V39 Issue 2

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THE EAGLE EDITION EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF DALLAS STUDENT NEWSPAPER 4100 Merrell Road Dallas Texas 75229 214.358.4368

V39 No. 2

Friday November 5 Twenty21 esdeagleedition.org

Sustainable study Many search for more sustainable alternatives to clothes and toilet paper to lessen waste page 3

True crime zone True crime spikes in popularity, obsession stems from curiosity and a search for catharsis page 8

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It can be a form of expression and individuality. Yes, we are talking about hair. pages 14-15

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2 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

e news

School encourages individual thinking Teens develop opinions despite influence from parents, social media

By Maddy Hammett Copy Editor

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n the year 2021, social media occupies the spotlight of our lives, and it is placed front and center in nearly every conversation. From the Covid-19 pandemic to Senate Bill 8, politically active members of the ESD community often take to social media to express their personal view. With the rise of parental engagement in politics via social media, students, thanks to the help of the school’s curriculum, continue to think for themselves rather than be swayed by the opinions of their parents.

Cambridge ALLOWING POLITICS University Press published a study TO BE DISCUSSED in Feb. of 2020 that IN THE CLASSROOM found that parents had less influence ALLOWS STUDENTS TO on their child’s KNOW THAT THEY CAN political belief than BE ACTIVE MEMBERS previously believed.

In the same OF THEIR COMMUNITY study, researchers AND THAT STAYING also found that education had INFORMED IS VERY little effectiveness IMPORTANT. in transmitting political belief. “[Researchers] Victoria Hammett ‘17 find that the transmission of partisan orientations from parent to child occurs less than half the time, which is qualitatively different from the generally held view,” the study concluded.

“Education, previously thought to have little role in transmission, does not influence a child’s ability to understand their parent’s affiliation, but appears to make children more likely to reject whatever they believe it to be.”

When it comes to a school’s curriculum, a study conducted

by Indiana University titled the “American School in the Political Socialization Process,” reaffirmed the idea that a school’s curriculum has little influence on students’ political affiliation. Rather, it is the school activities and overall classroom climate of the school that most directly influence a child’s political affiliation. This study found that social facets, which include a child’s social groups and after school activities, have the most influential role in deciding a child’s affiliation.

“The school curriculum is found to be effective in transmitting knowledge but not in influencing

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attitudes; social status of students influences these relationships,” the study found. “Classroom climate and student participation in school activities and the school organizational climate were main factors found related to student political attitudes.”

Since the social aspects of a child’s life seemingly decide their political affiliation, social media is a tool used in swaying students’ political beliefs. Students report being involved in politics via social media long before an anonymous parent-run political social media account was created.

“I began interacting and getting involved with politics during the height of the pandemic,” junior Sevy Smith said. “Before the pandemic, I had no interest in sharing political viewpoints because I was not of the belief that any of it mattered.

Now after spending countless hours reading through articles and posts on social media that perpetuate dangerous ideals that can and have proved harmful to many, I realized, I just like everyone else, have a role in helping educate and stopping the spread of dangerous viewpoints.”

Social media plays an important role in disseminating information.

Knowing this, parents in the school community with various political stances have begun to use social media as a means of influencing the community in hopes of bridging the gap between student political ideology and parental political ideology. An anonymous ESD parentrun Instagram account hopes to inform community members and influence the political affiliations of students.

“Please let our children breathe, smile, interact, read facial expressions and learn the way they should,” wrote the account in a post that encouraged giving lower school students the right to unmask. “Give them the option to mask or not!”

Although seemingly the community has become increasingly polarized since the 2020 presidential election season, one thing remains constant: students have not been affected by the surrounding noise. Some students are vocal in their support or their protest of the account, but overall, students largely remain unswayed in their previously decided political stances. According to a poll of 172 upper school students, 21 percent feel affected politically by parent-run social media accounts.

The account, it seems, has made little progress in their agenda as many upper school students have remained staid in their beliefs.

According to a poll of 172 upper

school students, 52 percent strongly identify with their political affiliation.

“I feel a responsibility to stand up and fight for marginalized groups of people,” senior James Wharton said. “This is the main reason why I decided to become engaged in politics. My beliefs are so entrenched in me that they have come to define me, to define my purpose. So no, an Instagram account run by various parents in the community is not going to change my political beliefs.”

Department chair for Religious and Historical studies, Mary Hansell, along with a team of administrators, work to ensure that students are given the tools they need to form their own opinions and think critically for themselves.

“In the history department we use Stanford’s Online Civil Reasoning [for examining sources],” Hansell said. “Another [resource] we use is the Stanford History Education Group where there’s all sorts of lessons for students where you look at a historical event and examine the source and see what was happening at the time, and you really look at both sides.”

Along with giving the students the Online resources to better think critically, the history department also works to help students identify credible sources. This has helped students when using social media and be able to discern between reliable and fabricated information.

“When we look at sources, we want students to know who’s behind a certain website, who’s funding it, what other sources say about the issue… we give students a checklist of things to see if the information is credible,” Hansell said. “It’s really these types of lessons of understanding news versus opinions that we really need to help out students as digital citizens of the world.”

In the classroom, teachers incentivize students to get out into communities and decide for themselves which parties they would like to support. History teacher Claire Mrozek encourages her students to get involved in politics regardless of what political affiliation they may have.

“Last year, I gave extra credit to anyone who worked as a poll worker,” Mrozek said. “I would imagine that I would give any student who actively worked for a campaign of either side extra credit if they wrote about how it helped their understanding.”

Helping students think for themselves and develop their

own political opinions is critical.

According to a poll of 172 upper school students, 94 believe that it’s important for students to discover their own political affiliations regardless of parental affiliation.

Knowing this, administrators, since the 2020 presidential election, have worked to ensure that they are teaching students with no political biases in order to ensure a safe, inclusive learning environment.

“When we’re talking about helping students to form their own political views, what our goal is as teachers is when discussing something that could be interpreted as political is to make sure you’re presenting both sides to the students,” Head of Upper School and government teacher Henry Heil said.

“I grew up in a household that was very slanted politically, and I always regretted that I didn’t really have the ability to express my own political opinions at home and because of that I felt much better doing so at school.

I want ESD to be that place for kids.

I want them to feel comfortable expressing their opinions in class without fear of judgment.”

Victoria Hammett ‘17 felt that the school’s encouragement of political discourse encouraged her to become politically engaged.

Hammett, since graduating, has become politically active via social media, becoming a part of the nonprofit political organization “Gen-Z for Change.” Hammett attributes much of her affinity for politics to the learning environment created during her time in the upper school.

“Allowing politics to be discussed in the classroom allows students to know that they can be active members of their community and that staying informed is very important,” Hammett said. “For me, these discussions sparked a lot of interest for me to become involved [in politics]. It really encouraged me to reach outside of the classroom and discover my own political beliefs and become passionate about those beliefs in turn.”

Above all, Hammett believes that the school gives its students the resources they need to become a part of healthy political engagement.

“At the end of the day, everyone is going to have different political affiliations, that just happens to be the nature of our country,” Hammett said. “The most important thing, which I think ESD does a great job of encouraging, is that we all stay informed and really decide for ourselves what to think rather than let other people decide for us what to think.”

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Percent of students have not changed their views following the creation of parent-run political accounts

Photo Illustration by Maddy Hammett

Source: Upper School Eagle Edition Poll of 172 students

November 5, 2021

News

Practicing sustainability reduces fashion industry impact

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By Kara Dross Web Editor

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n the last year, the concept of sustainable fashion has been thrown around in many conversations and has suddenly become an important topic in the fashion industry.

Fashion sustainability is an approach towards sourcing, manufacturing and designing clothes that is environmentally friendly. The spread of fast fashion, clothing that is intentionally designed to be consumed quickly at cheap prices, has polluted the fashion industry in recent years.

Fast fashion’s lower prices creates the belief that clothes are disposable; people wear the item a few times and then throw it out or give it away. Fast fashion is harmful for both the fashion industry and the environment as it depletes the Earth’s natural resources, exploits workers and results in large amounts of waste, according to the World Resources Institute. Fast fashion brands may produce as many as one new collection per week in order to drive continuous consumption

from shoppers. According to the World Economic Forum, Spanish apparel company Zara produces 24 collections per year. By contrast, the average amount of collections a clothing brand releases per year tends to be anywhere from four to six.

Fashion trends can also induce unsustainable fashion. Although trends can be fun and easy to follow for shoppers, most trends do not last more than a few months. Brands will produce items to draw attention to consumers, but then quickly trash the designs after the trend has died down. This results in consumers throwing out their clothing items that were once “trendy” but are no longer viewed as popular in the clothing industry.

But for many consumers, staying up to date with current fashion trends is important and they don’t necessarily think about sustainability when buying new clothes or accessories.

When shopping, they should ask themselves, “will I still wear this piece of clothing in a year?”

Permanent substitute Beth

Elsbury ‘83 has been thrifting all of her clothes since she was in middle school in efforts to keep her wardrobe refreshed without shopping unsustainably. Thrifting in simple terms means to shop at a thrift store or flea market where you will find gently used clothing.

“I have been thrifting probably since I was in seventh grade,” Elsbury said. “I mainly started because I liked vintage clothes.

When I began thrifting, there was little awareness of shopping sustainably. I love the fact that I have now learned how many resources are used to create clothes and just how disposable our society has become. I don’t want disposable things anymore.

I will use something for a while, and then take it back to resell so it can continue being used for years to come.”

The World Resources Institute estimates that anywhere from 330 million to 832 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted from clothing production every year.

Although many do not realize it, one cotton shirt can require up to 2,700 liters of water to produce.

500

8.7

trees are cut down for toilet paper in Dallas, Texas every year

trees are cut down for toilet paper in all of the United States per year

thousand million

The fast fashion industry’s global production chain is polluting the environment one garment at a time. Now the big question is: “How do we fix this?” Fast fashion will never fully go away, but shoppers can find ways to reduce their carbon footprint when shopping for clothes.

Senior Claire Wooley discovered thrifting as a way to reduce her carbon footprint while still refreshing her wardrobe.

She likes to thrift because she can find unique clothings and be less wasteful because she can re purpose clothing items.

“It is so much better for the environment than buying massproduced clothes from large fast fashion brands,” she said. “I also learned how to sew clothes that I thrift to make them into something different or better fit [for] me so even if the store doesn’t have my size I can still get it. Thrifting provides more variety in my wardrobe because I can thrift something and wear it for a while and then bring it back to the thrift store when I decide I want to switch up my wardrobe.”

74

percent of students know what it means to shop sustainably for clothes

Source: Data for these numbers was collected from Last Object

A look at current events affecting the environment around the world

Fast fashion contributes to waste

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3

31

percent of students try shop sustainably for clothes

Source: Upper School Eagle Edition Poll of 172 students

Toilet paper could wipe us off the face of the earth Deforestation threatens environment, reducing toilet paper production could help

By Easterly Yeman Staff Writer

T

wo hundred seventy thousand trees are cut down every day to accommodate for the amount of toilet paper the world uses.

According to an article in the Calgary Herald by Paul Hanley, this alone accounts for 15 percent of deforestation, which has an adverse effect on the environment.

Carbon is released from the soil, and there are less trees to absorb that carbon.

ESD contributes to these statistics. As a community of around 1,400, the school requires close to 3,600 rolls of toilet paper every year. Recently, alternatives to using trees have been introduced and may help reduce this impact. However, the demand for plush toilet paper restricts any real change.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, an organization that advocates for safeguarding “the Earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends,” published that the Canadian Boreal forest provides toilet paper for most big name brands in the U.S.

They use a process called clear cutting which takes all the trees down in a certain area leaving a barren landscape. This forest is one of the most carbon-dense in the world, and holds twice as much carbon in its soil than the world’s oil reserves. The cutting down of trees in this area alone releases 26 million tons of carbon annually. In addition, 25 million acres of forest, the size of Kentucky, have been cut for logging, reducing trees that absorb carbon.

“Trees take time to grow, so if you plant them, you have to wait a long time before you’re able to harvest them,” Physics teacher Matt Varvir said. “Even if every tree cut down you plant one, that’s still gonna have an adverse effect on the ecosystem.”

Plush toilet paper and tissue paper are very popular, especially in the U.S., but they are produced from trees that are centuries old.

While some companies such as Cottonelle® and Scott® have taken steps to decrease the effect they have on the environment, customers still want that luxurious paper which requires the cutting down and grinding of old trees.

“That obviously is an issue because if you’re getting rid of [older trees] you can’t replace them unless you choose to wait thousands of years, which is not helping us right now,” Varvir said.

“Those trees have a lot more connections with and are a lot more supportive of the ecosystems around them. You’re removing a lot of the history of the ecosystem which can have an adverse effect.”

Toilet paper produced by trees releases its remaining carbon into the atmosphere, making its impact three times worse than toilet paper made from recycled materials. Using recycled materials or a virgin pulp doesn’t require trees. In Japan they use “washi” as a paper additive which comes from rice, hemp, bamboo and wheat.

“ESD should look into using brands that use recycled toilet paper so we can reduce our impact as a community, though it might be difficult to make such a change,” Environmental Awareness Club president senior Camille Greening said. “More big name companies should promote and use recycled materials instead of trees.”

Some companies are starting to take action. The parent company of Kleenex®, Cottenelle® and Scott®, Kimberly-Clark, has not only acknowledged their corporation’s impact on the environment, but has also taken steps to reduce that impact.

Kimberly-Clark has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent no later than the year 2030. This includes the reduction of the organization’s carbon footprint in places like the Boreal forest, where there are highcarbon values.

“They may have some sort of detailed plan, but even if they do, unfortunately, with their products there’s always going to be some deforestation involved,” Varvir said. “So I would imagine that unless you’re gonna change stuff up in the manufacturing process there’s really not a lot they can do on that front.”

At ESD, the brand of toilet paper used comes from GeorgiaPacific. The company promotes a commitment to sustainability, stating on their website: “We strive to be a preferred partner and drive continuous improvement

to create sustainable outcomes that benefit society.”

“We use the proprietary product associated with our dispensers, from Georgia-Pacific,” Director of Facilities Jay Michael said. “We stock about 200 cases of toilet paper and about 150 cases of paper towels throughout the school year.”

ESD uses around 5,400,000 feet or over 1,000 miles of toilet paper each year, which is equivalent to a trip down the coast of California.

That being said, it only costs about 22.5 trees to supply ESD’s toilet paper needs for a year.

While it doesn’t sound that much, when evaluating the number of households in Dallas alone, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau is around 1 million, an estimate of 500,000 trees are cut down for toilet paper each year.

“The increased use of toilet paper brands that are environmentally friendly can make a significant impact, even if it’s not huge,” Greening said.

“Any small action supporting the environment is better than none at all, and we need more of that now more than ever.”

4 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

Visitors provide a break from traditional lectures Teachers bring visitors to class to enhance student education, introduce new perspectives

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By Alex Warner Views Editor

because it gives students a break from the traditional classroom lecture, and shows students how what we learn can be used in the real world,” Baranski said. “We hadn’t learned about conditioning behaviors before they came, so the officer talking about conditioning helped us get a glance of what we were about to learn in class.”

Similarly, in Garcini’s immigration class, Da Silva talked about her story as an immigrant coming to the United States. She believed it was important for students to know how Dallas offers resources and opportunities to incoming immigrant residents.

“I shared how the City of Dallas is working to become a welcoming city for immigrants,” Da Silva said. “Immigrants make up 24 percent of Dallas residents. Dallas collaborates with community partners to promote immigrant inclusion in civic engagement, economic development, education, public health and safety.”

Garcini brought Da Silva not only because she wanted students to be educated on the subject of immigration, but also because she thought it was important for the students to have an outside perspective of someone who immigrated to the United States. “[I] brought her because it’s nice to understand all the glances and all the things that are happening,” Garcini said. “I think she shared with the students ‘the impact when she became a US citizen,’ and she was very emotional. I think people don’t realize how important it is to be an American citizen and all the things you go through when immigrating.”

Similar to Baranski, junior Cole DeFeo thought that Da Silva’s presentation was thoughtful and beneficial to the course as it

helped him not only understand the diversity of Dallas, but to possibly participate in the cause to help immigrants.

“Before her presentation, I did not know that our city had an institution dedicated to immigrant support, so that had changed my perspective on how society sees immigration,” DeFeo said. “[It] opened my eyes to the problems immigrants face on a more personal level, and I learned that I can participate in this growing awareness movement through city-sponsored charities and volunteering groups.”

Some teachers also believe that school visitors are important to a student’s education and have already started planning for visitors to come in November.

Henderson has planned for the K-9 unit to come again, but this time for her forensics science class.

“I can’t wait to bring the K-9 unit again for [my] forensics class [where] they will talk about search methods,” Henderson said. “[They] will hide keys and have the dog find them with the scent, [talk about] drug sniffing, and crimes they have solved with and without the help of the dog.”

Teachers bring visitors to the classroom to help students see a different perspective, especially from an expert. They also believe it’s beneficial because students learn new material that they can apply in other subjects.

“I think these types of presentations allow for an outside opinion from a certified expert on the topic to guide our thinking and enhance the learning material with credible, specialized information,” DeFeo said. “These types of presentations should be a core concept of classes and should be encouraged by teachers and students because it engages the class with an extended perspective on the topic through the mind of a certified specialist.”

Takeover time

Masks off, smiles on

Just Checking In

The Upper School admissions

ESD has required masking ever

Security badges were distributed

By Miles Wooldridge Staff writer

By Abby Baughman Staff writer

By Alexandra Warner Views Editor

PAW PATROL Seniors Finley Nelson, Charlotte Cooper and James Wharton pet a K-9 dog during Psychology class. “I really enjoyed learning from the police officers about dogs and their behavior,” Nelson said. “At the end of class we went outside so the officers could show us some of their tricks and we even got to pet them!”

Photo provided by Amy Henderson

brief NEWS

A deeper look at current events and happenings on campus

team created a new Instagram program that allows prospective parents and students to immerse themselves in student life through ‘student takeovers’ that include posting photos and videos of their day.

Cindy Newsom, the Director of Enrollment Management, and Megan Schroeder, the Assistant Director of Admissions, work alongside students to create the student takeovers featured on the school’s admissions office Instagram page.

Students log into the account at the beginning of the day and post videos or pictures showing what their typical day at school is like. The goal is for prospective and incoming families to see how students interact and see some classes in action.

“So many times during admission events, parents ask about day-to-day activities, and it can be really hard to explain,” junior ambassador Hunter Hurt said. “The takeover allow[s] them to see what it’s really like.”

Currently, the takeovers are only being done by student ambassadors but may soon be open to the student body as well, according to Schroeder. So far, five students have taken over the admission’s Instagram. “[The takeover] made my day go faster because I was constantly thinking about what I wanted to highlight,” Hurt said, “Some of my teachers had us do more fun activities [than usual] to highlight [the school].”

