to keep students safe and in a supportive environment.

But private schools commonly sensor school newspapers with prior restraint, not allowing articles to print because they’re afraid of any commentary that can damage the school’s reputation or ignite its board members and parents because of controversial topics. This censorship keeps

HIT OR MISS

by Julia

Beckel

students from learning how to professionally cover and discuss heavy topics.

Content is also censored if the school perhaps doesn’t agree with the ideas or feels that it is too risque. Schools need to understand that not talking about issues among students such as drinking culture, drug use and hookup culture doesn’t make them any less real or disappear. Writing about these things allows for all sides of the issue to be weighed upon and discussed, thus actively creating change and can encourage conversations in the hallways and at home.

As I leave behind four years of work on staff, I hope for the continued success of the paper, with support for the staff who need the chance to educate, make mistakes and grow a platform for civil discourse.

Staffers take on school issues, local events that were either successful or need improvement

One smart tree Senior Katie Smythe received recognition as a National Merit Scholar. Smythe will start at Stanford in the fall.

Rain, rain go away Referees waited until Jesuit tied the mens lacrosse game, 7-7, even though lighting sirens had gone off. The game was rescheduled for April 17, and in double overtime, the Eagles won, 11-10.

Learn from the pros Grady Alsabrook ‘91, James Clement ‘02, Becca Genecov ‘12 and Luisa Navarro ‘08 spoke to upperclassman about their personal experiences at ESD, college and in the workforce.

Insensitive The excessive use of incense in chapel has inflamed students’ allergies. Maybe the incense shouldn’t be burned the entire chapel, but only for part of it.

Just like magic Thanks to the ESD prom committee of junior moms, prom was a night to remember. Students danced and gambled the night away.

Too many places to be, not enough time Earlier in April, the ACT and the ISAS festival were all scheduled on the same weekend. Students scrambled as they tried to get ready for all the events.

MISS

Margaret

HIT

Moments with

OPINIONS

March 8, 2017 • Eagle Edition • 19

SPORTS

Mens lacrosse wins 5th SPC championship

FIVE-PEAT: Senior Braden Rhone breaks away from Lions defenders on April 21. The Eagles won their sixth SPC title in the past seven years, 10-2. ”We had something to prove going into the SPC title game,” he said. “The seniors felt extra motivated to make sure that the Class of 2018 wasn’t the first to lose the SPC trophy.”

Photo courtesy of Phresh Photos

Team beats rivals St. Marks and Jesuit back-to-back, hopes to take State

By Meredith Moran and Amanda Warren

W

“

It’s not about last year—it’s about this year.

We’re a new team, so we’re just going to keep playing like we have been. If we play like I know we can, I don’t think anyone in the state can beat us.

”

— Senior Brandon Meaux

ith the game close and ESD the St. Mark’s and Jesuit games, a man down, senior captain and then slowing down in that and goalie Prescott King third quarter,” senior captain and stares down a St. Mark’s attackman attackman Brandon Meaux said. who sprints toward the goal, dodges “We’re just trying to focus on that a defender and finds an open lane to third quarter. We always come out the goal. However, King slow in that second makes the save, one half, and last year in the “I’m proud of of eleven that game, State Championship, demonstrating his our guys for not we didn’t come out in strong performance in third quarter like we caving in or giving the the cage this season. should have. That’s our “I got into this mode up. We just clawed biggest focal point–– that I had never been a full game.” back and took the playing into before,” King said.

However, the team “I just stuffed him back lead again, got it has shown perseverance and, from then on, the defeating Jesuit, 11tied and finished.” after game was basically over.”

10, in double overtime After beating St. — Head Coach Pat in a dramatic two-part Marks in overtime, 10win, with the game Kennedy 9, ESD came back with getting called because of a dominant performance lightning on April 13, defeating the Lions, 10-2, in the SPC and resuming with one minute and championship on April 21. fifty-three seconds left in the third In the past five years, mens lacrosse quarter the following Tuesday. They has gone 33-0 in SPC, winning six clenched their first win at Jesuit’s titles in the past seven years by an home turf since 2010. average margin of twelve goals.

“Both teams were playing a lot “[St. Marks had] a huge momentum looser [on Friday], and it’s the swing right at the end of the half due first time I have ever been through to big penalties,” Head Coach Pat that experience with having that Kennedy said. “But I’m proud of our huge break,” Kennedy said. “[On guys for not caving in or giving up. Tuesday], every possession seemed We just clawed back and took the lead to be magnified. From our side, again, got it tied and finished.” we wanted to make sure our guys Throughout the season, the Eagles weren’t afraid to make mistakes, that started strong but sometimes struggled they went out there and took some in the second half in maintaining their chances. Fortunately, we had some lead––something they look to improve guys go out there and make some upon going into the critical games plays.” leading up to State playoffs.

The team has maintained a “We’ve been starting games off balanced offensive style with really well, getting big leads, like in improved goal distribution

and assisted goals. Georgetown their footwork [is] really under University commit Meaux leads the control,” Kennedy said. “They’re team with 42 goals and 32 assists. taking really short choppy steps “We’ve been playing a lot more as they are approaching their guy as a team compared to past years,” and taking nice checks to establish Meaux said. “We have a lot of their position on the attackmen on young guys doing a lot. We have a that time. Our midfielders have lot of different guys contributing, done a really good job at one-onand that’s helping a lot with how one [defense], so that’s made a big productive our offensive is.” difference.”

Sophomore attackman Caden Junior defender and University of Dundon was out last season with Virginia commit Scott Bower hopes an injured back, but he’s more than that the defense can continue their made up for lost time with 25 goals momentum into State playoffs. and 15 assists.

“In the [SPC “He’s one “We’ve been playing Championship], of the savviest our defense greatly finishers we a lot more as a team improved, holding have had in to two compared to past years. them quite a while,” points,” Bower Kennedy said. We have a lot of young said. “We focused “He scores in more on sliding ways that I have guys doing a lot. We and off-ball defense never even seen have a lot of different instead of our oneb e f o r e — h e ’s on-one matchups. got behind the guys contributing and Hopefully, this backs, around that’s helping with how improvement will the worlds, help carry us to shovel goals. productive our offense is.” reach our ultimate He’s a very — Senior Brandon Meaux goal in three weeks smart player, he [at State]. understands the Looking ahead game, he understands spacing, and to post-season, the team hopes to obviously, he’s been able to finish for comeback from their 8-9 loss to rival us.”

Jesuit in last year’s State finals.

A strong veteran defense has “It’s a completely different been consistent throughout the mindset this year,” Meaux said. “It’s season, showing their dominance not about last year—it’s about this in competitive games, holding year. We’re a new team, so we’re just St. Mark’s to only two goals and going to keep playing like we have Highland Park to six. been. If we play like I know we can, “They’re having really [solid] I don’t think anyone in the state can approaches on balls, so that means beat us.”

On Deck April 27 Varsity baseball hopes to win against the Cistercian Preparatory School for the second time this season on the baseball field at 5 p.m.

May 4 The track and field team will compete against neighboring schools in SPC, hosted by rival St. Mark’s.

Mens varsity tennis hopes to defeat the Cistercian hawks on the tennis courts at 4:30 p.m.

May 4-6 The crew team will be traveling to Oklahoma City to compete in the Regional Championship Regatta.

Qualifying teams will then train to compete in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in May.

April 30 Mens and womens golf hope to shoot low rounds in the Southwest Preparatory Conference tournament, hosted by the John Cooper School at the Woodforest Golf Club.

May 5 Mens varsity lacrosse will compete in the Super Regionals Tournament in Houston before heading on to the State Tournament on May 12.

Double victory for varsity tennis The mens and womens varsity tennis team dominated the courts at Fort Worth Country Day by winning, 5-0, on April 17.

“After a couple of close matches in the past weeks, it was awesome to be able to sweep all five lines,” sophomore Rachel Morrow said. “We have improved after every match and this win has definitely given us momentum for SPC.”

SPORTS

20 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Fresh start,

EAGLE EYE

strong finish

LACROSSE

NOTEABLE: With a final score of 10-7, the womens varsity lacrosse team defeated Allen High School on April 16.

“It was a good win because now it puts our team at a better ranking for the state tournament,” senior Amelia Danklef said.