Senior Nia Bethea partakes in many activities like Black Student Union, but during her she wanted to highlight the theater. “​​I am heavily involved in the theatre department, so I’m always in the Frank,” Bethea said. “They were having an art exhibit that week so that was something I really wanted to showcase.”

By Iris Hernandez Staff writer

enior Anna Baranski sat patiently waiting for the K-9s to enter the classroom. When the dogs and police officers arrived, the room went silent. Baranski stared nervously at one of the dogs, who had been trained to follow police officers’ instructions and opened her notebook ready to take notes.

Since visitors have recently been allowed back on campus, visitors have been coming to school for the past few weeks to talk to students about concepts they are learning in the classroom.

Upper school Spanish and science teachers Marcela Garcini and Amy Henderson, respectively, have each welcomed visitors to present in their classrooms.

Henderson brought two police officers and two dogs from the K-9 unit for her psychology classes, and Garcini brought the Director of Welcoming Communities in Immigrant Affairs Cristina Da Silva to her immigration in America class.

“In AP Psychology we are in our learning and cognition unit [where we]discuss operant, latent and classical conditioning,” Henderson said. “[Students learned] how[the officers] teach and train the dogs using operant conditioning and then how they use classical conditioning to make them have a certain response to the same stimuli. It was a great real life example of the principles and conditioning in action.”

Baranski, a student in AP Psychology, decided to take the course because she participated in a WORX internship with a psychologist during the summer and became interested in the field. She wanted to learn from the officers about how conditioning animals could be applied to life.

“I enjoy[ed] having the police officers come in and talk to us

➊

➋

➌ ➊ SHOW AND TELL Junior Ambassador Hunter Hurt takes a video talking about the activities students partake in the Competition Gym. ➋ MASK OFF Students talk in the Junior Lounge mask-less. ➌ BADGED UP Sophomore Addie Click checks into school using her new student ID card.

Photos by Alexandra Warner

since students were allowed back to campus at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. However, as of Nov. 1, all students grade seven and above, along with their teachers and advisors, have the option to go mask free. This decision was made after thorough review of local data by the school’s Health and Safety Committee.

“The school’s decision to lift the mask mandate was very justified and in good time,” sophomore Logan Betts said. “Covid cases, at least at ESD, have dropped significantly during these past few months.”

While the removal of the mandate may be exciting for some, it is not quite permanent.

The committee will continue to take new data into account, and many Covid policies, including the suspension of singing in chapel, will remain in place. Because younger grades have not been able to vaccinate, they will remain under stricter regulation. Also, many members of the community have chosen to remain masked.

“The data for Dallas County in terms of the delta variant is not encouraging, so I have had hesitation about ending our mask requirement,” English teacher Philip Bryan said. “On the other hand, this might be a situation in which ESD’s relatively small community works in our favor. As much as I want to avoid getting Covid, I also loathe everyone having to wear masks, so I’m hoping for the best.”

Keeping in mind the variety of opinions and factors affecting official policy, the school’s position is fluid, but generally optimistic.

“We will continue to monitor the health conditions in Dallas County,” wrote Head of School David Baad in an email to the community announcing the policy change. “Our sincere hope is that we have arrived close to the end of this situation and can completely lift all restrictions soon.”

the week of Oct. 4 to all of the ESD students and became required to sign in and out of school. The badges keep track of when students are on and off campus.

“It will allow attendance to [be logged] automatically rather than me filling out the attendance form taking it and manually entering in each student,” Campus Visitor and Attendance Monitor, Ashley Little said. “It will update automatically on the teacher’s end and your end as a student.”

It took Little 35 minutes to log students who came in late. The badges will allow this process to be automated and thus much quicker.

The badges are also supposed to make the campus safer.

“I look at it from a safety standpoint because [sometimes] a student is off-campus and [their] parent didn’t give permission for them to leave, so I would wonder why the student left,” Little said.

“The automated system will allow me to see why the person left and [if they] have permission to leave.”

If a student arrives at school late without their badge, they will receive a community violation.

Student who lose their badge will be able to buy a new one and will not receive a community violation.

Some students are opposed to these new badges and prefer the old method of doing attendance.

“I think that [the badges are] silly because they serve no purpose other than checking you into school,” sophomore Slaton Strey said. “We can’t open gates, we can’t do anything else, and that was kind of what I was expecting with these things.”

Other students see the benefits of implementing the badges.

“The security badges make checking in a lot faster,” senior Mary Lou McMillan said. “Especially checking in and out after [off campus] senior lunch, it helps a lot.”

News

November 5, 2021

A rise in crime affects community and nation Increase in various types of crime sparks fear, people use different ways to stay safe

By Elliot Lovitt Staff writer

Houston, Texas 1,072 violent incidents per 100,000 residents

Beaumont, Texas 1,047 violent incidents per 100,000 residents

Dallas, Texas 878 violent incidents per 100,000 residents

University Park, Texas 174 violent incidents per 100,000 residents

Graphic by Elliot Lovitt

A

s she looked at the live footage from her Ring doorbell near the end of September, over 5,000 miles away from home, ESD parent Betsy Stephenson saw two men desperately trying to open her front door with guns and zip-ties in their hands. With her two teenagers at home alongside a sitter, and Stephenson and her husband away on vacation, she immediately called the sitter and told her to turn on the alarm while Stephenson called the University Park police.

“I [later] learned that these two individuals had been up and down our street doing the same thing to clusters of houses,” Stephenson said. “The common thread was that people had cars out front, which was an invitation to the thieves who [were looking] for keys to homes, purses, laptops, tools and jewelry left in the cars.”

Stephenson found comfort in knowing that her home was not a premeditated target, as the men attempted to break into her neighbors’ homes as well.

The University Park police later identified the men after receiving multiple videos from Park Cities residents.

“The police are doing extra drive-by’s for a few weeks and have other agencies on board,” Stephenson said. “But frankly, their hands are full. Crime is up.”

In the past two years, there has been an increase in crime across the nation. In 2020, there were about 5,000 more murders than in 2019, according to the New York Times. And 77 percent of murders in 2020 were committed with a firearm.

Analysts hypothesize that possible factors could be stress from the pandemic, an increased distrust between people and police and a general increase in firearm

carrying. A study conducted by the National Firearms Survey found that around 3 million people carry a concealed gun in America every day, and 9 million people carry a gun at least once a month.

On Sept. 1, House Bill 1927 went into place in Texas that removed the previously required license to carry a gun. Advocates for this law claim it’s their constitutional right to bear arms, while opposers argue that the law will foster more gun violence.

Despite the majority of Texas voters opposing permit-less carry, at the bill signing in June, Gov. Greg Abbott insisted that the bill protected the freedoms of Texans.

“You could say that I signed into law today some laws that protect gun rights,” Abbott said during the bill signing. “But today, I signed documents that instilled freedom in the Lone Star State.”

This law inspired some Texas women to enroll in gun safety classes and purchase personal handguns. Past experiences have also influenced people’s decisions in carrying pepper spray.

Particularly, there has been an increase in girls carrying pepper spray due to alarming incidents.

Senior Mary Grace Altizer has carried pepper spray since her sophomore year. After a man approached her in a Starbucks and tried to get her in his car, she started carrying pepper spray.

“It really terrified me and made me really anxious, so I started carrying pepper spray in the event that if something like that happened again, I could protect myself,” Altizer said. “I think it is really important to try to be proactive about protecting yourself because you never know what is going to happen. Pepper spray is an easy addition to your car keys or to keep in your purse.”

According to a Nov. 1 poll of 172 students, 13 percent carry pepper spray and 24 percent carry self defense items.

As an additional result of the pandemic, prisons released inmates after the virus spread rapidly within prisons. In Austin alone, 7,000 low-level prisoners were temporarily set free due to Covid-19, according to KXAN, a local Austin news channel. ESD’s Director of Campus Security Jody Trumble discerns that the pandemic resulted in interesting crime trends as the nation was on lockdown. With everyone stuck at home, various crimes were impossible.

“Burglaries were down (people were home and able to watch their things), thefts were down (stores were closed and people were home), violent crime was up (stress, frustration, and mental health issues as well as people spending more time together),” Trumble said. “I think reporting is a little skewed here since many departments were not making arrests out of fear of the virus spreading in jails, and it’s a little early to determine how much effect the pandemic had on overall crime.”

According to the Neighborhood Scout, a real estate website, Dallas is safer than only six percent of cities in the United States. Dallas citizens have a one in 29 chance of being a victim of a property crime, including burglary, theft, and car theft, while Park Cities citizens have a one in 47 chance.

Preston Hollow resident and ESD parent Alexandra Lovitt’s car was recently broken into. While attending an exercise class, the passenger side window of her car was smashed.

“Even though my car was locked and in a busy shopping center, the criminal felt brazen enough to smash my window in broad daylight,” Lovitt said.

“It seems that these types of petty crimes are occurring more frequently and more boldly with little to no fear of consequences.”

The Dallas Chief of Police,

Eddie Garcia, recently embarked on the next phase in the Dallas Police Department’s violent crime reduction plan. It includes short-term, medium-term and long-term objectives such as targeting drug houses and working to end poverty. Additionally, the domestic violence unit will expand and they will resume home visits.

Though Dallas has seen a 2.7 percent increase in aggravated assault compared to 2020, violent crime rates are decreasing in comparison to last year.

Due to increases in crime in the past few years, many Preston Hollow and Parks Cities citizens have turned to the Nextdoor app for updates on crime in the Dallas community. The app connects people in the same neighborhood and allows them to post updates and pictures onto a news feed. Posts about items for sale, lost pets and recent thefts or burglaries frequently take over the feed. Although at times, the app brings frustration when it gets overrun by political posts.

“Instead of focusing on crime prevention when someone posts about a petty crime, someone turns it into why all the city officials should be fired,” ESD parent Allison Horton said.

“However, I do like to know about some nearby crimes, like break-ins.”

Trumble suggests that there are various ways to avoid becoming a victim. Even the smallest things can help to lower the risk. “​​There are many small acts that one can take to help not be a victim. Simple things like don’t leave [valuables] on the seat of the car, lock doors, ensure there’s adequate lighting, walk with purpose and look around (not with your nose in your phone), travel in groups, etc.,” Trumble said. “But with regard to the larger problem of crime in our society, there is no easy answer.”

Source: CBS News and Neighborhood Scout

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“THERE ARE MANY SMALL ACTS THAT ONE CAN TAKE TO HELP NOT BE A VICTIM...

WITH REGARD TO THE LARGER PROBLEM OF CRIME IN OUR SOCIETY, THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER.” Jody Trumble Director of Campus Security

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6 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

Debt limit rises temporarily, vote postponed U.S. just days away from government shutdown, Senate votes to raise limit

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n Oct. 7 the Senate agreed to temporarily increase the debt limit. Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell allowed Democrats to vote on a short-term extension of the debt cap but kept his position against a long-term increase in the debt limit. The deadline to vote has been pushed to December in which the Senate will re-evaluate.

The seemingly random shift of focus to the debt limit forced a lot of Americans to realize how close we were to a government shutdown. It also became a more relevant point because stimulus packages and tax cuts add to public debt. Historically, they assist with curbing events such as the 2008 financial crisis or in this case Covid-19 which do more harm to the economy than debt would.

“We go into debt by borrowing from our own trust funds like Social Security, and selling securities to other people, countries or businesses,” NATIONAL DEBT IS upper school A GOOD WAY FOR government teacher Kiley McAbee said.

COUNTRIES TO GET “Most of our debt, FUNDS TO INVEST however, comes from debt held by IN THEIR ECONOMIC the public, not by GROWTH. HOWEVER, other countries.

WHEN THE THE NATIONAL To default on the debt now would DEBT GETS TOO HIGH hurt future and THERE IS A CHANCE OF current retirees the most since half of RECESSIONS, RISING our debt is held in INTEREST RATES AND trust for retirement (including) pensions INCREASING INFLATION. and Social Security.”

Junior and AP macroeconomics Zach Manna student Zach Manna AP Macroeconomics student has been learning about the debt limit and how it affects Americans. While excess debt that hurts other social programs or puts the country in further debt to other countries is bad, there can be good debt.

“Debt can be good in moderation,” Manna said.

“National debt is a good way for other countries to get funds to invest in their economic growth.

However, when the national debt gets too high there is a chance of recessions, rising interest rates and increasing inflation.”

In this case, the limit was raised to where the U.S. is expected to be in December. This limit is placed to stop the U.S. from going into a

By Katherine Mote News Editor

“

Illustration by Katherine Mote News Editor Money stack by Mgkaya/Unsplash recession and forces Congress to agree on new policies to decrease debt naturally.

The U.S. debt has consistently risen and has been raised 14 times in the past 20 years. In order to fund the necessary national programs, the U.S. government needs a larger budget to allocate the proper amount of money to each government sector.

“The debt continues to rise because the U.S. government’s annual budget operates at a deficit each year. This means that it spends more than it takes in each year and puts off the debt it owes each year,” upper school macroeconomics teacher Linda Grosvenor said. “If the debt limit is not raised, it will affect the economy because the government will run out of ‘cash-on-hand,’ which means that it will be unable to pay obligations as they become due.”

The potential of not raising the debt limit would not only affect the American people’s financial stability but also could affect payments such as Social Security, Medicare, military salaries and tax refunds. It would also impact six million jobs and $15 trillion in household wealth. “[Not raising the debt limit] would present a direct effect on Americans and their everyday lives,” Grosvenor said. “As far as the larger picture, a perceived threat of the US defaulting on its ability to repay the federal debt owed to the public, could result in a drastic drop in global financial markets and threaten economic and political stability worldwide.”

The US and its biggest trading

partners rely on the stability of the economy, so if the US can't raise the debt, it would affect other countries as well. The global market would have less cash flow which can impact global supply chains.

“If the debt ceiling is not raised, the impact could include higher borrowing costs such as increased interest rates on credit cards, car loans, and mortgages,” Grosvenor said. “This would result in less money flowing through the economy.”

The raising of the debt limit has not received much publicity in the past. However, because of party disagreements about how much it should be raised, the debt limit has become a more popular topic of debate. "[The debt limit]has been raised under every president over the last 60 years, though less frequently from the 1990s to now,” McAbee said. “If we [didn't] raise the debt ceiling in the short term, it would be a disaster. There is no other option.”

One of the foreseeable options to fixing the debt limit would be to reduce spending in programs such as Social Security, Medicare and military spending. However, these are popular programs and it would be politically detrimental to anyone reducing its spending.

“If the government made enormous cuts to our largest expenditures, then they could reduce the deficit overtime and thus the national debt,” McAbee said. “Tell a military member Congress is cutting their salaries, or a retiree they will receive less Social Security. Not a popular political move. To my knowledge, I

don't know of any Congress members looking for large cuts to the budget - they are simply advocating for different amounts of spending.”

If this conversation of government spending and the debt limit were brought up before the last minute, it would allow time for Congress to debate and agree on a reasonable limit that isn't too close to the expected debt.

“Other options include how Congress handles the increases, such as linking changes in the debt limit to achieving responsible fiscal targets, so no increase is needed,” Grosvenor said. “Congress could also apply the debt limit to specific economic measures, such as the public debt or debt as a share of the GDP.” While the issue was resolved for the time being, both sides will continue to push for more spending in programs they see fit, which is where the argument lies. The Treasury estimated that the government can continue borrowing through Dec. 3 and they will vote again on the first Friday of December.

“Both parties want the same things, just in differing amounts.

Neither of them is advocating for an elimination of, say, Medicare - they're just arguing about the amounts,” McAbee said.

“Congress passes laws every term to authorize federal spending.

We have mandatory budget obligations like Medicare, Social Security, etc. and discretionary spending with the rest of our revenue. Mandatory spending has continuously increased since the ‘90s and will continue.”

around THE WORLD A quick overview of international events compiled

by News Editor Katherine Mote

Global G-force

The state of Sudan

Figurehead Fumio

This year’s G20 conference was held in Rome from Oct. 30 to 31. Leaders worked together to agree on issues such as the pandemic, global supply chains and America's withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. The goal was to produce an official declaration at the end of the conference. The G20 is comprised of 19 countries and the European Union. These countries make up more than 80 percent of the world's economic output, and their goal is to unite world leaders with shared economic, political and health challenges. Prior to the G20 conference, President Biden met with the pope and French President Emmanuel Macron.

On Monday, Oct. 25 Sudan‘s military detained the civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. This nationwide coup imposed a state of emergency and caused open fire and protesters to flood the streets of the capital. After the overthrow of the previous dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan‘s military and civilian leaders were sharing power. The military declared on Monday that they would be the sole leaders of Sudan.

When this news struck, protesters flooded capital streets. Protesters were then fired on by the military, killing seven and wounding at least 140. In September, Sudan was experiencing an earlier coup attempt in several cities.

Liberal Democrats won an extremely close parliamentary election in Japan on Sunday.

They elected Fumio Kushida over Japan’s first female leader, Sanae Takaichi. Women make up only 15 percent of parliament, but as a conservative who advocates for policies that feminists say diminish women’s rights, Takaichi wasn’t a popular pick. Kushida, however, has been quoted as boring and struggles to connect with the Japanese people. He hopes to build a new style of economics, protect Japan from regional instability as well as narrow income inequality and raise taxes on capital gains.

He’s been known as a weak leader and solely a figurehead so that the liberal party can pass more ideas through him.

ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP President Joe Biden, at far left, joins world leaders posing with medical personnel for a group photo at the La Nuvola conference center for the G20 summit on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Rome. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images/TNS) FACING THE CROWD Military officials seize Sudan and attack those protesting in the streets. Photo provided by Agence France-Presse/ Wikimedia KUSHIDA TAKES JAPAN Liberal democrats elect Fumio Kushida as prime minister, keeping the party in control.

Photo provided by Cabinet Public Relations/Wikimedia

News

7

November 5, 2021

Deep in the Heart of Texas Homecoming week festivities return in full force

By Satori Griffith Photo Editor

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n Saturday, Oct. 23, ESD had its first homecoming since 2019. The theme “Deep in the Heart of Texas” was revealed on Oct. 2 during a town hall.

During the week leading to Homecoming week, there was an explosion of school spirit around campus. Students showed up in their best costumes for spirit week and got excited for the dance.

“I am so excited for homecoming week,” senior Emilye Dullye said.

“Especially spirit week, I love seeing everyone’s outfits, it is my favorite part of homecoming.”

Continuing on with the tradition of spirit days the week before the homecoming dance, students went all out with their themed costumes. On Monday, the theme was generations, and each grade was given a specific generation to dress up as. Seniors went as retirees, juniors dressed in business casual attire, sophomores as tweens and freshmen as elementary school students.