“Our team is so close, and that really shows on the field.”

New track coach intensifies program, runner commits

CREW NOTEABLE: At the State Championship Regatta in Austin, sophomore Cameron Hills placed first in the Womens Jr. Novice 4x Heat 2 on Sunday, April 22. Juniors Mason Gosslee and Will Beck placed second in the Mens Jr. Varsity 2x Final.

"After we finished our race, I felt very proud of our work," Beck said. "We had been training hard for the past few weeks. To finally beat some of the boats that had been beating us this season topped it off."

GOLF NOTEABLE: On April 10, the varsity mens golf team took on Greenhill at the Midway Cup, winning with 37, 39, 40 and 41.

“Although we were able to get the win, we didn’t play our best,” sophomore River Woods said. “We still have a lot of room for improvement before we compete SPC.”

TENNIS NOTEABLE: The womens varsity tennis team lost, 2-3, against Greenhill, while the mens varsity tennis team lost, 0-5, on the Hornet’s home courts.

“All of the seniors know how much counter matches mean, so we all try our hardest and fight for every point,” senior captain Sophie Saland said. “The team just had a difficult time staying aggressive on the courts.”

TRACK NOTEABLE: Senior Nick Greenberg placed first in the triple jump and freshman Denae Williams placed third in the high jump at the SPC North Zone meet on April 20.

"I worked really hard, and I'm happy it paid off," Williams said. "I was proud of myself for achieving a goal I had set earlier."

SOFTBALL NOTEABLE: With a final score of 11-11, the varsity softball team tied against the Faustina Academy on April 19.

“The team played well, although some girls couldn’t play because of sickness or injury,” junior Brenda Baez said. “We took this game as practice for when we go up against Oakridge next week.”

By Sydney Rezaie and Emily Delgado Last updated on 04/24/18

Story and graphics by Amanda Warren

A

t his old school, first-year track coach Evan Hadrick served as the athletic director, coached five sports and taught two classes.

“I’m used to coaching at smaller schools,” Hadrick said. “This is the first school that I have coached at that I have actually had a track and I don’t have to put out cones and measure how far kids have to run.”

When he is not coaching, Hadrick works in marketing and became interested in the ESD track program when he looked at the website for design ideas. Hadrick ran track at the University of Miami from 2008 to 2012, with his main events being the 100 and the 400. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, the warmer weather and scholarship money was the perfect fit for him.

“I hated the cold and I was big fan of Miami with their football team,” Hadrick said. “I was 11 when they won their national championship [in football], so it was just a dream for me. It worked out and I got a scholarship.”

Hadrick comes from a family of accomplished track athletes, with his father and his six uncles and aunts all running at Hadrick’s high school before him. He started running track in sixth grade as an alternative to baseball as a spring sport.

“I was always cold and my fingers would turn yellow standing out in the outfield, so track was a nice change,” Hadrick said. “I was kind of a natural. I had a lot of perseverance in high school and dedicated myself.”

This is only Hadrick’s first year as head coach, but he has already implemented changes. He has made adjustments to the team’s weightlifting schedule and practices, with more emphasis on building explosiveness.

“We have new warm ups that are more intensive,” Hadrick said. “We have a lot of different workouts that they are not used to and also have a new weight program where we are in there twice a week with the whole team. [Track] is a lot about bringing consistency, establishing expectations and

treating it like something you want to do but also treating it like a job where you have accountability.”

In the future, he hopes that track will be able to compete as a team at SPC rather than just sending a few talented athletes. He wants kids to compete on the collegiate level.

“I just want it to be a place where kids who want to improve themselves can come to work hard and learn a lot of things for life that I have learned,” Hadrick said.

“Through track, I have learned a lot about grit and perseverance. It will teach you a lot more about life than other sports. It teaches you skills that can be applicable in the real world.”

One of Hadrick’s athletes, senior Nick Greenberg, is committing to Washington and Lee University for track, the first track commit in the past four years. He has only ran track for two years, and has played football, soccer and lacrosse for ESD over his high school tenure.

“In Allen, it’s popular to do track in the summer with all your friends doing it, too,” Greenberg said. “I was really good at it, and I went to State and Nationals every summer doing that.”

In high school, Greenberg stopped running track in the summers to play lacrosse, but after breaking his back sophomore year, he could no longer play lacrosse.

He started running again his junior year just to fill his sports credit and found his love for the sport again. Greenberg runs the 4/100 relay and the 100, but his main

event is the long jump and the double jump.

His personal best in the long jump is 22 feet and the triple jump is 44 feet. At Washington & Lee, he plans on specializing on the triple and long jump.

“I just loved jumping more than running,” Greenberg said. “It sounds cliché, but it feels like you’re flying. I was talking to the coach for like six months and then I learned more about the school and became more interested and eventually committed.”

Since the former track coach left ESD after Greenberg’s junior year, he lost several connections to schools such as Duke and Vanderbilt. In the end, the academic prestige of Washington and Lee and his passion for fly fishing sparked his interest.

“Once I got on campus, everyone was super nice and the coaches were really encouraging,” Greenberg said. “Also I enjoyed the classes I got to see and there is good fishing around Lexington.”

Greenberg plans on majoring in engineering as one of two athletes from the Class of 2018 committed to Washington and Lee. He hopes to pursue a career in fly fishing rod design.

“I hope that I will inspire other kids to realize that track could be a real thing that you could end up doing,” Greenberg said. “A bunch of kids here have the talent, but they just don’t run track. People don’t realize how much opportunity there is in track. It can open up doors for college decisions.”

“Through track, I have learned a lot about grit and perseverance. It will teach you a lot more about life than other sports.”

— Head Coach Evan Hadrick

SPORTS

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 21

Tennis intensifies practices, prepares for SPC

Womens tennis practice style changes with new coach, mens adjust line up for new players

By Julia Beckel and Kathleen Hobson

W

DOUBLE TROUBLE

SERVE IT UP: Freshman Ally Jeter forehands the ball at her doubles match with freshman Neely Krispin against Hockaday on April 4. “Neely and I had a really good match, and we put in good effort,” Jeter said. “We’ve practiced a lot since that match and now we feel like we are capable of beating our rivals at SPC.” Photo by Rachel Morrow

ith the arrival of new varsity womens tennis coach Julie Schiller, practices have begun to transition from casual games to more structured drills improving the overall skill of the team.

“The intensity of our practices has picked up,” Schiller said. “Since I wasn’t here last year I don’t really know how much has changed, but from what I understand there hasn’t been a tremendous amount of structure and it hasn’t been as instruction specific.”

Senior captain Michelle Shen has seen a change within the team because of Schiller’s coaching, such as perfecting techniques such as footwork, staying low throughout strokes and making earlier contact with the ball. “[Last year’s practice] was just goofing around,” Shen said. “Especially for the people who don’t play tennis as often. Senior Sophie [Saland] and I practice outside of school so we’ve been playing since we were little. Now [practice focuses on] more fundamentals, like, ‘Why is my forehand doing this? Why is my backhand doing this? Can you watch me do this and give me tips?’ instead of playing mini tennis and games, which do nothing.”

Mens varsity tennis coach Mark Oglesby has also felt a shift in the dynamic of the tennis program as a whole.

“Practices have been more organized, a lot more hitting and stuff and working together,” Oglesby. “Her experience has brought a lot to the table. She’s got that actual collegiate tennis experience, which is nice. I don’t have that so you know she could talk a little bit more about specific technique with some of the players and maybe try to relate to them a little more than I can.”

Schiller feels that her passion for the sport, which she built while playing college tennis at the University of Delaware, and regularly competing in

matches has helped lead to the team’s success.

“I’m really excited with the girls we have on the team and I feel like they want to be here and they want to work hard and they want to improve,” Schiller said. “I don’t know if that’s partially because of my love of tennis, but I feel like it might be a contagious. We’ve had a really good season so far and there have been some matches that didn’t go our way but with the SPC tournament coming up there is a good chance for us.”

In preparation for SPC, Schiller plans to work on high-intensity match play and being comfortable at the net with volleys to overcome their rivals.