On Tuesday, the upper school put on their best leather jackets and dressed up as rock stars. On Wednesday, after chapel, students repped their favorite Texas sports team attire. Thursday was a full western day and students were seen all over campus donning their finest western-wear and paraphernalia: everything from cowboy boots to basic overalls. There was even a mechanical bull and state fair games to add to the fun. On Friday, students showed off

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IT IS SO FUN TO SEE HOW MUCH SCHOOL SPIRIT HOMECOMING BRINGS OUT, AND SEE EVERYONE CHEER ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM EVEN IF THEY WIN OR LOSE. Cooper Raney Junior

their school spirit wearing spirit dress.

“My favorite spirit day was on Thursday, when everyone dressed up in western theme,” senior Weston Hargrave said. “It was so great to see everyone take the theme seriously and have fun while doing it.”

During the homecoming Friday night football game, the student body drew in an impressive crowd to show support for the football team. Dressed in western/ cowboy themed outfits, students cheered loudly from the stands. To add to the excitement, the Eagles won the game against St. John’s, 46 -18, an important game between two undefeated teams.

“I love going to Friday night football games, especially for homecoming," junior Cooper Raney said. “It is so fun to see how much school spirit homecoming brings out, and see everyone cheer on the football team even if they win or lose.”

To wrap up homecoming week, on Saturday night, students went to the dance in their best dresses and suits.

Dancing along to the DJ’s music, students pulled out their best moves and tricks.

And, keeping up with the tradition, homecoming queen and king were announced and seniors Finley Nelson and James Click were crowned.

“Winning homecoming queen was honestly a shock because the entire court was made up of amazing girls," Nelson said."I have gone here my entire life, so winning meant a lot to me. The dance was really well put together, StuCo did a great job.”

➏ ➊ FACE PAINTING FUN Junior Elliot McCabe gets his face painted on Thursday, Oct. 21. “Getting my face painted for homecoming week was so much fun, it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the week, ” McCabe said. “All my friends and I had a great time getting it done together, it was a great addition to the day.” Photo by Erika Batson. ➋ PUT YOUR COWBOY HATS IN THE AIR Senior Weston Hargrave shows off his cowboy hat on Saturday night, Oct. 23 at the “Deep in the Heart of Texas” homecoming dance. Hargave decided to wear a hat and western suit in support of the themed dance. “It was an amazing night,” Hargrave said. “It was so fun to see everyone dance and have a good time, it was refreshing to see after not being able to attend a dance for so long.” Photo by Satori Griffith. ➌ SINK OR FLOAT? Senior Gabe Kozielec fights to take first place in the AP physics II second ever ESD recyclable watercraft exhibition and race on Thursday, Oct. 21. Students crowded around the quarry to watch the competitors test their watercrafts. “We spent a lot of time building the boats and putting all the pieces together,” senior Gabe Kozielec said. “Racing them against one another was an exhilarating and rewarding experience.” Photo by Erika Batson. ➍ COWGIRL FOR A DAY Senior Day Nettle rides on the mechanical bull brought onto campus for Western Day during homecoming week. On Thursday, Oct. 21 students gathered in the courtyard to participate in western themed activities. “The mechanical bull really topped off Western Day. When the mechanical bull operator saw I was dressed as a cow, he insisted that I needed to ride the bull for a funny picture,” senior Day Nettle said. “Riding the bull was exciting and scary at the same time, I really enjoyed seeing people’s reactions when they realized they were about to fall off the bull.” Photo by Erika Batson. ➎ PEP RALLY EXCITEMENT Students cheer loudly in the stadium on Friday night before the highly anticipated football game. That morning the entire student body participated in a pep rally and got the community excited for the football game.

Everyone repped their spirit shirts and yelled the ESD fight song. “The pep rally was super fun and I like it when we do the routine with the JV team because it makes it a lot more fun,” varsity cheerleader Mackenzie Brooks said. “It took a lot of work, but it paid off because everyone was super excited and it brought the community together for homecoming.” Photo by Sally Tomlin. ➏ A WESTERN RIDE Junior Ellie Parra hops onto the mechanical bull for her shot at a ride on Oct. 21. As a horseback rider, Parra was excited for her chance to show off her skills on the mechanical bull.

8 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

life

teens obsession with true crime The science and nature behind true crime sparks curiosity

By Grace Worsham Life Editor

A

lthough true crime has been a phenomenon for centuries, Generation Z, those who have grown up in a post 9/11 world, have taken an increased liking towards the mystery and curiosity of crimes that may partly be due to the grittier reality they have grown up in.

BBC’s Science Focus Magazine published that certain aspects of human nature seem to evoke a desire or longing towards the darkness and criminal nature of true crime: true stories with interesting characters, building tension and often solved endings which, all together, often lead to catharsis.

“I am fascinated by true crime,” junior Kensley Ewing said. “I am curious [as to] how the crimes play out and interested in how they actually solve the crimes. True crime just seems to grab WE ALL ARE A LITTLE your attention and AFRAID OF WHAT keep you there.”

This fascination is MIGHT BE LURKING not unique to Ewing.

INSIDE OF US, ARE Emily Dorkin, trauma researcher and THESE CRIMES THAT assistant professor WE SEE IN FRONT in the University of Washington School of OF US SOMETHING Medicine Department THAT WE WOULD BE of Psychiatry and CAPABLE OF DOING Behavioral Sciences, told Right as Rain, AND I THINK THE UW medicine.org that ANSWER DISTURBS “it is really common and normal to enjoy US. things that involve experiencing difficult emotions in safe ways, Philip Bryan like roller-coasters, English teacher horror movies and sad films.”

While some might view a fascination with true crime as strange at first, this taboo “guilty” pleasure or interest may not be so unnatural after all.

“I think trying to figure out why people do things and what deception they think of, is fascinating to people,” forensics teacher Amy Henderson said.

“I think also trying to solve the crime or find reasons for certain behaviors is a normal interest.”

And although some might observe a recent surge in interest in true crime, English teacher Philip Bryan said that this supposedly “abnormal” desire has been discussed for thousands of years and was emphasized by

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Greek philosopher Aristotle.

“I actually think that Aristotle hinted towards this fascination when he talked about tragedy,” Bryan said. “He said that we are attracted to dark things and tragedy and horror because through that we achieve catharsis.

We purge those emotions because we look at something that isn’t happening to us.”

Human beings, even as kids, are attracted to this divide between good and evil, or light and dark. True crime embodies this fascination and naturally makes people desire to see what it is like in the minds behind extreme acts. Although this is a subconscious desire, Bryan continued to lean towards Aristotle to explain that there is a point in which this desire can be detrimental.

“I think Aristotle would say you have to sometimes look at these things and go into the darkness to appreciate the light, but it shouldn’t be your only steady diet of consumption,” Bryan said. “[That is if the consumption consists of] only watching the bad stuff and immersing yourself in terrible things.”

True crime can also become an issue when it glamorizes the field careers associated with it. For example, criminal scene investigators face many challenges in their work including long hours, modest pay, stress, a very strict education requirement, disturbing scenes and sometimes dead ends, requiring dedication and a “stomach.”

“I think that shows glamorize the job and make it look so easy, when that is not the case,” Henderson said. “Also, seeing the pictures on TV is different in real life. We have so many new technologists coming out with forensics, and it is a growing fun field but you need to be invested and have a passion (and stomach) for it.”

Psychologist Chivonna Childs states in an interview with Cleveland Clinic that it is in human nature to be curious and wonder what it is like in the mind of someone who has committed such atrocious acts. Every human being is connected, so it is in human nature to wonder if one is able to commit an evil act someone just as capable perpetrated before them.

“I think part of what we are worried about is what we are capable of doing because we see what other people are capable of doing,” Bryan said. “We see lines that criminals are willing to cross and we ask ourselves

percent of upper school students are interested in true crime

if we are willing to cross those same lines. We wonder that if we can rationalize being unkind or disrespectful to another person, can we ever rationalize crossing a further line into something criminal or something violent? We all are a little afraid of what might be lurking inside of us... and I think the answer disturbs us.”

The fascination among Gen Z could possibly be due to the more arguably gritty reality they have grown up in. As school shootings and terrorism become a new vivid reality, Gen Z may be looking closer into the actions of killers to better understand what is going on through the minds of criminals around them. With this new found interest, this generation has become increasingly eager to not only watch true crime but pursue the criminal justice field as well.

“I don’t think I have an obsession with true crime, I just think it’s a possible aspiration for the future,” Ewing said. “When I watch true crime shows, I am very interested in how they actually solve the crimes, which makes me think about pursuing a job in the criminal justice field.”

Tens of millions of true crime fans obsess over related shows on streaming services, podcasts and books. “Crime Junkie,” a weekly crime podcast, has over 500 million downloads and 630 stories creating its lasting spot at the top of charts. “Criminal Minds,” the 15 season fictional show featuring an elite squad of FBI profilers who analyze criminals across the country, is a popular series that, according to Netflix, drew 984 million minutes of streams between the week of Jan. 25 to 31.

“I love watching ‘Criminal Minds,’” Ewing said. “When I started watching ‘Criminal Minds’ I realized how much I actually liked true crime and not just wanting to watch it, but maybe make a career out of it.”

True crime interest is dominated by women, who make up around 75 percent of true-crime podcast listeners and about 80 percent of CrimeCon’s attendees, a weekend long event dedicated to all things true-crime. However, some male teenagers are still often intrigued with the subject, including junior Cooper Raney.

“I like watching true crime segments on YouTube because it is very interesting to see the differing morals of people in this world,” Raney said. “I also find true crime very engaging and interesting due to the fact that it has actually happened and it is not fiction.”

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percent of upper school students want to pursue a job in the criminal justice field

Gen Z and their prodigy have more access to information than anyone else in the history of the world, allowing a much larger horizon to use for diving into true crime. For Ewing, she not only finds interest from the Internet, but from her dad who is a security chief officer.

“Basically he works on computers 24/7 and makes sure no one can hack into money systems,” Ewing said. “He has told me some cool stories about working with the FBI on cases they have needed help with. He’s also not even allowed to tell me some information about it, which makes me even more interested in wanting to work in the criminal justice field.”

Some psychologists explain that another allure to true crime is the feeling of “cheating death” that it can evoke. In an interview with health clinical psychologist Krista Jordan, Ph.D. explains that this eerie feeling humans are drawn to could partly be related to the fact that everyone is uniquely aware that ultimately one can’t cheat death.

“The primary thing that any organism is trying to do is not die,” Jordan said. “But humans, as far as we know, are the only ones who know that you can’t do that.

And so that creates this massive amount of anxiety that we have to manage, otherwise we’d be curled up in the fetal position not wanting to leave the house.

On some level, symbolically, it’s like you found the loophole [when you watch true crime] and you have [that brief moment where you think] maybe I can cheat death.”

Bryan not only understands this loophole, but is very captured by the actual process of solving crimes. Bryan said he likes the fictional character Sherlock Holmes because he personifies what people watching true crime want to do themselves: to solve those puzzles. This curiosity behind the unknown is natural and, in healthy amounts, normal in human nature.

“I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, and I think he sort of embodies that person who figures it out,” Bryan said. “He can spot those details and clues and synthesize those clues to have that ‘aha moment’ where he cracks the code. I think as human beings we all want to have that.

As human beings I think we all want to be clever and smart and observant and that is [simply in our nature].”

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percent of upper school students have watched true crime show “Criminal Minds” Source: Nov. 1 US Eagle Edition Poll of 17 students

Life

November 5, 2021

9

Beloved Texas State Fair returns to normalcy The 2021 fair welcomes over 2.2 million people from all over the state

By Abby Baughman Staff writer SPIN THERE, DONE THAT Rides such as Love Bug reopen after closure in 2020.

Texans were able to return to the State Fair of Texas this year after it was adapted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “It is the first ride I ever went on, when I was five,” junior Mary Cate Houk said. “It holds a special place in my heart.” Photo by Abby Baughman

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he family sat around a table. The father, Joe Forbes*, wore a bright blue and red checkered shirt and scuffed white boots, one of which was propped on the chair next to him.

Two identical 7-year-old twin boys sat on either side of their father in the exact same outfit, imitating his mannerisms. Their mother, Sally Forbes, walked to the table armed with napkins ready to clean the two boys’ faces before they ventured back out to the hustle and bustle of rides, games and vendors of the 135th State Fair of Texas.

The fair can build lifelong memories for children. Joe, Sally and their two sons, who are Dallas residents, returned to the fair for the first time in two years, and joined a multitude of Texans who rediscovered the beloved tradition of the State Fair.

“It was important for the boys to be able to experience the fair again,” Sally Forbes said. “They have missed out on a lot these past few years.”

The fair is a tradition for many Texan families. The average annual attendance in 2017 through 2019

was approximately 2.27 million people. According to bigtex.com, the 2021 State Fair had 2,202,689 attendees. The fair’s return to normal proceedings this year certainly meant a lot to the Forbes family, who are lifelong lovers of the fair.

“I would say [the fair] is pretty important to me,” Joe said. “I grew up in Texas, so I’ve always gone.”

Covid-19 has impacted everyone, especially children, since many of them had to spend crucial developmental years at home and cut off from social interaction. For the Forbes, the return to the State Fair represented a return to a sense of normalcy.

“It is really nice to get out and back into life,” Sally said. “I think it is time, and it is safe. The vaccines are able to help us come back and be safe.”

In a ESD student poll of 172 people, 30 percent of students attended the fair this year.

Texans showed how much they missed the beloved tradition. Masks and social distancing were not required but encouraged. Big Tex stood tall at the fair’s entrance and urged people to social distance and

be responsible.

“I can social distance pretty well from up here,” Big Tex said aloud to fair goers. “Y’all should social distance down there too.”

Covid-19 vaccines were not required to enter the fair, but the fair organizers hoped attendees would be responsible and get the vaccine if eligible. The fair had vaccine booths set up near the entrance. In addition, when a person was vaccinated at the fair, they were eligible for an up to $20 coupon. “[The vaccine booth] has had a really positive response,” Moisha, a medical professional working at the fair, said. “Many people have gotten their vaccine here [and have] had an open mind.”

One of the most famous attractions at the fair is its wacky food, and this year is no exception.

The fair featured 24 new food items, including deep-fried Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lobster corn dogs and deep-fried pancakes.

“I like the food because you don’t find any food [like it] anywhere else other than the fair,” said junior Eleanor Vig, who attended the fair.

“You literally can find [food] that

you want, and it can also be fried.”

In 2021, like most years, the fair offered more than 70 rides; some are filled with gut-wrenching intensity, while other rides induce fun thrills rather than terror.

“The rides are my favorite part [of the fair],” freshman Dana Friedrich, who went to the fair this year, said. “I feel like it really gives you a thrill and an adrenaline rush.”

But not all were rides and food at the fair. Farmers came from all over Texas to enter their prized livestock. Every week, the judging changed; one week, for example, they judged the best-looking pig, then the following week it was the turn of the cows or sheep to be judged.

“It’s actually kind of interesting because every week they have something different,” Vig said.

“Depending on when you go, a new animal will be in the livestock area, which is cool to see.”

Under all the excitement of the fair’s return was a pressing issue: the fair was extremely understaffed. The Texas State Fair initially announced on its website that it would create 7,000 jobs and offer 24 days of work. One business, Jack’s French Fries, had 130 employees in 2019 and only 30 employees this year. The lack of workers mimicked the labor shortage in the country after the pandemic. To combat this lack of labor, the fair raised its hourly pay from $12 in 2019 to $13 in 2021.

“They didn’t have as [many workers] as they normally do,” Vig said. “Some of the merchandise trailers, games and booths there had only one person working.

Because of the labor shortage, people have just quit randomly one day during the fair just because they don’t want to do it anymore. They think it’s boring. And so by the end, they don’t have as many workers.”

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IT IS REALLY NICE TO GET OUT AND BACK INTO LIFE. I THINK IT IS TIME, AND IT IS SAFE. THE VACCINES ARE ABLE TO HELP US COME BACK AND BE SAFE. Sally Forbes Fair attendee

*Names were changed because of the interviewee’s personal reason

Community welcomes a return to live theater As shows resume on Broadway, student actors prepare to welcome audiences back

By Kara Dross Web Editor

A

fter a year and a half of theater shows being put on pause due to Covid-19, theater companies all across America are beginning to resume shows in person. In March of 2020, Broadway was silenced and the theater industry saw a significant loss. Actors, directors and stage managers suddenly were jobless until recently when Broadway got the “green light” to begin in-person shows once again.

The first shows to kick off the return of Broadway included “The Lion King,” “Wicked” and “Hamilton.” Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo picked Sept. 14 as the date Broadway could welcome back in-person audiences at full capacity. But there are still some restrictions. In order to attend the shows, ticket holders must provide proof of vaccination and wear a mask at all times during the shows. Actors and stage crew must also be fully vaccinated in order to participate in the shows.

Some Eagles took the first opportunity they got to attend a show. Sophomore Cara Lichty was eager to return to see Broadway shows after they were cancelled due to Covid-19. Lichty was able

to see “American Utopia” and “Six” in person on Broadway in mid-Oct. and noticed a difference in the show’s crowd.

“I definitely think before Covid-19 there was a lot less energy in the crowds, but now everyone seems so much more excited to be at the show,” Lichty said. “When I went to ‘American Utopia,’ people in the crowds were standing up and dancing as the actors were performing. ‘Six’ had one of the loudest crowds I had ever been to.”

Lichty also said that it was fun for her to go to “Six” because it “was a lot different than just listening to the music because there was no live action video, which I think made it better and made people more interested in it. I am overall really glad theater is back in person.”

Similarly to Broadway, ESD’s theater program was switched to online-streaming last year.

Now, they are ready to welcome back audiences in person as plays and musicals return this school year. Upper school acting teacher Lauren Redmond said the ESD theater program went through a difficult time last year when the

annual musical’s live performance was cancelled.

“All of the plays we did last year were filmed without an audience,” Redmond said. “They were filmed over multiple days and then edited together. This year we are no longer streaming anything and instead we are doing in-person performances. As of right now, the protocols are that all actors must wear their mask during rehearsals. They are planning to go mask-less for the performances. Audience members as of right now are required to wear masks during performances.

We are also going to be offering socially distanced and nonsocially distanced sections of seating for the audience during performances.”

ESD’s first after-Covid performance, “Antigone,” is a tragedy about the downfall of Creon, the King of Thebes. The show will run from Nov. 11-13 in ESD’s Bray Theater. Tickets are now available for purchase at esdallas.seatyourself.biz. Actors will perform in front of a live audience for the first time in over a year.

And the cast is excited about

Photo compilation by Emily Lichty

the show.

“I love being in front of a crowd,” senior Virginia Nussbamer, who plays Eurydice, the king’s wife, said. “I love seeing everyone during the performance out in the crowd. It is such a comradery being all together. I

love having the cast dinners and seeing our parents and friends after the performance is over.

I am so thankful to be back in person. Even if we do have to wear masks during rehearsals or backstage I believe that it is all worth it in the end.”