“We want to make sure we are hitting the ball cleanly, in front and making it so the ball doesn’t come back and if it does, we are ready,” Schiller said. “Sometimes it’s hard to recreate the intensity of a match with your teammates, but we have a couple of ideas of how we are going to up the ante and make sure they are battling with every point. We are hoping to see a couple of the teams we have had tough matches against for payback, because we have been working hard.”

The men’s season has not gone as expected, with the team holding a 2-4 record. “[The results have been] not necessarily what we had hoped for at the beginning of the season,” Oglesby said. “It’s a challenge but we are continuing to fight. Some of it is just line up, everyone that we thought would be playing is not necessarily. Some of it is just inexperience as well, we’ve got a couple freshman in the line-up as well and are trying to figure out where they fit. A multitude of factors, the Trinity Valley match, I’ll put it on me, if we had a different line up than I had been thinking of we would have won that 3-2 instead of losing 2-3, so [there are] multiple factors.”

However, after beating Oakridge on Tuesday, April 24, the team earned

a spot at SPC, and they hope to beat Cistercian on Friday for the 5th seat.

The team was paired against the top schools first, and had to fight for their place at SPC. They will now face some of the same teams during SPC that they played in the regular season.

“The best team in the tournament is probably Houston Christian,” senior captain Matt Jones said. “We had a practice match against them a few weeks ago and they were a very tough team but we wouldn’t see them until later in the tournament if we make it that far. Other than that I think St. Marks is going to be a tough one for us. Every other team we’ve played in the SPC conference has been a close match, we’ve been right there and I think just experiencing playing more matches the team should be able to pull out some of those.”

In preparation for SPC, the team is working on improving their individual skill sets.

“It’s really just playing one match at a time and putting ourselves in a position where we can adjust our line up from match to match depending on the match-ups against the different schools,” Oglesby said. “One player may need to play singles one match but then drop down and play doubles in another match just to give us the best chance to win. That means some individuals need to work on multiple skill sets from a singles to doubles transition.”

The day-to-day practices will focus more on matches instead of drills, in order to attempt to mirror the attitude and energy that the team will face during the SPC tournament.

“We’ve been talking more about doing more match play and not just normal drills and getting the intensity up,” Jones said. “Putting something on the line, competing in practice and adding some pressure [is important] so that it’s not a super relaxed and laid back atmosphere in practice and completely different and nerve wracking in the real matches.”

last updated on 04/24/18

Starting midfielder Meg Wilson has

Varsity baseball player Trey Brooks

scored 27 goals, five assists, 13 draws

has accumulated 20 strikeouts, with zero

and 21 ground balls.

walks, zero errors and zero runs scored

“Meg is one of the most underrated players on the team,” junior Caroline

on him.

“Every day, Trey brings a different kind

Cheetham said. “She has such a high

of energy no one has,” junior captain

understanding of the game and our

Adam Bland said. “His energy feeds off on

team’s level of play wouldn’t be the

everyone else, causing our team to have

same without her.”

more fun and play harder.”

Meg Wilson, sophomore

Trey Brooks, junior

SPORTS

22 • Eagle Edition • April, 27 2018

ROCK WITH THE WHITE: Alumna Megan Boyd ‘09 hits a toe touch during halftime at a Friday night football game in 2005. “Megan is an incredibly hard working person and coach that devotes strong energy to a fast developing team,” senior Cierra Gordon said. “I can’t wait to see what she does as head coach with her hard work and dedication.”

Photo courtesy of Megan Boyd

New cheer program director named Megan Boyd looks to hire new coaches, hopes to expand cheer sport to two seasons

By Taylor Robertson

I

t’s a Friday night and Eagles fans was a four time NCA All American cheer at the top of their lungs. champion and was invited to join the Cheerleaders shake their navy and NCA coaching staff. After graduation silver pom poms and prepare for in 2008, Boyd attended the Univerthe Eagle’s fight song, performed af- sity of Texas at Austin. Although she ter every touchdown. Coach Megan decided not to cheer there, Boyd conBoyd alerts her cheerleaders that she tinued coaching.