10

Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

hallway Ella Sjogren ‘23

By Satori Griffith Photo Editor

chatter

A compilation of the most interesting and hilarious out of context conversations overheard at school

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ONE TIME FRESHMAN YEAR, I WAS WALKING TO CHAPEL. IT WAS A RAINY DAY, BUT I DIDN’T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I HAD HEARD STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE SLIPPING ON THE MARBLE PLAQUE ON THE SIDEWALK, BUT I HAD NAIVELY CONVINCED MYSELF THAT IT WASN’T SLIPPERY. AS I WAS WALKING I TOOK ONE STEP ONTO THE MARBLE, AND BAM! I SLAMMED ON THE GROUND IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, IT WAS SO EMBARRASSING.

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Math is an emotional roller-coaster, up and down all the time.

Sarah Cabrales ‘23

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Sean Browne ‘24

Believe “DO WE HAVE CHAPEL? ” “YES, IT’S NOT LIKE WE HAVE IT EVERYDAY OR ANYTHING.”

Kathryn Sullivan ‘22 and James Carr ‘22

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Annabelle Heppner ‘23

Wait, what day is Halloween on?

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you can and you’re halfway there.

Abby Wooley ‘25

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What if you woke up one day and you were a chicken nugget?

“I had just sat down and logged onto a zoom interview with a prospective college. Unfortunately, I was running a little late, so needless to say; I forgot to close my bedroom door. Suddenly, my dog, Chloe, came barging into my room and jumping on top of my computer and me. It happened so fast I had no time to warn the person on the zoom call, and my laptop ended up falling onto the floor. After I calmed Chloe down and took her out of my room, I tried to log back onto zoom, but the call had ended. It was a very chaotic day!”

Emilye Dullye ‘22 Photos by Satori Griffith and Emilye Dullye

Life

November 5, 2021

11

A variety of the top trending pop culture phenomena compiled

by Life Editors Elisabeth Siegel and Grace Worsham

SH

cul

e C r RA u t

FREE BRITNEY For 13 years, pop star icon Britney Spears lived under a conservatorship that legally restricted her from making her own life decisions. The conservatorship led to many celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus, to spread awareness to Britney’s struggle and for #FreeBritney to trend on social media. On Sept. 29, Jamie Spears, Britney’s father, was suspended as conservator and the court will most likely convene again on Nov. 12 to

officially transition her completely out of his conservatorship.

2

A FINAL MISSION

3

After months of delays due to the pandemic, “No Time to Die” was released Oct. 8, grossing $449 million worldwide. It is the 25th film in the James Bond franchise, starring Daniel Craig in his final mission as famous MI6 agent 007. The movie does not have a post credits scene but cuts to a black screen with the promising words “JAMES BOND WILL RETURN,” leaving fans wondering what will happen next.

BYE FRIEND

James Michael Tyler, best known for playing the role of Gunther in the ‘90s sitcom “Friends,” died peacefully in his home on Oct. 24. He passed away after fighting a hard battle with prostate cancer at the age of 59. All co-stars paid tribute to him on instagram, and Jennifer Aniston stated that the show “would not have been the same without them.”

6

1I

By Charlotte Tomlin Asst. Web Editor

Netflix’s hit dystopian TV show “Squid Game” exploded across the internet, as its worth reached almost $900 million. The South Korean series has surpassed 111 million views since its release on Sept. 17. The series cost Netflix over $21.4 million to produce. The show even led a South Korean internet provider to sue Netflix, claiming the series led to an unmanageable surge in network traffic.

Actor Alec Baldwin was in rehearsal for an upcoming movie “Rust” when he fired his supposedly unloaded prop gun, injuring the director and killing the cinematographer Halyna Hutchen. It was soon discovered that the gun did contain bullets, and authorities have now begun investigating how this prop gun turned deadly.

4

Students, teachers listen to podcasts to learn, relax

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

MISSING THE MARK

BLUE BANISTERS

5

Coming out only seven months after “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” singer Lana Del Rey’s newest album “Blue Banisters” was released Oct. 22. This album was used as a way for her to “write [her] own story” and share her personal experiences. Del Rey teased various release dates and album covers on social media before finally releasing the album without much publicity.

HELLO, AGAIN

yC nb

7

t all starts with the click of a button.

Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio.

Podcasts began with the rise of Apple’s first iPod, when software developers Adam Curry and David Winer devised a program that allowed downloads of online radio broadcasts from the internet directly to an iPod. In Feb. 2004, journalist Ben Hammersley published an article about the rise of online radio on the iPod and dubbed it “podcasting.” From then on, podcasts started to catch on. In Oct. 2004, the first podcast service provider, Libsyn.com, emerged. By the end of the year, the number of Google hits for the word ‘podcast’ reached 100,000.

“I seek podcasts not for news,” Tolly Salz, an English teacher and avid podcast listener, said. “But rather to explore various topics, to understand new ideas and perspectives, and to delve into something so interesting that I find myself lost in another world altogether.”

2014 was the year that arguably changed the course of podcasting. This American Life published an investigative journalism podcast titled “Serial.” This was the first podcast to be parodied on “Saturday Night Live” and the first podcast to win a Peabody Award, kick starting a cascade of other shows in the true crime drama.

“I’ve always loved stories and storytelling,” Salz said. “It was my oldest son who got me hooked on listening to podcasts. He encouraged me to start with “Serial,” which I did--and from then on, I was sold. Listening to podcasts is like having company during a long drive, giving you something to think about for those three hours.”

Nicholas Quah, a writer for “Vulture” magazine, researched the rise of podcasts and reported astonishing numbers. The number of monthly podcast listeners increased from 39 million to an estimated 90 million in the five years after 2014.

Podcasting continued to gain traction with seemingly unstoppable momentum after President Barack Obama appeared as a guest on Marc Maron’s show. Later, the New York Times debuted a podcast titled “The Daily,” a podcast “designed to match the fast pace of modern news [featuring] original reporting and recordings of the newspaper’s top stories,” according to the Times.

In recent years, podcasting has reached a colossal milestone. In 2019, it was reported that 165 million people had listened to a podcast, and 90 million Americans listened to a podcast monthly. Viewership is not the only thing to have increased tremendously in recent years. Podcast acquisition deals are being signed for $100 million, and by 2021, ad revenue is projected to pass $1 billion.

Podcasts have also taken a hold on the ESD community, as more and more students and faculty began listening to podcasts.

“I listen to ‘NPR Consider This’, ‘Thick & Thin’ by Katie Bellotte and ‘Anything Goes’ by Emma Chamberlain,” senior Mary Grace Altizer said.

“I started listening to podcasts during quarantine while I ran.

I would run 4 miles a day as a way to escape, and I don’t really like running to music.

For me, podcasts would make me excited to run and get outside because I could just zone out ha and listen to what the person rlo tte was saying.”

To ml Students listen to podcasts in a in wide variety of genres, ranging from news and political podcasts to sports podcasts. House of Highlights, a popular ti o tra Illus

Fifteen-time Grammy winner Adele released her first single “Easy on Me” off of her fourth studio album on Oct. 14. This is the first song the singer has released in six years. She promises that the full album, titled “30,” will be released on Nov. 19. The singer posted on her Instagram that this album has been a very meaningful project centered around her divorce.

Podcasts grow in popularity

YouTube channel, created a podcast called “Through the Wire” to discuss all things NBA. “I listen to ‘Through the Wire,’” sophomore John Carley said. “I listen to it whenever I play basketball. One of my favorite YouTubers started it, so I decided to try it out. I like how the episodes are an hour long, so I can listen to the same episode over the course of multiple days. It expands my love for the sport, and helps me win at fantasy basketball.”

Many social media influencers, like YouTubers and Instagram influencers, have started making podcasts, drawing many, including Altizer. Emma Chamberlain, a popular lifestyle YouTuber, created a podcast called PODCASTS ‘Anything Goes,’where CAN PROVIDE she talks about her FURTHER thoughts, her life and gives advice on topics INSIGHT INTO A from relationships to TOPIC BECAUSE dealing with failure.

Chamberlain’s STUDENTS podcast is one of ARE HEARING many examples about the accessibility of A GREATER podcasts, showcasing VARIETY OF the ease with which one can take the PERSPECTIVES initiative to make a AND IDEAS podcast. From a Nov. THAN JUST 1 poll of 172 students, 23 percent said that THE CLASS they would make a READINGS OR podcast.

“I think starting THE TEACHER. a podcast could be really fun,” Altizer said. “If I ever did, I Bryan Cupp would definitely want History and ethics to do one with a friend because I do not think teacher I could talk by myself for that long.”

Many students use their time in the car during the day to listen to podcasts, taking advantage of the many platforms available to listen to podcasts.

“I will listen to ‘NPR Consider This’ on the way to school because each episode is roughly 15 minutes,” Altizer said. “I like to listen to keep myself updated with current global events. I listen to ‘Thick and Thin’ and ‘Anything Goes’ while I clean my room, run, write in my planner, etc. because they are more light hearted.”

History and teacher Bryan Cupp assigns podcasts to his students in order to enrich his students’ learning experiences.

“Podcasts can provide further insight into a topic because students are hearing a greater variety of perspectives and ideas than just the class readings or the teacher,” Cupp said.

“Sometimes [podcasts] stimulate students to pursue more topics on their own.”

Faculty members, like Salz, believe that more students should listen to podcasts.

“I think that podcasts can ignite wonder and curiosity,” Salz said. “They can allow us to see various perspectives and to understand various experiences better. We can learn new information, we can seek entertainment, we can grow. There’s something out there for everyone-- you name it, you can find it.”

“

12 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

arts

MIXED MEDIA

One way to the runway Sophomore Gwyn Moore models for Coach at New York Fashion Week

By Charlotte Tomlin Asst. Web Editor

O

n an overcast day in New York City, a runway is set up on Pier 76 while passersby watch in wonder. Guests in high-fashion and unique clothes take their seats, while drummers and skateboarders perform on the side of the runway. Sophomore Gwyn Moore walks down the runway underneath the blinding spotlights. She poses at the end of the runway, showing off an eccentric green and yellow Coach design. In a cutthroat industry where only the best of the best make I DEFINITELY SEE A it big, sophomore FUTURE IN MODELING. Gwyn Moore left her mark on the I PLAN ON MOVING modeling industry TO NEW YORK AND during 2021 New York Fashion Week.

ATTENDING COLLEGE In the recent IN THE CITY, SO I CAN New York Fashion Week Fall 2021, BE CLOSER TO MY brands and AGENCY AND THAT designers debuted their Spring/ WORLD IN GENERAL. Summer 2022 collections to a Gwyn Moore paying public in elaborate runway Sophomore shows designed to excite. This year, Moore walked the runway for the first time.

“New York Fashion Week was one of the best experiences of my life,” Moore said. “I’ll never forget it.”

Moore got her start in modeling at 13 when she was scouted on Instagram. She was directmessaged by Muse, a modeling agency based in New York City, who saw a photo of Moore attending the 2018 New York Fashion week with her family. And

“

that kick started her modeling career.

“I was attending New York Fashion Week with my family because my mom’s swimsuit brand, Cover Swim, was in the Libertine show,” Moore said.

“Somehow Muse, my agency now, found a picture of me at that show and direct- messaged me about potentially getting signed with them. I thought it was fake at first but here we are now!”

Since that fateful DM, it has been full steam ahead for Moore.

She attended modeling camps over the summer, traveling to New York. In the fall of 2021, Moore was invited to New York Fashion Week to walk the runway for Coach. This year’s New York Fashion Week ran from Sept. 8-12. The show included spring and summer clothes from designers and various brands such as Rodarte, Michael Kors, Tom Ford, Brandon Maxwell, Moschino and Coach. Moore, now 15, was one of the youngest models at the show.

“My agent called me on Thursday Sept. 3 after school asking if I could fly out to New York that night, because I was requested for the Coach casting,” Moore said. “It was really stressful [trying] to get a flight last minute, but I ended up flying to New York very early Friday morning.”

Castings, the fashion equivalent of auditions, vary depending on the brand that is holding it. For brands of prestige like Coach, the casting director picks a few people from the top modeling agencies to come audition. At the casting, digitals are taken and hopeful models walk in front of the team.

After the casting, it takes multiple days to find out if the models made the “fitting to confirm.” At the fitting, models are put in the clothes, while the designer and

team will confirm if the clothes work. Eventually, if the models make it past the obstacle course, it’s time for the show.

“The actual show was exhilarating,” Moore said. “The show was choreographed to resemble the busy streets of New York. During the finale all of the models re-entered the stage and went in any direction they pleased. This created a hustle and bustle feel.”

Coach debuted their Spring 2022 collection on the catwalk on Pier 76, overlooking the Hudson River. The show featured an electric array of models, skateboarders and drummers.

Models dressed in rainbow hues walked the runway in front of a masked and vaccinated, yet a high fashion, crowd. The show was broadcast onto a large TV screen on the stage, which prior to the show, featured a new episode of “Coach TV,” a show that first debuted on Feb. 23, 2021.

Moore wore a loose fitting dress paired with black combat boots and a denim patchwork baseball cap, accompanied by a handbag, a single pink earring and a pink necklace.

“I really loved my outfit from the show,” Moore said. “ I would definitely wear something like that [in Dallas].”

Bonnie Cashin, a designer for Coach, described the eclectic pairings of baggy outerwear and unique accessories as “something of a new language,” emphasizing the new wave of fashion that is more fun and less fastidious.

Steff Yotka, a writer for “Vogue Magazine,” wrote a review about Coach’s show, where he wrote that “It looked like Grand Central Station at rush hour, a chaotic mass of incredibly well-dressed bodies.” Yotka later went on to write “the contrast of the sheen of the TV segments against the grit

and texture of the live show made it all the more clear how lucky we are to be seeing fashion in the round, together again.”

Moore has big aspirations.

Her dream shows would be with Chanel, Versace and Gucci. But she is not picky, she treasures any moments spent on the runway, no matter the designer.

“I love most of the big designers in fashion and would be beyond grateful to walk for any of them,” Moore said.

Moore hopes to continue a career in New York City, whether it’s on the runway or behind the scenes.

“I definitely see a future in modeling,” Moore said. “I plan on moving to New York and attending college in the city, so I can be closer to my agency and that world in general. I have always loved fashion and even if modeling becomes a ladder to other jobs in fashion, I would still be extremely happy.”

Moore tends to travel to New York for her modeling opportunities, as the markets are different in Dallas and New York.

“I don’t do any work in Dallas because my agency is located in New York and they get to pick out and get the jobs for me,” Moore said. “The Dallas fashion market is more catalog than editorial, which my agent is trying to steer me away from.”

The experience of walking in New York Fashion Week, according to Moore, left her proud to be a part of the ever changing fashion industry.

“Five years ago there would never have been many models of different sizes or colors walking in runway shows or even in print as well,” Moore said. “I think it is really cool to be a part of a movement that will inevitably help kids of younger generations feel comfortable in their skin.”

Coach denim baseball cap

Coach tartan dress STRUTTING HER STUFF Gwyn Moore walks the runway during the Coach runway show on Sept. 11.

She flew to New York in the early morning to model for the Coach show. “Walking the runway was pretty nerve wracking,” Moore said. Photo provided by Gwyn Moore.

Coach leather handbag

Arts

November 5, 2021

13

meet

the

cri ics

A compilation of staff and community opinions of recent art and culture phenomena, highlighting a specific piece of media, events, films, collections, performances and music.

Falling for these tunes

As the air cools and the leaves change, students accompany the autumn atmosphere with their favorite fall music

A

s the fall season rolls around, a new season of music emerges as well.

Slower-paced, more thematic and calmer-toned music comes to mind when thinking of what constitutes fall music. Taylor Swift, The Neighborhood and Conan Gray offer albums that fit the tone. The fall usually brings a stressful, busy school season with heavy homework loads, and typically, fall music is beneficial for studying and getting work done. Classical music and songs in minor key can fit into the fall genre as they provide ambiance. Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” epitomizes fall with a section of the four violin concertos dedicated to the season. Jazz music usually has a reemergence toward the end of the year, many songs of which have “autumn” in the title. “Autumn in New York” by Ella Fitzgerald, for example, helps establish that autumn mood. “august,” “cardigan” and “seven” by Taylor Swift are thematic and represent fall. “I Love You So” by The Walters and “Dark Red” by Steve Lacy also give off the vibe of fall. Though the temperature in Dallas does not always cooperate, many enjoy evenings listening to relaxing music with a fire lit and a warm drink in hand. For those whose climate does not offer the benefit of distinct seasons, fall music evokes the desired feelings of changing leaves, crisp mornings and cool days.

By Elliot Lovitt Staff writer

Fall music is my escape from the beginning of the school year. It helps me relax whenever I get stressed out or anxious, and it helps me concentrate whenever I do my homework. Music is a great way for me to meditate and calm down, so listening to it really helps. There’s always a few songs I associate with fall: “Sweater Weather”

by The Neighborhood, “O Children” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds etc. They are different because of the way the songs sound or are composed that makes them feel chilly or, in some cases, smell like fall (it’s hard to explain). These songs are very mellow compared to other seasons.

For example, during winter, there are Christmas songs that are very joyous and happy; in the spring, I think of songs that are more tranquil and calm. In the summer, I think of high beat/tempo music. My [fall] playlist isn’t as long as some of my other ones, but the songs on it are all very calm and soothing. They’re the type of songs to remind you of a cold rainy day. Another song I have added is “Oh Klahoma,” by Jack Stauber mainly because it reminds me of Halloween and pumpkin patches. I also have a couple of the Beatles songs on there: “Let it Be,” “Blackbird” and “Yesterday.”

These songs have a sad and dramatic tone to them, but it’s calming. I usually listen to the Beatles before I go to bed because their songs are relaxing. Another song I’ll share is “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant. This song just reminds me of walking on a sidewalk and stepping on leaves.

For the most part, all of the songs on my playlist just have a “vibe” to them that makes them feel like fall. Whenever I listen to music, I usually determine whether or not I want to listen to a song based on my mood, and I think the same way for seasons. Like you wouldn’t want to be listening to Christmas music in July, it’s kind of the same deal with these songs.

By Sophia Sardina Guest Writer

Illustration by Elliot Lovitt Leaves by Pixabay Illustrations

During the fall, I tend to listen to sadder music--not super sad, but music that is more chill. I like my music to match my surroundings. During fall, it’s usually kind of cloudy, and there is less green. I really like to listen when it is cloudy outside because the music really fits.

In the summer, I like to listen to more sunny music; the music is much more upbeat and usually has a brighter tone.

Fall music just kind of fades into the background--that’s what fall is to me. It’s not my number one season. I called this playlist “Cloudy Fall Essentials.” We start with “Ten Outta Ten” by Zacari; this song always makes me think of fall when I hear it. Next is “Cold Summers” by Earl Sweatshirt, and his album “Some Rap Songs” always makes me think of cloudy days. “All In” by Lucky is also on the playlist; Lucky’s music makes me feel sort of hazy--that feeling when you’re driving to school, and you’re really tired. That’s what fall sounds like to me. “Take It Back” by Blood Orange is a great song, and Blood Orange is an amazing artist. There’s a song called “Death Metal” that I always associate with cloudy days--it’s a beautiful song. I tried to get a good mix of more chill, nice music and somewhat sad music in this playlist.