For the past five years, Boyd has is starting the music and remembers the time that she too was an ESD served as varsity coach on ESD’s coaching staff and occasionally ascheerleader. sists with the Boyd was a member of the ESD “The ESD cheer program is in a junior varsiteam. The cheer program in great place, and I am honored ty 2018-2019 high school. During year both her junior and to be able to continue to build school senior years, Boyd such an outstanding program. will be Megan’s first year served as captain for The best part about coaching as program dithe varsity team.

“I was a competi- at ESD is being able to make a rector.

“I am so tive cheerleader and positive impact on students.” excited about dancer all my life,” Boyd said. “When — Cheer coach Megan Boyd this upcoming season and the I got to high school, I dropped the dance and focused my future,” Boyd said. “The ESD cheer time on cheerleading, both at ESD program is in a great place, and I am honored to be able to continue to and competitively.”

Boyd coached youth teams at the build such an outstanding program.

YMCA and mini all-star teams. She The best part about coaching at ESD

is being able to make a positive impact on the students.”

The ESD athletic department fully stands behind their decision to make Boyd the new program director as her push for continuous improvement will help take the program to the next level.

“She has a baseline understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish in our athletic programs,” Athletic Director Dan Gill said. “She has tremendous instincts, and I really trust her judgment to do what’s right for our student athletes, both in the short and long-term.”

One of the 2017-2018 varsity captains, senior Cierra Gordon, is sad to leave behind high school cheer, but believes Boyd will continue the program’s momentum.

“The program is going to improve a lot,” Gordon said. “They all have a coach that they feel is very engaged

and really cares about the program so it’ll be comforting and they will be excited to learn what she brings out.”

Boyd hopes to expand the sport into two seasons: during both football and basketball season. This would include a consistent competition cheer program held in the winter. Boyd also intends to hire a new coaching staff.

“It is a goal of mine to recruit and retain the best possible coaches to work with our teams,” Boyd said. “I am looking forward to continuing to have open lines of communication with everyone involved, and I will also aim to lower the cost for each family as it pertains to the program.

And, as always, safety is the most important thing.”

Rising senior cheerleaders are ready to take on the changes that Coach Boyd institutes.

“I’m so excited for next year,” junior Ashley Carter said. “Last year we

really set a high bar, and this year we will raise it even higher. I’m so excited for her to be the new head coach because she herself was an ESD cheerleader and understands us and has all of our respect. We all love her so much.”

Gill recognizes that Boyd’s experience as an alumna and employee at ESD will allow her to take the cheer program in the right direction.

“What is initially attractive about Megan is her passion and enthusiasm, for not just our cheer program, but for the Episcopal School of Dallas,” Gill said. “As an alumna and as a full time employee, she understands what our mission is and what we’re trying to accomplish through our athletic programs. We don’t have anybody who is more dedicated and selfless in their commitment to our student athletes within the cheerleading program.”

graduations homecomings parties

SPORTS

April 27, 2018 • Eagle Edition • 23

Q&A: Woods brothers bond through shared love of golf

After years of practicing together, siblings hope to improve technique and gear up for competition

By Lauren Egger

BROTHERS ON PAR: Senior Hudson and sophomore River Woods enjoy a day of golf at Brookhaven Country Club on March 22. “I enjoy the game of golf because of the dedication and practice that is required to succeed, so when you do hit those good shots, it feels that much better,” River said. Photo by Lauren Egger

What is it like to be on the golf team together?

Hudson: “It’s a lot of fun playing with your brother because you’re already really close, so when you play on a team together, you already have chemistry.”

River: “Playing with Hudson is always great because not only is he a great player, but he also makes everyone around him better.”

How long have you played together?

River: “Eternity. Our dad used to bring us out to the golf course. We had the little Cobra sets with all the essentials. We would hit our balls and tee down weeds behind the range when we were four or five years old.”

When did you discover you liked golf?

Hudson: “We grew up having a dad who is really into the sport of golf and we just naturally have come to like it.”

River: “Eventually as you get better, you actually start to like it. Around fifth or sixth grade, we could actually consistently hit the ball.”

How has playing golf together bonded you as brothers?

Hudson: “River and I are constantly motivating each other on the course.

This has led to a tighter bond between River and me, on and off the course.”

River: “It is period of time we can spend together, play music and hang out.”

What advice would you give to people learning how to play golf?

Hudson: “The sport is rarely going to give you what you want. It’s just how it is. Don’t ever reflect on your past play. Focus on one shot at a time.”

River: “Practice. And don’t get mad when it doesn’t go well.”

Have you ever gotten in a fight over a play or a match?

Hudson: “No, and I don’t plan on it.

I let my game do the talking.”

How did you learn to play? What went into getting better?

Hudson: “A lot of practice. If you go a long time without repetition, your progress will be lost. I practice about five days a week.”

River: “I have had a few golf coaches, but until then, mostly my dad.”

Do you have any superstitions?

Hudson: “I don’t have any superstitions, but there is a certain way I like to mark my ball. I mark it like a cross.”

River: “I don’t have superstitions.”

STATS:

— In the 9-hole stroke play victory over Greenhill, during the Midway Cup, Hudson shot 37, River shot 39 — Hudson is team captain and has the lowest tournament score, an even par 72 at the St. John’s Invitational at Lost Pines – SPC is Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1 in Houston —The team placed third behind Kinkaid and John Cooper in the Lost Pines tournament

The Whole World

’s Cameron McGee!

24 • Eagle Edition • April 27, 2018

Around Campus

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1. WITH HONOR: Forty-eight members of the Class of 2019 are inducted into the National Honors Society on April 17. To be inducted, a student must have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and meet several other leadership and community service requirements. “I’m excited to be a member of NHS because of the good work I will be doing and opportunities I will have to help people,” Claire Koonsman said. Photo courtesy of Emma England

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2. WE ARE FAMILY: Senior John Kuehne hosts Family Feud on March 22 for student body week. “It was something I had never done before but secretly wanted to do my whole life,” Kuehne said. “It was a lot of fun making fun of people’s answers, and I felt like I was in my element.” Photo by Katelin Gildersleeve 3. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: Women’s Studies Organization hosts Professor Jennifer Collins, Dean of Southern Methodist University’s School of Law, to answer questions about the laws around sexual harassment. “Everyone in the Upper School needs to listen to Dean Collins speak—she was so informative,” WSO President Gillian Campbell said. Photo by Gillian Campbell 4. LEVEL UP: Seniors Brandon Meaux, Braden Rhone, Sophie Saland, Michelle Shen and Patrick Skalniak sign to play either lacrosse or tennis at the collegiate level on April 11. “I never thought I would get to this point,” Shen said. “I’ve never been more excited to play at the next level [at Wellesley College].” Photo courtesy of Emma England 5. ARTSY AND PROUD: Ten AP Art students share their portfolios with their families and classmates in the final show of the year on March 24. “AP Sculpture has been a lot of work, but getting to have our show made that work feel so rewarding,” senior Emma Cabrales said. Photo by Amanda Warren 6. RAISE YOUR VOICE: Senior Julia Beckel takes center stage, backed by other choir members, during this year’s Cabaret Night on April 19. The group finished with “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.” “It was so much fun to sing lead at our last choir concert of the year,” Beckel said. Photo by Sydney Rezaie 7. TALK IT OUT: Juniors and seniors attend the fifth annual Alumni Discussion Panel with alumni Grady Alsabrook ‘91, James Clement ‘02, Becca Genecov ‘11 and Luisa Navarro ‘08 on April 19. “It was inspiring and eye-opening to meet people that went to our school and are so successful,” senior Braden Allen said. “[It was] interesting to see what ESD can do for its students.” Photo by Gwyneth Zogg 8. NO MORE SILENCE: Freshman Ava Thompson leads a chant after a moment of silence to honor those who died in school shootings during a walkout organized by Upper School students on April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine shooting. “I truly believe that no matter how young you are, you can make a difference,” freshman Susanna Newsom said.

Photo by Caroline Massey 9. JUST LIKE MAGIC: Junior and senior prom was not only enjoyed by students, but by the chaperones as well. Deans Claire Mrozek and Mark Oglesby fully embraced the 24K Magic theme and were not afraid to bust a move on April 14. “You guys were just having a casual, relaxed good time,” Mrozek said.

“You were behaving yourselves and the parents had really gone all out for you.” Photo courtesy of Sprouse and Neuhoff Photography

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