By Reid Ackerman Guest Writer

To me, fall music is a fun and easy way to get into the mood for some of the best autumn occasions like weather changes, the state fair, football games, fall fashion and Halloween. Fall is my favorite time of the year, so I love to start it off with some music that provides the classic and spooky feelings of fall. Each season has distinct vibes that I can associate with different kinds of music; summer is warm and upbeat, spring is soft and relaxing and winter is comfortable. Fall music has a uniquely cozy but exciting feel as summer ends, but many new things begin with the school year and the warm to cold weather transition. My playlist “Spooky Szn” is a short compilation of songs that either are from fall movies or just provide the cozy and spooky atmosphere of fall. One of the songs on my playlist, “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong fits the mood of my playlist perfectly because it’s an old classic that gives off a sweet vintage sound and makes me want to sit in the cool weather with a cup of hot coffee. “Edward Scissorhands” is my favorite movie to rewatch this time of year, so “Ice Dance,” by Danny Elfman from the movie’s soundtrack is a great addition to the playlist since it has that Halloween feeling and prepares me for scary movie watching.

By Casey Curtis Guest Writer

14

Eagle Edition

F

Episcopal School of Dallas

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s junior Madison McCloud walks to class, she is immediately bombarded with compliments from friends and strangers about her newest hairstyle. Little do they know the look was achieved by seven hours at a salon, multiple bottles of bleach and a lot of patience. Many people only see the finished product, not the culture and the time spent creating the hairdo that expresses and represents the individual wearing it.

Story and photo illustrations by Elisabeth Siegel, Life Editor and Olivia Hohmann, Social Media Manager

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percent of ESD students have felt insecure about their hair

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November 5, 2021

Centerspread

any community members, hair choices can revitalize s style and change how one is viewed, both by others themselves. Hair is something that most are born with, s never the same for any one person. Some have short some have long hair and others have no hair at all. Hair ws many students and faculty to define their identity ugh different styles, colors and lengths of their strands. can bring about a mix of emotions: happiness and pendence but also feelings of self doubt and aging.

“It’s really interesting to see what drives people to e the choices for their hair,” independent hairdresser uelyn Banas said. “Sometimes they’re doing it because want to make a change somewhere in life and hair is asy thing to change, because it thankfully grows back ost cases. It’s interesting to see how influential other ple can be on people’s hair choices. That’s why I always to my clients because I want to make sure that it’s ething that they actually want and that they understand maintenance and what it’s going to look like on their to make sure it’s the right fit.”

NDEMIC HAIR AND TRENDS

Being stuck at home during the pandemic caused many ple to participate in TikTok trends out of boredom. There e a variety of fads, including baking bread, whipped ee and the Netflix original “Tiger King,” but one of the t popular trends had to do with hair. People tested new s to style their hair that included curtain bangs and “Doourself” hair dye. Banas has seen old hair trends come k in style over these past years, particularly with her nger clients.

“Since the pandemic, my clients have been wanting to nch out and try different hairstyles,” Banas said. “I am seeing a lot of requests for curtain bangs. Women are ing more experimental with their hair. I’m seeing a lot of t hair these days, whereas before I felt like a lot of high ool girls were wearing their hair all one length.”

Senior Casey Curtis was scrolling through TikTok most high school students stuck at home during the demic, when she continued to see videos of girls cutting r hair into curtain bangs. She was skeptical at first etting them herself, but as time went on, she finally ded to try out the trend.

“The first few times I went to a hairstylist, but they w so quickly that I just started trimming them myself,” is said. “I kind of like the curtain bangs; they are kind omfortable to me now, so I’ll probably keep them for at t a few more months.”

While some used quarantine to try out TikTok hair ds, others used it as a time to try out different hair rs. Junior Annabelle Heppner dyed her hair a variety fferent colors at home, and enjoyed creative liberty out having to worry about following school guidelines. “[The pandemic] definitely made my hair more crazy ause I couldn’t get bleach, so I had to strip it with soap,” pner said. “Since we weren’t able to go to school, I was to dye it whatever color I wanted. It was really nice, in onesty.”

Upper School French and Arabic teacher Laila Kharrat took time during the pandemic to dye her hair to eriment with more bold colors using semi-permanent For example, Kharrat dyed her hair pink for a vibrant onal change.

“I decided to go pink with [my hair] because it was mer time and ‘Covid-19 hair don’t care’ was the thing ple were saying,” Kharrat said. “Everyone’s dyeing their so I went all pink with it for the first time ever, just ause I had a totally open slate for my dark hair… to go to color.”

RESSION

Hair is a way for many people to show off their creativity to differentiate themselves from a crowd. However, e do not have a deep connection between it and their onal identity.

Fifteen was a special age for Kharrat as it was finally ime when her parents allowed her to experiment with hair. Two years ago, when she was 37, she began to eriment with color again by dyeing her natural black hair lver. She began to coordinate the color of her hair to the of year it was or to an event she was going to, allowing o be festive during the school year.

“I just quite frankly got bored of having just really , dark hair, which I had like that for a long time,” rrat said. “Before I had kids I used to dye it. I was never y intense about it, and I let maybe a decade go by with olor, so then I kind of went the whole other way.”

Similarly, Heppner, 17, regularly started to dye her from a young age. After having long, brown hair that ered most of her back, she finally decided to change it n eighth grade by cutting her hair and dyeing it pink.

“I’ve done probably every single color in the rainbow y hair,” Heppner said. “[Dyeing it] was just a thing of ession because, in my family, we’re not really allowed to attoos or any of that stuff, so my parents said ‘Well you always dye your hair back to brown if you really wanted really like the pink on me, and the purple has also been of people’s favorite.”

Another common trend has involved the changing of for sports events or bets. In order to promote a sense of y, the varsity football team decided to cut their hair into ets. Due to the curl of his hair, a mullet wasn’t possible unior Justin McCray, so he chose to bleach his hair ead.

“I’ve actually grown to get accustomed to the new

64

percent of ESD students have dyed their hair

I think it’s become more acceptable to try out different hairstyles when you’re sort of finding yourself.

hair, so I might keep it for a little that would be fine.” bit longer, but if not, I’ll cut off the Before the non-gender based orange parts,” McCray said. “[Hair] uniform, boys had to wear long hair definitely makes us come off more in a ponytail if it was below the collar. as a team, and it brings us all Now the rules have gotten softer together personally.” for the boys, allowing them to wear But for some, hair is more than their long hair down, like sophomore expression. It’s identity. In 2019, Patrick Adams who has sported long the school required all students to hair ever since a young age. participate in drug testing where “I’ve had this style for years a strand of hair, the size of a no. 2 now, it’s almost a part of me,” pencil lead was cut off and sent to a Adams said. “I wouldn’t consider it a lab. Some students took the process defining part of my personality, but as an invasion of privacy. a part of me nevertheless. I do get “I didn’t get my hair taken [hair cuts] whenever it gets long or because I refused, so they took my thick enough to be unable to brush arm hair,” junior Cren Boyd said. “It easily, but I don’t get them on any Chris Northrup, was very controversial. I didn’t like sort of schedule.” it because I feel like my hair is a Before the non-gender based Upper school math teacher part of my identity.” uniform policies, Patrick Duffner Some of the hair specialists ‘18 was restricted from sporting his doing the cutting of the hair were long hair. When he first grew out his not trained how to cut all hair types, hair, he was unaware that there was a so some students were forced to “no hair below the collar” rule in the have their arm hair shaved. handbook.

“I was more offended that the “To me it seemed silly that the person wasn’t aware of my hair type,” McCloud said. “[The school would put restrictions on something like the length hair specialist] said ‘can I take off your dread?’ When it of boys’ hair,” Duffner said. “So inevitably when my hair got wasn’t a dread. It would have been nice to find someone to the point of a “violation” I was confused and annoyed.” that actually knew how to deal with my hair.”

Despite the multiple warnings he received, he didn’t McCloud frequently decides to wear cornrows, a change his hair until male faculty followed the rule, too. traditional style of braids in which hair is braided in rows Once those members cut their hair, he wore his hair up in a very close to the scalp, to help protect her natural curls from bun until the rule was removed during his junior year. styling tools.

“I really can’t say the reason why I decided to keep Sew-in weaves, which involve cornrows and sewing in my hair long, it just got to a point that I wanted to see how extensions into braids, can allow natural hair to grow long long I could go,” Duffner said. “I believed that as long as and healthy. McCloud prefers to get sew-in weaves as they there was faculty with long hair, my hair shouldn’t be a help protect her hair. problem.”

“I like getting sew-ins because it lengthens my hair,” Upper School math teacher Chris Northrup is one McCloud said. “It also protects my hair because my hair is of a number of faculty members who sports long hair. usually not in the sew-in, except the top. So basically, a lot He appreciates the fact that long hair has become more of my hair is covered and protected.” accepted over the years.

But to some, hair doesn’t connect them to their identity.

“I like to change [my hair] up,” Northrup said. “When According to Cleveland Clinic, about 70 percent of men will it’s short, I like to keep it a little out of the way. When it’s lose hair as they get older and about 25 percent see their longer, I like to wear it down. I think it’s become more first signs of hair loss before age 21. Tired of having to comb acceptable to try out different hairstyles when you’re and wash his hair patches, Upper School chemistry teacher sort of finding yourself. When my parents were younger, Walter Warner decided to cut off his hair before all of it had they would have been kicked out of school or lost jobs for the chance to fall. having long hair or anything really different. I think it’s a “I have never thought of hair as a way of expressing my good thing that people are accepted for being different or individuality,” Warner said. “Basically, I think you’ll find that looking different.” a lot of guys, not even my age but a lot younger than I am, [cut their hair] when they start losing their hair. Oftentimes EMBRACING INSECURITIES that’s the choice they’ll make because it’s not worth the time Although hair can be an outlet for self expression, and energy to try to try to make it look good. And it’s just it can also stem insecurities, especially with aging and easier to get rid of it and not sweat the small stuff over.” disorders. Many people try to balance dyeing their hair or covering their bald spots to feel more confident with SCHOOL POLICY embracing and loving their natural hair.

The pink hair was such an exciting color for Kharrat While many women and men dye their hair to hide the that she decided to keep it all summer long. But by the time gray as they hit a certain age, Kharrat has welcomed the school came along, she worried whether or not the school gray streak in her hair for years. According to the Houston would accept her new hair color.

Chronicle, 71 percent of women who dye their hair do so to The school’s handbook over the past few years has appear more attractive. changed to accommodate non-gender based uniforms. The “Many women my age, I’m almost 40, start dyeing their only two restrictions for student’s hair is that it needs to hair as soon as they have any gray, but I’ve always really be clean, well kept and that it cannot be dyed an unnatural loved my gray streak,” Kharrat said. “I think it looks cool, color. Faculty, on the other hand, does not face the dye and I like the fact that it’s all coming from one spot. I’ve restriction. always embraced my gray streak as something that’s kind of “The only restrictions on hair, and on all of our uniform unique and different. policies, are non gender based,’’ assistant head of Upper Sophomore Cara Lichty, like Kharrat, has embraced School Jeff Laba, who wears his hair below the collar, said. her hair differences. Lichty has alopecia, an autoimmune “It’s the same across the board. There isn’t a policy for boys disorder that attacks the white blood cells in the hair follicles. or girls hair, it’s just hair.

Lichty has the type of alopecia called alopecia areata, which Students over these past years have questioned the means she loses hair randomly all over her body, resulting in handbook policy as many believe that hair is a way for them circular bald spots appearing on her scalp. to express themselves. Heppner is confused by the policies, “My dermatologist warned me that I could lose all of finding it unfair that teachers are allowed to dye their hair my hair,” Lichty said. “I started crying in the doctor’s office while students are not. because my hair was always so important to me, and I “I have definitely noticed that teachers come in with feared losing it all.” very similar colors to my hair color, and they keep it for Lichty has had a hard time accepting her bald spots. months on end, but the second I step into school I get She frequently tried to cover them up so that no one could yelled at about it,” Heppner said. “I just think it’s very see them, but as the years have gone on, she has come to hypocritical. It was really tough.” love and accept them.

One myth is that the hair policy is in place because the “I felt like the bald spots came to represent more of an school finds dyed hair distracting. In reality, the school insecurity within me; they represented how I wasn’t really does not find the hair distracting, but out of place in a proud of myself and how I would try and hide them all of private school community with uniforms. the time,” Lichty said. “And that really isn’t who I am; I “I don’t think [dyed hair] is distracting at all,” Laba don’t really like hiding who I am as a person. I think I have said. “Certainly people dye their hair all the time, but grown to accept them more and more and accept myself [uniforms] allow our student body to represent themselves more and more. I realized it is kind of a cool thing about and the school. I just think [unnatural colors] can be me. It is actually pretty rare for my age group. I am really abused and go a little too far. I think it might not represent into science, so I have come to accept it from a medical the school well.” standpoint more than from a cosmetic standpoint.”

As of right now, the school does not plan on changing Although hair can bring about insecurities it can also the hair policy, but if dyed hair becomes more accepted bring this sense of confidence. Hair is one of the main ways in the business world, then the school could consider that people are able to express themselves. Self love has changing it with societal standards. According to a Nov. 1 become the focal point of many peoples lives, and a certain poll of 172 students, 36 percent have dyed their hair, but hairstyle and color can create this feeling of happiness and only 10 percent have dyed it a bright, unnatural color. make you feel your best self.

“I could definitely see that in a couple of years we may “I just think hair is just one more way of expressing do away with that [policy],” Laba said. “I think it just has ourselves,” Kharrat. “I consider it a lot like makeup. I mean to do with what people perceive as professional, which if we’re allowed to put on makeup and choose what color is kind of another thing we try to do with the uniform, as eyeshadow we have, what color lipstick we have and what we try to go for a professional look. Five years from now, color nail polish we use, then why not also do our hair [dyed] hair might be considered a professional look, and however we want and whatever color we want.”

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percent of ESD students don’t think students should have “unnatural” hair colors at school

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percent of ESD students have dyed their hair because of a trend or bet Source: Nov. 1 poll of 172 students

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Episcopal School of Dallas

In search of the candle that best captures the feeling of autumn, staff writer Iris Hernandez reviews a variety of candles, from pumpkin spice to apple cinnamon, perfect for setting a fall mood any time of year

Fall in Texas is marked by red, orange, yellow and purple leaves. Seasonal candles line stores again to pair with the feeling of this long-awaited start. Crisp Leaves, made by Crav Co., is an 8 ounce, homemade, soy candle that burns for 40 hours or longer. The scent is light and full of cinnamon, with undertones that are difficult to make out but flawlessly accent the candle. Though pricey, the candle is worth the price of $25 or $45 in a bundle of three. To make it more convenient, each candle includes matches. Crav Co. also carries other holiday candles. Crav was created by Chris and Adrian. They started making candles because they love scents. Even though they both work full-time jobs, they make candles because they have a passion for scents and have fun making them in their home. The candles are available on Saturdays and Sundays year round at the Dallas Farmer’s Market or on their website: cravcompany.com.

While Pumpkin, Ginger and Clove scents are good, they are not unique and can be found in many candles. This 3 ounce candle is close to $13, which is pricey considering its small size. Ella B Candles are a bit different, as they are hand poured and made of soy— but they are still not worth the price. The candles are only available in stores, as they want to drive business to local communities.

Locations can be found on the Ella. B Candles website: ellabcandles.com.

Before getting this candle I had no idea figs were part of the fall theme: now I love this Forbidden Fig candle from Voluspa. This candle is very sweet and floral, and the scent is reminiscent of what the air smells like during the transition of summer into fall. This company has a variety of scents, most of which can be found on the Voluspa website: voluspa.com. Their products range from glass candles to diffusers. This candle burns for 25 hours, but is a bit pricey at $10.95 for 4 ounces. I purchased a tin candle at Sample House, but for those getting gifts or splurging on something fun, the website gives free shipping and samples for orders over $50.

As the cool temperatures of fall roll in, Texans begin to turn off the AC and light up the fireplace. The scent, Bayou Bonfire, goes well in any home, with or without a fireplace. The scent is subtle and homey and is much different from any candle I have tried so far. This 2 ounce candle was fairly priced for $2.75. This company is true to its name, Orleans Home Fragrances, as many of their other scents are centered around Louisiana, such as Beignet, French Quarter and 38 other fragrances. This company, based in New Orleans, offers a variety of candles; from a 19 ounces glass candle holder to a 12.5 ounces ceramic candle and wax melts.

Orleans Home Fragrances was founded in 2002 and was created by three friends, which makes this company feel very authentic due to its humble start.

Cider is a classic during the fall, so when I saw a Mulled Cider candle by the Tyler Candle Company I knew I had to buy it. It is sweet, with undertones of apple and cinnamon. The candle can be bought at Sample House or connected through the Tyler Candle Company website. A 3.4 ounces candle for $8, can burn for 20 to 25 hours, but the container says to only burn for one hour at a time. This candle isn’t the basic fall scent, it’s like walking into the warmth of home after being outside, in the cold, for hours.

Illustrations by Emily Lichty, Editor-in-Chief

November 5, 2021

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The opinions expressed in this section of the Eagle Edition do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper staff, school, adviser, faculty or staff

STAFF STANCE

The staff stance reflects the opinion of the Eagle Edition staff and it does not reflect the opinion of the school, newspaper adviser, faculty or staff.

Good sportsmanship is more important now than ever

S

ince we were kids, good sportsmanship has been drilled into our foundation.

Whether it was high fiving the other team after a game, receiving a trophy or medal regardless of a game’s outcome, or comforting a teammate after they had made a mistake, good sportsmanship has always been one of the most important parts of being a member of a team. However, recently, it seems that many have forgotten not only how to be a good sport as they have gotten older, but what good sportsmanship means all together. The Eagle Edition encourages students to maintain a strong sense of sportsmanship with fellow teammates and opposing teams.

This summer, with the Olympics, millions of people watched teammates and competitors interact with each other on the biggest stage in sports. One of the prime examples of good sportsmanship occurred when Simone Biles decided to step away from the competition, a move that was met with the full support of her teammates. They knew that they would not stand as good a chance at winning without her, yet stood by her side the whole

time, embodying what it truly means to be part of a team. The unconditional encouragement bestowed upon Biles during her time of uncertainty should be a source of inspiration for everyone that exists as part of a team, whether it’s a sports team or not.

A primary area of concern surrounds how teams treat one another off the field, both in person and online. Rivalries with other schools can be a great motivator and way to have fun, but recently, the rivalries have begun to escalate to a whole new level. Recently, the JV football team found itself at the center of controversy surrounding a rivaling school and an online conflict, which created tension and anger between the players, families and school administrators from both teams. Similarly, the ESD women’s varsity field hockey team was involved in open and public squabble when an opposing team began mocking their social media accounts and making fun of them in a group chat (screenshots of which were obtained by the field hockey team). In both situations, teams and players lost sight of what it means to have a strong sense of what is right on and off the field, an area that needs great

improvement.

This problem persists on bigger stages amongst college and professional sports teams.

Recently, at a football game between the University of Tennessee and the University of Mississippi, a bad call near the end of the game spurred anger on behalf of the Tennessee fans, who in turn, began throwing trash onto the field and even hit the Ole Miss coach with a golf ball. This, we believe, is truly unacceptable behavior and should not be tolerated.

We must think about what message this sends to our fans.

Rivalries are a healthy mix of competition and passion, but should never get to the point of violence, harassment or anything that could paint either team in a bad light.

Even though bad sportsmanship seems​​ to outweigh the number of examples of good sportsmanship, this is not the case. The Eagle Edition is excited to see a strong sense of sportsmanship in the school’s athletics. After a Friday night football game against the Trinity Christian Academy Trojans, TCA’s cheer team presented our cheer team with a gift basket full of treats and goodies. Ever since, our cheerleaders have

done the same, giving each opposing cheer team a goody basket as a way to express their thanks and respect for the other team. Another great example of sportsmanship was photographed earlier in the year, picturing senior Chase Kennedy embracing freshman Johnny Willingham during an early-season scrimmage.

Strong sportsmanship is a large part of what makes ESD, yet it is easy to forget sometimes when the bad can outshine the good.

In ESD and the world, if one looks closely, so many good deeds are done every day. Just because a positive action goes unsung or unnoticed by others does not mean that it doesn’t matter.

Every act of kindness one does for another person can be labeled as being a good sport.

To the Eagle Edition staff, good sportsmanship should be at the foundation of every interaction we have as a school. Sportsmanship doesn’t only exist on the sports field and can be found in many aspects of our everyday lives.

We should all take time every day to be a good sport and lift up those who might not be in as good a place as we are, no matter the circumstance.

“

WE BELIEVE THAT GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP SHOULD BE AT THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE.

TIME TO SHINE Varsity football players Grant Jungerman and Jaden Robinson congratulate teammate Carter Hogg after an interception during a game against St. Mark’s on Friday, Oct. 29. “We always try to show sportsmanship to our teammates by celebrating them and letting them know they are playing a good game,” Jungerman said. The team went on to win 51-30. Photo provided by Emma England

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Episcopal School of Dallas

Eagle Edition

Sally Rooney is an author for every generation Maddy Hammett Copy Editor

F

irst great millennial author.” “Salinger for the Snapchat generation.”

These are both phrases coined to describe the indisputably most unique author of the millennial generation: Sally Rooney.

Rooney, a ‘90s baby hailing from Ireland has redefined literature, writing contemporary novels that encompass the complexities of lives that are more interconnected than ever.

My favorite part of Rooney’s story development I WOULD LARGELY is perhaps her ATTRIBUTE ROONEY’S realistic theme of wrapping up POISE TO HER TALENT love stories in a AND HER ABILITY non-traditional way; there isn’t TO WRITE STORIES a fairytale happy THAT SHE KNOWS ending. Rooney is unique in WILL RESONATE her ability to WITH AUDIENCES write poignant EVERYWHERE. connections between characters that all audiences Maddy Hammett can relate to.

“I don’t really Copy Editor find myself believing in the individual,” Rooney said in an interview with the New York Times in 2017. “I find myself consistently drawn to writing about intimacy and the way we construct each other.”

One of the most commendable attributes of Rooney’s writing is her ability to partake in “contemporary” writing without letting her prose become too saturated with niche modernity.

In short: Sally Rooney writes like a millennial rather than an author trying to appeal to millennials.

“Rooney writes in a way that satisfies the literary Goldilocks,”

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Miles Wooldridge Staff writer

O

n Oct. 5, Dave Chappelle released a one-hour Netflix comedy special entitled “The Closer,” recorded live in Detroit earlier this year. I found it hilarious. Unfortunately, not everyone was laughing.

Three Netflix employees attempted to disrupt an executive meeting in protest of the show’s airing. They demanded that the show immediately be canceled from the streaming service for the jokes Chappelle made about the transgender community (though his jokes about the Jewish community were not given a second look). Other employees organized a walk-out protest on Oct. 20 and issued a list of demands to Netflix. The list included calls for the removal of any “references/imagery of Chappelle inside of the workplace,” trigger warning disclaimers before every Chappelle special, and a public acknowledgment that the special contained “transphobic language, misogyny, homophobia,

wrote an article from Book Forum. “Her books are plotted but not too plotted, stylish but not too stylish, political but not too political, modern but not too modern.”

Perhaps my favorite aspect of Rooney’s writing is that she writes stories that are realistic to the lives of those in my generation.

With the rise of social media and interconnectedness, there appears to be a schism between the people who can understand the trials of constantly being connected and those who cannot. Sally Rooney, 30, is an author that, despite being older than Generation Z, understands the difficulties of modern technology usage especially when dealing with awareness of class and gender dynamics that has become increasingly discussed in recent years.

“What makes the works representatively millennial is not just the way Rooney’s characters communicate (electronically and with a qualified, almost defensive irony), it’s also that the author herself seems representatively representational,” wrote Book Forum. “Rooney displays the painstaking awareness of class and gender dynamics that guides her characters’ inner lives as well as how they interact.”

Despite being a contemporary author, in her most recent novel “Beautiful World, Where Are You, ” Rooney writes the book to be a Roman à clef, modeling her characters after herself much like many famous authors before her time. In her most recent novel, the main character Alice, an isolated harebrained mentally-ill writer, is heavily inspired by Rooney’s personal life while simultaneously echoing the Roman à clef novels by authors Virginia Woolfe and Sylvia Plath.

“Rooney wrote Alice, who’s recently been hospitalized for

THE MARKUP WITH MADDY a psychiatric break after doing publicity for her two novels, as a way of working through a level of attention the author herself found difficult to endure,” wrote Ellius Grace for the New York Times.

“Rooney, 30, has become the kind of best-selling, critically praised author whose popularity somehow eclipses the books themselves, her name an easy shorthand for a certain cultural sensibility, even to those who haven’t read a word she’s written.”

Rooney writing her novels with herself as inspiration for the characters is nothing new.

Authors ranging from Sylvia Plath to Ernest Hemingway have used the technique to make stories more raw and, more importantly, more relatable. One of the many things I admire about Rooney is her effortlessness in creating a storyline that is relatable while still maintaining the emotions specific to the characters.

“The Bell Jar” by Plath is a classic example of an author portraying herself as one of the characters under the guise of a pseudonym. The essential reason why this book has such a poignant take on the theme of depression is because the author, Plath, based

the main character, Esther, on herself. Rooney does the same thing with her characters just in modern day scenarios, making for contemporary stories with echoes of literary classics and most importantly, scenes that elicit emotion.

It wasn’t until recently that I noticed Rooney’s genius. I appreciated her two books, “Conversations with Friends” and “Normal People.” It wasn’t until her most recent book “Beautiful World, Where Are You” came out that I realized that Rooney has done a tremendous job staying true to her style and self while simultaneously being one of the most influential contemporary authors. I would largely attribute Rooney’s poise to her talent and her ability to write stories that she knows in her heart will resonate with audiences everywhere.

“I am not a painter or a musician, for good reason, but I am a novelist,” Rooney writes in ‘Beautiful World, Where Are You.’ “I do try to take the novel seriously- partly because I’m conscious of the extraordinary privilege of being allowed to make a living from something as definitionally important as art.”

Dave Chappelle is allowed to be controversial and hate speech.” Mainstream media outlets like NPR, the Washington Post, the Guardian, CNN, and many more referred to Chappelle as “transphobic.” “The Closer” received a 43 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but a 95 percent audience score. This means the people that seem to have found the most issues with it are Chappelle’s peers in Hollywood, who control what is made accessible to the public. I find this incredibly worrisome. Chappelle’s inflammatory style of humor hasn’t changed, so why has his reception?

Comedians have an important role in our society. Making people laugh is a big part of it, but a comedian’s job is also to say the things no one else is willing to say. The world is not fair, and terrible things happen every day.

Comedians take the aspects of life that are the hardest to deal with and blatantly shove them in the audience’s face. If it’s done well, strangely, the audience responds positively. There isn’t a clear biological reason that most people will laugh at the sound of a fart or a video of someone getting hit in the head. It would be more consistent with our nature to react with repulsion, but, instead, many will pay good money for the opportunity to watch people make fools of themselves on TV. The societal value of this concept is greatly underestimated. It is

a great gift to derive joy and laughter from the chaos of life, but it only works if it is done without censorship or sensitivity.

For example, in the Middle Ages, mocking the king was an offense that could be punishable by death. The only exception was made for the court jester, who was not only permitted to, but highly respected for speaking his mind in any situation, and even denigrating his king in front of the court. The jester played the role that contemporary comedians do, which is to speak truth to power and alleviate tensions around subjects that generally make us uncomfortable. Today, however, we live in a world of ease and immediacy, where everything plays to our hypersensitivities. We are so used to getting our way that we have a predisposition to take offense at everything, and that creates an impossible environment for comedians to thrive in. This is why Kevin Hart stepped down from hosting the 2019 Oscars.

The offensive jokes he tweeted a decade prior, which he had already apologized for, led to pressure from the Academy and eventually cost him this honor. Other popular comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock do not perform at any colleges out of their frustration with the overly-sensitive audiences they find there. But perhaps one of the most disappointing outcomes of the censorship of comedy is what

has attempted to replace it: latenight comedy shows.

Mainstream late-night comedy shows have become objectively boring, mindlessly repetitive and scripted in such a pandering way that it’s surprising there is still a market for them. That is because this type of show is a safe option.

If comedians want sponsors, they can’t waste time trying to be clever or funny. A good comedian should address the issues of today, bring attention to societal problems and help the public recognize and cope with its shortcomings. Instead, every late night comedy show is contrived of sketches that show a disconnect with the majority of average Americans or just recycle stale Trump jokes that ignore his lack of political relevance. They are clinging to their 2016-2017 spike in ratings (which occurred when they were addressing relevant societal issues) and have forfeited their creativity and dignity as a result.

The script of a Stephen Colbert episode could be handed to Trevor Noah or Jimmy Kimmel, and virtually no one would know the difference. That is lazy comedy.

However, the consensus among these late night hosts seems to be that being lazy is better than any risk of controversy.

In reality, no one has the right to not be offended, because you can decide whether or not to take offense at virtually anything. Lenny Bruce, a Jewish comedian from

the ‘60s, was arrested several times for his comedy routines. His charge was profanity. Profanity isn’t generally polite or kind, and it is often out of place in a civilized conversation, but, like all of comedy, it is protected by free speech laws. Bruce was forced to take his case all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court to establish that he was within his rights to say the word “schmuck” onstage, which society would consider tame today. There is no objective metric for offensiveness, so the only fair approach is to let comics say whatever makes people laugh.

The greatest comedians take risks, and the happiest people can laugh at themselves and recognize satire as different from a malicious attack. If you cannot handle satire, then you shouldn’t seek it out. If someone makes the conscious decision to watch something that was written with the intent to not be taken seriously, and then takes it seriously, there is an abandonment of logic at some point in this person’s thinking process.

Dave Chappelle is universally recognized as one of the greats, so deplatforming him would simply widen the gap between Hollywood and the general public.

The “uncancellability” of people like him should be a wake up call.

Without comedy, we would stress over everything, so it is up to our generation to learn to take a joke.

November 5, 2021

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con

Are social media monopolies ethical?

Illustration by Alexandra Warner Views Editor

Miles Wooldridge Staff writer

Pro: Yes

Monopolies are not ideal, to say the least. They prevent competition and control prices, which always hurts the economy. Luckily, social and economic trends change, so no monopoly is ever permanent. This is true of once huge companies like Standard Oil or US Steel.

But monopolies of information, such as Facebook, have changed the game completely. These monopolies have become a popular topic of debate in the United States as they control a huge part of public communication and raise new questions about privacy.

Thousands of people claim to be quite worried about this, but most choose to remain active on these apps anyway. Why? Because Facebook has invented a commodity that people love.

That is what companies are supposed to do, and no company should be punished for success.

Recently, whistle blower Frances Haugen testified against Facebook before the Senate.

Her complaint was that Facebook did not censor enough. Unfortunately, dragging the federal government into this only replaces Mark Zuckerberg’s monopoly with the least efficient monopoly in the world: the federal government itself.

This stance should not be viewed as pro-Facebook propaganda in the slightest, but as a warning of the consequences of involving the government in one of the many areas it should not involve itself in. As a private enterprise, Facebook has the right to determine who can be platformed. Congress should not have the authority to decide if Facebook is being too lenient and people need to be censored for their own good. That would be blatantly unconstitutional.

Facebook has earned its power and influence by appealing to consumers. Government involvement would establish a precedent that the First Amendment is not as important as the government’s job to protect you from yourself. Facebook already has rules in place to prevent the spread of content it deems inappropriate or illegal, and the executive decisions of Facebook are not public domain, so there is no reason for anyone outside of the company to get involved.

The primary concern that Haugen pushed was Facebook’s use of algorithms to promote content that provoked a reaction, which, unsurprisingly, tends to be controversial. Facebook is a business and has a business model centered around attracting views, so this should be expected by the general public when they choose to download this app.

There is no mandate to be active on social media. There is no publicist on social media.

Social media is a digital space for people to write and distribute essentially any thought that enters their head, regardless of how much thought they have put into it. Any individual who decides to believe whatever they see online is a victim of their own foolishness and cannot honestly blame the platform. Maybe the real problem today is not freedom of speech on Facebook, but the hypocrisy of those who decide to criticize it while simultaneously using its services under the assumption that they are impervious to manipulation themselves. If you truly find its services are doing more harm than good, delete the app.

Emily Lichty Editor-in-Chief

Con: No

The Facebook mission statement outlines the social media platform’s intent to “give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.”

Few deny that Facebook has completed its founding mission statement. Now, the question we must ask ourselves is what do we do now that the world is connected by this single company?

The answer to this question is to spread the power.

The Facebook monopoly, which includes Instagram and WhatsApp, facilitates problems we have seen time and time again with monopolies, such as difficulty for smaller companies to grow in the industry. However, now, the stakes are higher.

The questions surrounding the Facebook monopoly are in regards to our personal information and our wellbeing. We can no longer continue with Facebook in control of some of the most important parts of our lives. Even Facebook’s mission statement spells out that it is the people who should be in power of how they connect with the world, not a monopoly.

Putting privacy and personal information aside, social media has become essential to daily life, especially to small businesses. According to statistica.com, 66 percent of small businesses use Facebook while 41 percent use Instagram. Small businesses depend on the Facebook monopoly. When it fails to deliver, as it did on Oct. 4, many of these businesses are left stranded, with no comparable alternative to turn to.

Additionally, it is well known that lack of competition for a monopoly correlates to a lack of quality. For Facebook, this lack of quality can facilitate the spread of misinformation and danger. For the U.S., this problem has led to misinformation about vaccines, political polarization and hate speech. Following whistle blower and former Facebook employee Frances Haugen’s presentation on Facebook’s knowledge of how Facebook harms young children, many are concerned about the safety of the platform, especially in America.

However, Facebook’s influence spreads far beyond our country. According to The Atlantic, over 90 percent of Facebook’s users live outside of the U.S. However, only 13 percent of Facebook’s staff hours are spent towards combating misinformation targeted towards these countries. The consequence of Facebook’s minimal action to regulate harmful hashtags and accounts is illegal human trafficking, according to a BBC report in 2019. Following this report, Apple threatened to remove Facebook and Instagram from the App Store, sparking Facebook to take action. This accountability is what Facebook needs, and it can be provided by competition. If Facebook isn’t motivated by competition to regulate the harmful practices on its platforms, the billions of people on Facebook could be in danger.

The federal government has the power to split this monopoly. We cannot be complacent with Facebook regulating itself. Facebook needs to face stricter regulations. The solution is not the creation of a “Metaverse.” We need to focus on fixing Facebook’s current problems before we expand its control in our lives. Books like “Ready Player One” and “1984” already warn us of the danger of putting all of our trust in an omnipresent entity. It is time for us to listen to these warnings and dilute Facebook’s control before it is too late.

Gov. Abbott’s policy surrounding transgender athletes is fair

I

Alexandra Warner Views Editor

magine being one of the best track-andfield athletes in your state, and setting five records, including an outdoor longjump distance, only to not qualify for the New England regionals because two trans-athletes identify as girls.

Selina Soule is a female student athlete in Glaston, Connecticut who didn’t qualify to race in the New England regionals because she lost to two trans athletes. Her state is one of the 17 who allows trans athletes to compete with the gender they identify as. Texas, however, is just one of the nine states that has recently enacted laws to ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and womens’ sports.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott recently signed a bill that requires student athletes who compete in interscholastic competition to play on sports teams that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificate. This prevents transgender athletes from playing a sport, but significantly affects trans-women more. Some people choose to believe this is targeting trans-athletics and

is ethically wrong; however, I believe this bill provides safety and fairness for student athletes who are cisgender.

As a student athlete, I am a highly competitive person. Throughout my years of playing sports, winning and fairness have been a big part of my sports career. Every game, I play with girls who are all built biologically alike. If a fully transitioned female athlete played against me in a sports game, would it be fair?

The issue is over athletic ability. It is a fact that born males and females have either an X or Y chromosome. It is scientifically proven that men, who carry the Y chromosome, have a physical advantage: Ys are bigger, faster and stronger than non Ys. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, after puberty, men produce 20 times more testosterone than women. Even during infancy, males have 75-400 ng/dl of testosterone whereas females only have 20-80 ng/dl. After puberty, the post pubertal increase in circulating testosterone provides a major

physical advantage in athletic performance by creating larger and stronger bones and greater muscle mass and strength. This can put cisgender women at risk and leave them unable to compete against trans women.

Democrats would argue that trans women take oral spironolactone and are treated with oral estrogen therapy to lower testosterone, so it would make it fair for trans women to compete in womens’ sports. However, only a quarter of transgender women taking a regimen of spironolactone and estrogens were able to lower testosterone levels within the usual female physiologic range.

Perhaps there are sports that can comingle. For example, the Olympics have had mixed relays in swimming and track for the past couple years. But it’s unfair and unsafe to allow trans athletes to compete in womens’ sports. Gov. Abbott is creating a safe space for women, and hopefully we can find one for trans athletes. But at the end of the day, you can change your gender but you can’t change your genetic makeup.

20 Eagle Edition

letter

Episcopal School of Dallas

the

from

F

ake News. Dying Business. Lies. Over the past few years, the journalism industry has received its fair share of hate. Whether it has been during a heated political presidential election or a global pandemic, the press has remained steadfast in its work to provide the people with factual information.

Despite what many may think, journalism is crucial to our lives. It reveals the truth, holds individuals accountable for their actions and keeps everyone informed.

Journalism is instrumental to a democratic society. Recently, the importance of journalism was recognized by the Norwegian Nobel Committee when it awarded two journalists, Maria Ressa, from the DESPITE WHAT Philippines, and MANY MAY THINK, Dmitri A. Muratov, from Russia, with JOURNALISM IS the 2021 Nobel CRUCIAL TO OUR Peace Prize. This action inspires the LIVES. IT REVEALS both of us as we THE TRUTH, HOLDS pursue our jobs as INDIVIDUALS student journalists.

Seeing these two ACCOUNTABLE journalists honored FOR THEIR with the Nobel Peace Prize gives ACTIONS AND us both hope KEEPS EVERYONE for the future of journalism and, INFORMED. thus, the future of JOURNALISM IS the world.

These two INSTRUMENTAL journalists were TO A DEMOCRATIC chosen out of SOCIETY. a group of 329 nominees, many of which were activists or people involved in work during the pandemic. However, the committee believed that these journalists were the true heroes during a tense and uncertain time.

This accomplishment provides motivation and inspiration for journalists around the world, including us. We are both excited to turn to these individuals for inspiration as we grow as journalists and overall world citizens.

Ressa, founder of Rappler, an investigative media company,

“

Photo by Sloane Hope

is a well known journalist in the Philippines. She has been charged in the past for speaking out against current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. She did extensive research on Duterte’s campaign and his corrupt projects behind his presidency.

Similarly, Muratov is one of the founders of Russian newspaper Novaya. As the editor-in-chief, he has faced many incidents of harassment and hate. He is one among many journalists that have been named “foreign agents” for revealing hidden truths about the Russian government.

The Philippine and Russian governments are notorious for their oppressive regimes and press censorship. They are quick to violently remove anyone they see as a threat. Ressa’s and Muratov’s bravery is impressive, and it sends a message that journalism cannot be silenced. No matter the situation, corruption or circumstance,

journalism remains at the forefront (often literally!) expressing and voicing the opinions and sentiments of the people.

The Nobel committee described them as the “representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”

This is only the third time in the Nobel Prize’s history that journalists have been recognized.

Both of these journalists are the reason we are so passionate about this industry. As student journalists, we understand the meaning of ethical journalism. We have been exposed to the ups and downs of scandals, elections and sporting events. On a daily basis we live and breathe journalism. We constantly think about headlines, future articles, spread designs and images.

Journalism is our passion, and we feel honored that the industry is finally being appreciated for its

work. Without the press, we, as a people, would be uninformed.

We would be unable to form our own opinions and keep up with significant political, social and environmental events.

As editors of the Eagle Edition, we are so grateful to the upper school administration and community for being so supportive of the journalism program at ESD. Whether it is discussing story ideas, reviewing writing or sharing perspectives, we appreciate their dedication to us. These healthy and respectful relationships remind us of what is to come in the future.

Both of us plan on pursuing journalism in college and as future careers. We value the positive experiences that we have had at school and the community, which have led us to this point.

We hope to use people like Ressa and Muratov as inspiration while we pursue a career in this indispensable industry.

Hey Upper School! Welcome back to the Student Council Corner. My name is Gabe Kozielec, and I am serving as your Student Council vice president this year. I have really enjoyed my time serving you all on the council both as a Class Representative last year and as the VP. Aside from being on Student Council, you can see me involved in ESD Sustainability Projects or the Mu Alpha Theta club. I am looking forward to seeing our community come together this year after a pandemic school year. My goal as your vice president this year is to help enable our incredible Student Council to stir up our school spirit and to make every person feel welcome in this community.

I have already seen our school spirit return with our pep rallies, football games and our hard working Spirit Club. I know that this year has many more enjoyable festivities to come. Last year was objectively one of the strangest high school years. Due to the odd nature of last year’s environment, Student Council had their hands tied as far as planning school events. Even still, Student Council

persevered and still developed an engaging community within the upper school. Now that we are mask optional, Student Council is ready and thrilled to get back to giving you guys an entertaining and fulfilling high school year!

Our goal this year has been to bring back pre-pandemic events.

Last month, we had homecoming filled with fun dress days like the Generations Day and electrifying events such as the mechanical bull riding.

That being said, my goal is not to mention all the amazing events we have provided you, but to update you on what we will provide you next month. During November, Student Council will sell bracelets in order to raise awareness and money for cancer research. The aptly named “Noshember” month gives students the opportunity to not shave and grow out their hair, which many cancer patients lose during treatment. These blue plastic “Noshember” bracelets will remind us of this message and will be available for purchase at the Eagles Nest. The Student Council will give all of the profits

to supporting the cause of fighting cancer. A bracelet purchase enables the student to wear socks of their choosing and to support cancer research, a win-win for all. At the end of the month, the beards that were grown during the month are analyzed to proclaim who has the best beard.

This initiative kicks off the month of November, which is a month of giving and thanks and leads into the holiday season.

Also, as always, the Student Council loves to have your feedback. In order for us to make the best changes to student body policies, we enjoy having your feedback, so please reach out to any of us on Student Council. We want to hear from you! Please keep checking this updated news to monitor the Student Council’s progress for you. Check back in December for more information about what the Student Council is working on. Best of luck in the last full month of this semester, and we look forward to updating you guys soon.

Gabe Kozielec Student Body Vice President

November 5, 2021

Views

gues column

MOMENTS WITH

Whistle blower holds Facebook accountable

Believing in “Believe”

By Tolly Salz English Department Chair and Heather Cernoch English teacher

A

s English teachers, we relish a good story. Well-developed yet flawed characters and a dash of irony snare us every time, whether in Jane Eyre or Schitt’s Creek. But when a story allows us to reexamine our profession and even our place in the world—without suffering a character’s complete destruction brought about by his own error in judgment while still providing a dose of much-needed catharsis—well, we feel compelled to write an article in the school newspaper. The Emmy-winning, Apple TV series Ted Lasso is that show for us.

Ted Lasso’s premise seems simple (a beloved American football coach moves to England to coach professional soccer despite his complete lack of knowledge of the sport). But as English teachers and advisors, we learned so many things from the show we started a list of what touched us, angered us, moved us, amazed us and inspired us. Weekly, we texted truisms to one another, comparing notes of our analyses of and reactions to our protagonist’s story, one that made us feel every emotion in the world all at once; and, like any other great story, it begged for further exploration.

In literature, we see epic heroes struggling through their battles, leaving destruction and mayhem in their wake. Time after time, too, we’ve witnessed tragic heroes who don’t win their fight but suffer into wisdom: they are too proud, too power hungry or too narcissistic to see the world beyond themselves and their own perceived greatness.

Ted Lasso is neither epic nor tragic; instead, he is the comedic hero we didn’t realize we needed—especially in a time of pandemic and political paranoia and divisiveness. Ted is a comedic hero not because he’s funny, but rather because he meets every antagonistic force with such earnest goodwill that they, too, can’t help but love him. And, as you might remember from English I, comedic heroes restore order to a fallen world—but not without pain, heartbreak and conflict.

These figures—these all-too-human protagonists—teach us some of life’s greatest lessons. Realizing we did not have the cover story or center spread to explore all we learned, we decided instead to focus on the top five Ted Lasso quotations that resonate with and have brought restoration to us as teachers this year.

“I do love a locker room. It smells like potential.”

Ted declares his love for locker rooms in the season one pilot, and there was something familiar about it for us too (even though we’re not technically coaches). If August had a smell, it would be this: potential. Like the locker room just prior to kick off, the classroom, too, contains energy, excitement, possibility. There’s something special about the fragrance of freshly sharpened pencils and unopened books combined with enthusiasm and eager anticipation. In August, anything—and everything—is possible. Room 135 is the closest thing we’ve got to a locker room, where we believe brilliance is possible every single day. You just have to show up, knowing your coaches/teachers believe in the potential you possess.

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”

Yes, you will encounter both wins and losses throughout your high school years. While we aren’t going to tell you that grades aren’t important, we do want you to know that behind and beyond every test score is a human being made in the image of a loving God. Yes, we want you to become even more exceptional readers, writers and thinkers, and we also want you to develop your full potential as humans navigating the complexities of this world. Your learning—these starts and stops throughout the years—help craft both your knowledge and your character. As you consider what it is to have an educated conscience, consider, too, how you will use it for good. We can think of many people who have “ignited lives of purpose,” but not necessarily for the right reasons. What we do here, we hope, will help you discover your best—both in and out of the classroom.

“Don’t you dare settle for fine.”

When Roy tells Rebecca she shouldn’t settle for a mediocre love match in season one, it’s pure excellence. He sees her worth—and wants her to see it and act upon it, too.

As your teachers, we see that you are worth so much more than “fine.” Don’t settle for mediocrity, half truths and sloppy work. You deserve more. Everyone deserves a Roy in their corner, someone willing to admit the veracious truth, even if it reveals a vulnerability.

“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.”

As we finished season two of Ted Lasso, we realized everyone should have a Ted in their life (the coach), a Coach Beard (the voice of reason), a Rebecca (the encourager) and a Roy (the truth teller), but we really need a Sharon in our lives the most. As the team therapist, Sharon attempts to help the characters confront their inner turmoil while also confronting her own. Ted refuses her help when he claims therapy doesn’t work due to the stigma that surrounds mental health, but he soon realizes he needs her. Badly. When she tells him the truth can be infuriating, she speaks to our very human unwillingness to confront those things that make us uncomfortable or frightened. Accepting a certainty and then realizing it’s a falsehood can challenge the best of us. According to Adam Grant in his book “Think Again,” “We favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt.

We listen to views that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard.”

“Every choice is a chance.”

Ted Lasso concludes season two with this axiom when he admits to the team he didn’t give himself a chance to build trust with them, but he then chooses to ask for forgiveness.

You are not defined by what happens to you—you are defined by how you choose to move forward in the face of adversity. Ted Lasso is both endearing and empowering (and, at times, infuriating) precisely because every single character has a story, one that has been shaped by a backstory. And together, these stories affect how characters make choices in the present. Sam chooses advocacy, standing up against a company that is destroying his home country. Jamie chooses a modicum of humility and becomes a team player. Nate chooses… well, we don’t want to spoil that for you in case you haven’t seen the show. Experiencing pain and loss is part of what allows us to grow—if only we let them.

Embodied in every choice we make is a chance to heal ourselves—and, if we’re lucky, even the world to some degree.

ALL HANDS IN English teacher Heather Cernoch (left) and English Department Chair Tolly Salz (right) gather with their students under a Ted Lasso inspired “Believe” sign.

“In homage to Coach Lasso’s “Believe” locker room sign in the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso,” many people have created “Believe” signs for their own classrooms, workspaces or locker rooms.” Cernoch said. “It’s come to represent the simplicity and effectiveness of choosing to believe that positive things will arise from struggle--as long as we move forward with hope.” Photo by EE staff

21

Facebook should face the same legal consequences as other major companies

MO TE

T

here’s no denying that we are living in a world where we are being taken advantage of by technology and social platforms. Everything with social media is recorded and monitored, and that marks the end to our privacy.

We often check the “I agree to the terms and conditions” box, but how many times do we actually read what we’re signing off on?

Within the documents we agree to, companies could place any clause talking about its ability to track you and your cell phone, but we’ve become so accustomed to handing off this ability, that we don’t even question it and accept the terms.

Take Facebook, a billion-person platform that we use to connect with friends and family, but how many times a day do you see an ad on Instagram or Facebook showing you an item you were just looking at on Google or promoting a celebrity you just followed on Twitter? Most of the time when I see something like that, I can’t help but interact. I find myself scrolling through the website that was shown to me in an ad and I don’t even question how Instagram gathered that material on my likes and dislikes.

Should Facebook and other large conglomerates be allowed to do this? It is an unethical invasion of privacy. A company with so much power should have the internal initiative to realize that when their power isn’t used for good, and when the bad exceeds the good, they need to change how they operate. Facebook crosses borders, cultural groups and languages. It’s important to realize that with that power comes great responsibility. They are setting the precedent as far as

By Katherine Mote News Editor

what social media can and can’t do and they must recognize when their “personalized experience” becomes invasive. This month’s scandal about a whistle blower addressing privacy concerns within Facebook helped me realize that I am constantly feeding a profit and information collector with some of the most personal aspects of my daily life.

Among its privacy concerns, the whistle blower brought to light Facebook’s failed effort in certifying information. The company is much more focused on letting the information spread and helping it reach more people than verifying its accuracy. They have also proven to be more harmful in the eyes of teenagers, especially when it comes to the use of Instagram and its relationship to body image. This is especially relevant in light of the attacks on Jan. 6 that were planned and organized through Facebook and strengthens the idea Facebook should be more strictly regulated.

The government interfering with Facebook and regulating its ability and algorithms is necessary for public safety. Facebook has the ability to spread possibly deadly information and cause immense amounts of harm to both children using the service as well as the American public. While obviously, algorithms can’t stop all hate speech and all harmful images, they would most definitely assist in reducing the compromise of fair and democratic elections or financial scams. Frances Hagen, the whistle blower, suggested solutions to diminish Facebook’s negative effects including instilling government oversight in Facebook similar to that of banks.

Concerns are nothing new for the technology sector. Many past congressional hearings have

Battle of the Lunchroom

by Sarah Cabrales ‘23

happened but result in inaction.

Democrats and Republicans can’t seem to agree on what the issue is with these large technology platforms which led to gridlock and no change. On one side, Democrats are worried about the spread of misinformation while Republicans are worried about bias. Because of the lack of bipartisanship, Facebook has been left with no accountability for the harm they cause.

These concerns have been recurring. For example, in February 2018, Facebook was found guilty in German and Belgian courts of violating privacy laws, and within the same month, was found guilty of using phone numbers for authentication to promote ads. The largest scandal and the beginning of Facebook’s privacy concerns stemmed from Cambridge Analytica, a political data analytics firm, that used an app distributed by a third party to harvest Facebook user data. The app was downloaded by 270,000 people and unknowingly built political profiles on more than 50 million users, with the intention of influencing elections around the world.

By allowing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects internet platforms from liability for many of the things third parties say or do on them, citizens would be allowed to sue Facebook. This would allow the power to remain in the hands of the people and would hold them accountable. By opening up the possibility to sue Facebook, we are allowing legal provisions that are available to almost every other sector of business. So why shouldn’t it be applicable with tech giants that should’ve never been blocked by this Section to begin with?

22 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

sports

Concussions impact ESD athletes ESD trainers work hard to treat students on their road to recovery

By Easterly Yeaman Staff writer

S

taring ahead blankly as slides fly past on the board, sophomore Ben Rochon struggles to focus on the lecture in history class. At night, homework seems like a relatively easy task, but his short attention span prevents him from starting it until 10 p.m. His teammates and coaches ask him on a daily basis when he will be back out on the field, but until his head stops pounding from headaches, football, tests and quizzes are off the EVERY SPORT IS table.

As sports return DIFFERENT, SO RIGHT from last year’s more NOW IT’S VERY ODD restricted play, some student-athletes BECAUSE A LOT OF are getting injured CONCUSSIONS ARE and/or concussed.

Different from other JUST ALL AROUND THE injuries, concussions BOARD FROM EVERY not only affect a student’s ability to SPORT. FOOTBALL IS play and compete A HIGHER CONTACT in their respective SPORT IN WHICH sport, but also their academics THEY HAVE A HIGHER and everyday RISK OF GETTING A activities. ESD trainers help treat CONCUSSION. student concussions to prevent serious damage and long Crystal Carrizales term effects.

Head Athletic Trainer and According to the Centers for Equipment Manager Disease Control and Prevention, a concussion is a traumatic brain injury that is caused by a sudden movement of the body or head that causes the brain to bounce around in the skull. Youths are susceptible to more dramatic effects of a concussion as the brain is still developing and they have less neck and core strength which can lead to more movement.

“A concussion is when there is a force to the head, that can be either a direct blow or a force from something, that leads to the brain moving inside the skull and causing a functional change in the brain,” Dr. Matthew Stokes, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

“

HEAD ON Sophomore Ben Rochon, number 28, takes on opponents from TCA at a JV game on Sept. 2. The following day he received a concussion during the varsity game against the same school. “Well, this game was rough, our only JV loss,” Rochon said.

“They had this huge tight end that ran over whoever tried to tackle him and scored basically every point for them.”

Photo by Huy Pham

and Neurology at University of Texas Southwestern, said. “One important part about a concussion is that there is no structural change to the brain, so imaging is normal with a concussion, but the change is in how the brain functions.”

The 2013-2018 National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study showed football as the sport with the highest concussion rates, as there were about 10 percent of concussions for every 10,000 athlete exposures to practicing and competing. One of the most common causes of a concussion from football is helmetto-helmet contact, but it can also come from any jarring hit. Rochon, who got his concussion from a football game on Sept. 3 was fully recovered and able to return to football by Oct. 4.

“I got my concussion [after] playing in two [football] games, but I don’t really know what hit caused it [because] there were a lot of them,” Rochon said. “I was able to return to sports after I was symptom free and once I completed a five-day return to play process.”

In the same study, cheerleading stood out as having a higher rate of concussions in practice than in competition. This is in part due to the fact that in some states, cheer is not considered a sport, so practice sometimes may be held in hallways, on a track or on asphalt.

Cheer captain and senior Charlotte Cooper’s concussion recovery lasted from Sept. 23 to Oct. 11.

“I got dropped five times at cheer practice,” Cooper said. “At school, we practice on the football field, on turf, but it’s still a pretty hard surface.”

Concussions are most common as a result of a cheerleader hitting another’s head, elbow, foot or other body part as they come down from a stunt, though they can also come from being dropped on the head.

Though it seems as most concussions may come from football, a high-contact sport, concussions this year at ESD have spanned all sports, some even being caused by other incidents.

“Every sport is different, so right now it’s very odd because

a lot of concussions are just all around the board from every sport. Football is a higher contact sport in which they have a higher risk of getting a concussion,” Head Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager Crystal Carrizales said.

“And there’s never a set number for how quickly or long it’s gonna take somebody to come back [to sports and schoolwork].”

After a concussion, one might experience physical symptoms including headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea and sensitivity to light and noise. Other symptoms are cognitive, like loss of focus and attention. A concussed person may also sleep for longer periods of time.

“I always had a headache, and that wasn’t too bad, but I had it for three weeks, basically,” Rochon said. “I had some light sensitivity, which was really bad during chapel, especially when we would walk out of chapel. Then one day, I slept for 15 hours after going to sleep at 10.”

If the ESD trainers suspect a concussion, they conduct a post injury test which is compared to the baseline test that every athlete must take at the beginning of their sport season. If the test raises flags, the student is immediately removed from practices, games and academics. The parents are then contacted along with ESD’s Emergency Action Team who notify the teachers of the restrictions put in place for that student.

“We want that healing rest in the first 40 to 72 hours,” Carrizales said. “Then we’ll have them come back and re-evaluate them and see how they’re doing. At that point, we figure out where our plan is going to go next. If symptoms are about the same or worsen, then that’s where we will refer to our concussion doctors so they can go to an in-clinic and get a further evaluation.”

It’s important for students with concussions to refrain from doing any work or taking tests right after the injury as it can worsen symptoms and can cause a decline in performance. Students are allowed back to school often days after the incident with accommodations, extra time

and no testing. Especially with increased screen use at school, students with light sensitivity can struggle more completing work that requires a computer. Some students are not able to go to classes altogether while others may not be triggered and attend classes to avoid falling behind.

“I was sensitive to light and noise, and the worst was probably the nausea, and when I read, it got a lot worse,” Cooper said. “I have a ton of work because I missed a week, and I have to take a bunch of tests, and it sucks, catching up on all of it.”

ESD’s concussion protocols are taken seriously as second concussions bring up the risk of developing Second Impact Syndrome which can have dire consequences, though it is a very rare condition. The ESD trainers emphasize the importance of proper recovery to prevent this and to prevent experiencing long term effects like headaches, lightheadedness, trouble sleeping, memory issues and more.

“We stress the seriousness of [the first concussion] because of second impact syndrome. If they are released too soon or get hit again, it doesn’t give the brain enough time to heal,” Carrizales said. “This could cause an increase in symptoms and swelling. That would linger into long term effects from there and it could go into even more serious issues instantly.”

10 concussions have been reported and treated by the ESD training department this year. It is a larger number than previous years, though not unusual. More extensive research has been done on the long term effects of concussions, but with proper recovery, which the ESD trainers do a great job of providing, most people do not experience any future issues.

“We have made significant changes to the way in which we handle concussion both immediately afterwards and in how we treat it as it recovers,” Stokes said. “It will take more time and evidence to truly understand the long-term effects. With that said, a single concussion that has normal recovery should not lead to any long-term issues.”

Sports

November 5, 2021

23

Ryder Cup excites golf enthusiasts Golf tournament engages fans through fierce competition and team loyalty

By Callie Hawkins Sports Editor

T

he Ryder Cup is a competition between the greatest American golf players versus the greatest of the Europeans. “[Because of] the patriotism, the enthusiasm of the fans that is associated with the Ryder Cup, it is clear and you hear so many golfers talk about how the first tee of the Ryder Cup is unlike any other emotion they have ever had playing golf,” Head of School David Baad said. “This is because of the emotion and the anticipation of the crowd and the emotion of playing for something other than yourself.”

The team aspect of the cup changes the entire environment of the game compared to other golf tournaments. The fans are rowdier, the golfers more electrified with emotion and the feeling of competitiveness in the air. “[One reason I enjoy watching the Ryder Cup is because] it’s a team event,” Assistant Director of Athletics and Golf Program Director David Tollison said. “For one week every two years, players aren’t playing as individuals.

They are playing for a team, one playing for a country and one for a continent, which makes it an emotionally charged event.”

This year, some of the wellknown players who competed on

the American side were Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, Jordan Speith and Dustin Johnson. Some for the European players were John Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.

“It is a biennial event, so there is an increased level of excitement and drama leading up to the event,” Tollison said. “These are matches between twelve of the top performing golfers from the U.S. and Europe at the time of the Ryder Cup, so the level of play from both sides is phenomenal.”

This elite of play along with the aspect of team play is what lures the fans. The fans at this tournament are unlike any others going to different golfing competitions.

“I have always wanted to go to a Ryder Cup to experience the incredible competition but also to actually be in the crowd,” junior Blake Scheinberg said. “From watching on TV, I can tell how much people enjoy themselves when at one of these cups, and as fun as it is to watch on TV, I would love to be able to attend a Ryder Cup in the future.”

The 24 competitors compete for their team in three different games. The most important game, the singles match, is on the last day of the tournament.

For the different games, the

21

students watch the Ryder Cup more often than other golf tournaments

32 students watched the Ryder Cup this year

Source: Upper School Eagle Edition Poll of 172 students

captains of each team, this year being Steve Strickter for the US team and Pádraig Harrigton for Europe, get to decide which golfers play together based on their style of play and personalities.

“There are five sessions of play, with only one of those being singles matches,” Tollison said.

“In four of the five sessions, twoman teams compete against each other, so there is a lot of strategy involved.”

Another thing that is different from other golf tournaments and gives the Ryder Cup some individuality is how it is scored.

“Instead of stroke-play like the tournaments golfers normally play, this is match-play,” Tollison explains. “This leads to more aggressive and exciting play, since a big score on a few holes won’t destroy a round.”

This year, the tournament ended with a landslide of a win for the US team 19-9.

“The Cup was so much fun to watch this year,” Scheinberg said.

“I haven’t been super engaged in golf until recently, so when I watched it this year, I knew way better how the different matches worked and who the golfers were.

We had a great team this year and the win was super exciting for the team and the fans.”

“

THE PATRIOTISM, THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE FANS THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RYDER CUP, IT IS CLEAR AND YOU HEAR SO MANY GOLFERS TALK ABOUT HOW THE FIRST TEE OF THE RYDER CUP IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER EMOTION THEY HAVE EVER HAD PLAYING GOLF.

David Baad Head of School

Photo Illustration by Callie Hawkins, photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images/TNS

24

Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

HALFTIME WITH HAWKINS College sports fans stay true to their team

Photo by Emily Lichty

Football and other sports create long-lasting loyalties between students after graduation

By Callie Hawkins Sports Editor

T

he Saturday of fall break, Oct. 9, was a huge day for college football. The University of Texas versus University of Oklahoma Red River Showdown, the upset of University of Alabama versus Texas A&M and the University of Georgia versus Auburn battle were all huge games that made me realize just how die-hard college sports fans can be.

Tailgates, watch parties and other major events based around these college football games, could be found up and down every block of Dallas that night, especially since the TX/OU game was at its annual location in Fair Park’s Cotton Bowl.

These college sports fandoms are not only relevant in football, but in many other sports,

especially depending on the school.

Yet every fall, college football can easily be deemed the most prevalent game to watch and participate in.

I attended the TX/OU game that day, and the crowds were bigger than I could describe.

Although my group arrived at Fair Park 30 minutes before kick-off, we didn’t end up getting to our seats until five minutes into the first quarter. Texas was already up by two touchdowns, and my parents, who both attended UT, jumped right into the crowd yelling along with the loud chants. The Cotton Bowl can seat up to 92,100 people, and close to every seat there was filled, split down the middle with sooner red and UT orange. To compare, the AT&T Cowboys’ stadium seats 80,000 when at full capacity. Most

of the seats were in the sun, and that day the temperature peaked at 100 degrees. And the heat was intensified by the cheering of the teams’ fans.

During the game, I visited friends and family in their seats who had come in from out of town to cheer on and watch their teams compete in person. I ended up by the Texas student section to see Ali Sparrow 21’ who was having the time of her life in the middle of the large crowd, screaming for her team with the friends she had made in only the first couple months of college.

“The games I have been to so far have been so fun and I can tell that I’ll always be cheering on the horns,” Sparrow said. “I have already made life-long friends and relationships that I will always remember when thinking of our

times together, including these games.”

UT fans were on their toes, since their team was in the lead, at times by a lot, for the first three quarters and most of the fourth.

OU ended up coming back and tying up the game, then scoring the winning touchdown with three seconds left, leaving UT without a chance. As UT fans fled the stadium to beat the crowds and the traffic, one could hear OU fans hollering and cheering louder than thunder.

Seeing that amount of people, hearing that amount of noise, and knowing the amount of people watching virtually and cheering from get-togethers amazed me and got me thinking about how crazy, excited and rowdy these kinds of fans can get.

Of course there are popular

singers, actors, artists etcetera, who gain a great following and many fans, but being a sports fan is a completely different game.

College fans are bigger enthusiasts and have a much deeper connection with the people they are rooting for than those of professional sports teams. One might live in Dallas and be a loyal fan to the Cowboys, for example, but having gone to a school and supported the team alongside countless classmates and advisers for four years causes a deeper bond and affiliation with a college team. Experiences with your best friends at fun events like football games and other college sporting events leave a long-lasting effect on those students who continue to cheer on their team years after graduation because the connection formed while at the school remains strong.

Sports

November 5 2021

25

26

Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas

Football team breaks records in an undefeated season Varsity football will go to SPC 4A Championship for first time in school history

By Sloane Hope Business manager EAGLES YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOT TO DO Wingmen lead varsity football players into victory at the homecoming game on Oct. 22.

This victory against St John’s was a blowout with a final score of 46-18. The game was one of the many blowouts from the 2021 record-breaking season. Junior Blair Brennan felt the excitement in the middle of the heap. “It was great out there to see the whole school together,” Brennan said. “I really felt the energy out on the field.” Photo by Caroline Ragan

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or the first time in school history, the football team is going to the Southwest Preparatory Conference 4A Championship.

After beating St. John’s Episcopal School 46-18 on Oct. 22, the Eagles secured their spot in the finals, a feat that has never been accomplished in the 23 years that the ESD football program has existed.

Complete with 24 seniors, this year’s team is rife with role models, talent and the I THINK ONE OF THE sheer will to win.

MAIN REASONS WE “I think one of the main reasons ARE DOING SO WELL we are doing so well IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF is because of all of our seniors,” senior OUR SENIORS. football captain Jake Lewis said. “This is something that [the Jake Lewis seniors] have been Senior dreaming about and manifesting since we were in middle school.

We always thought we were going to win it all and here we are, with the tools and ability to do so.”

Going into the championship with a record of 10-0, and is the winningest football team to ever grace ESD. Going into the championship with a record of 10-0, this year’s

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team is the winningest in the football program’s history.

Moreover, this is the first time in ESD history that the Eagles have defeated every Houston team they have played. Schools such as Kinkaid, Bellaire Academy and St. John’s are known for their football prowess, star talent and ability to produce collegiate athletes.

“The Houston schools are all big and are all ‘football’ schools,” senior Price Johnson said. “I think what enabled us to beat them this year was our motivation. It’s been a while since ESD football has been this good, and our momentum has helped us a lot. This is the first time we’ve ever beaten [Bellaire Episcopal School], so I think after beating them, we were more confident in ourselves and we were able to take on stronger competition.”

This year, social media has played a big role in the season.

Hype videos, player edits, analyst accounts and even opposing school Instagram accounts have added an extra level to the season. Before the game, on Oct. 8, against Kinkaid, a private Kindkaid Instagram account began taunting players in the comment section of the ESD Horde Instagram account. Most of the comments have since been deleted, but the exchange was enough to push ESD to a 31-21 win over the visiting Houston team.

“I think the social media buzz

has definitely brought a lot of hype to the season,” Lewis said. “It has motivated a lot of us to play the best we can. I know Tucker [Sachs] has been doing a great job with the hype videos and game day pictures he creates, and I know everyone really enjoys those. As for the social media taunting by other schools, I think it’s pretty funny. It’s definitely something that has just come [about] because of how well we are playing. I think everyone on the team knows you just have to take it in stride, not really pay attention to it and keep going.”

Another addition to the season: universal hairstyles. Before their first game against a team in the SPC conference, the majority of players on the team cut their hair into a mullet style. The decision was made by the five varsity captains in an attempt to further unite the team.

“I think it was a good way for the team to represent themselves,” junior Drew Chairuangdej said.

“It definitely united the team, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.

I actually really liked the idea when the captains told us about it, because I liked the idea of unity. I think it comes off as intimidating to teams because they see that we are so confident that we are willing to do something as crazy as all getting mullets.”

Despite being undefeated, this season has had its challenges, injuries being one. Whether a

player was out for one game or a few weeks, they proved to be a significant obstacle.

“Thankfully, we haven’t had too many bad injuries,” Lewis said. “I think our training staff has been a key part in being able to quickly recover. Injuries are unavoidable, but we thankfully have a very large team and swing players, so everyone understands that when one guy goes down, it’s the next man up. You can get your shot at any time, so you have to be ready to step in and do your job.”

Johnson, who has been instrumental in the team’s success with six touchdowns and an average of 70 rushing yards per game, was injured in the team’s final regular season game against St. Mark’s on Friday, Oct. 29. After being dogpiled by four St. Mark’s defensemen, Johnson’s right ankle was left twisted, possibly ending his season.

“Usually after the plays, I try to stand up pretty fast, but at that moment, my leg was numb and I knew I wasn’t getting up without help,”Johnson said. “It’s a pretty big disappointment that I made it this far in the season just to get hurt in the last game, which was also my senior night. I really hope I’m cleared to play in a game as monumental and historic as the one coming up this weekend.”

Despite the injuries, the team is optimistic about their chances in the upcoming championship, which will take place at Jesuit’s Postell Stadium on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.

“Being a part of ESD history is the best thing I’ve experienced since I’ve been here,” Chairuangdej said. “I think as long as we continue what we’ve been doing all season, make fewer errors than in the past, and maintain our mindset, the championship is ours.”

EAGLE EYE

Flipping into football season Junior Dagen Geier steals the show at the football pep rally, a true testament to spirit and athletics Interview by Katherine Mote News Editor

Q A

What sports do you play and how did you get involved with them?

“I currently participate in football, basketball, swim and track and decided to play these sports because I enjoy them. I started [playing sports] when I was young because of my parents, but I stuck with them because I enjoyed them. My older sister swam, so my parents [wanted my younger sister and I to do] it as well. I love the adrenaline I get before and during each race and the joy I get from winning. I love swimming because it was the first sport I started with when I was a kid and it’s fun to participate in big meets like state and nationals.”

Photo by Lily Tollison

What has been the best moment this year on the football team this year and why has the team been so successful?

“The best moment this year in football was when we beat both Kinkaid and Bellaire because we have never beaten Bellaire, and Kinkaid was one of our biggest rivals. The team has done so well this year, and it’s a fun team to be a part of. We are 10-0 and we hope to win the [Southern Preparatory Conference] this year.”

Describe what the pep rally was like for you and how you started tumbling?

“The pep rally was fun and it was really cool to be able to tumble with everyone getting hype.

I never really learned how to tumble; it was mostly all selftaught. The seniors mentioned to me right before the pep rally that they wanted me to do a flip so I wasn’t really prepared but it worked out and went well. I did a back handspring into a back layout.”

Sports

November 5, 2021

27

Gomez and Degrenier reach career milestones Varsity volleyball and field hockey coaches earn their 400th and 300th wins

By Grace Worsham Life Editor

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s varsity volleyball coach Laura Gomez reached her 400th win on Sept. 4 at Nets Results SuperCenter against Frassati Catholic and varsity field hockey coach Jane DeGrenier successfully earned her 300th win on Sept.

21 at ESD Jones Stadium against Parish, both female coaches reached milestones in their career.

Fresh off of competing as a Division I volleyball player at the University of North Texas, Gomez began to coach at ESD in 2001.

Twenty years later, she has attained 400 wins all at one school. In contrast, this is Degrenier’s first year coaching at the school, and she has achieved many of her previous wins as an assistant field hockey and lacrosse coach at the University of Richmond and as the head field hockey and lacrosse coach at Hollins College in Virginia. Along

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with collegiate level coaching, she was most recently a high school coach at the National Cathedral School in D.C. before she relocated to Dallas..

“I didnt think about [reaching a certain number of wins] when I first started coaching,” Degrenier said.

“I just focused on being the best coach possible and giving everything I have to make my players better and my teams successful, and the wins accumulated.”

Degrenier’s passion has led her to travel internationally and venture on many different paths to play and coach field hockey, but she said that it was special to get her 300th win at ESD in her first season.

“I was very happy and excited for the win,” Degrenier said. “It was made more special that it happened during my first season at ESD. I was so sad that my season was cancelled last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, so it’s great to get

back to some sense of normalcy and then to hit that benchmark was incredible.”

And the field hockey team was excited to be part of this moment not only for Degreiner, but for the whole field hockey program.

“I felt super honored to be a part of the team that got the 300th win for her,” senior varsity field hockey captain Kate Elliston said.

“Especially because this is her first year coaching at ESD, it was a really unifying moment for the program to have that experience with her. It also puts into perspective how dedicated she is to her job and how much she impacts others.”

Team spirit was also brought higher as the team made a chant for Degrenier during their pregame.

The team was proud to have Degrenier as their coach even if it was her first year.

“During our pregame cheer,

Editors-in-Chief Emily Lichty & Gina Montagna

Web Editor Kara Dross

Business Manager Sloane Hope

Assistant Web Editor Charlotte Tomlin

Copy Editor Maddy Hammett

Social Media Manager Olivia Hohmann

News Editor Katherine Mote

Staff Writers Abby Baughman, William Custard, Iris Hernandez, Elliot Lovitt, Miles Wooldridge, Easterly Yeaman

Life Editors Elisabeth Siegel & Grace Worsham Views Editor Alexandra Warner Sports Editor Callie Hawkins Photo Editor Satori Griffith

Cartoonist Sarah Cabrales Faculty Adviser Ana Rosenthal

we said “Do it for Degrens!,’’ Elliston said. “We wanted to show our appreciation for her and her achievement by giving our all and getting the win for her.”

Along with field hockey’s success, Gomez said that her long line of successes in her career began due to the impact her coaches had on her, both negative and positive.

“My coaches when I was young were influential in a negative way for me to want to be a coach, but I have had some great coaches too,” Gomez said. “I have had some strict coaches, quiet coaches, loud coaches, etc., so I have honestly had everything. When I saw how much of an impact coaches have on their players or their coaching staff it [became] something I wanted to do, to make an impact and be able to help athletes see their true potential.”

Varsity volleyball captain junior Alexa Grabow said that there was

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anticipation throughout the game but an outburst of excitement for Gomez after the game point was scored.

“Even though we were excited, we tried not to get too excited until the game was over so we could maintain our focus,” Grabow said.

“We all jumped around and hugged Gomez and chanted ‘400’ and it definitely caught the attention of other teams in the gym.”

Gomez views this milestone as not just a victory for herself, but all the athletes she has coached and staff that has helped her.

“The girls were super excited after the win because I have been a program director and volleyball coach who has been here for a long time,” Gomez said. “You know the wins and losses aren’t necessarily about me, they are about the whole program and what we represent and everyone was excited to be part of that history.”

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Eagle Edition | vol. 39, issue 2 The Episcopal School of Dallas 4100 Merrell Rd. Dallas, TX 75229 eagleedition@esdallas.org (214) 358-4368

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28 Eagle Edition

Episcopal School of Dallas | November 5, 2021

what’s? on your keychain

Coffee gift card

For early morning coffee runs,.

Credit Cards

Always kept in her wallet for easy access.

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“MY PARENTS GAVE ME MY O-RING WHEN I GOT MY CAR. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE HAVE THEM AND THEY ARE VERY COMMON, BUT I THINK THEY ARE REALLY USEFUL AND CONVENIENT.”

O-ring

Holds eveything together, like wallet and keys.

Wallet

Annie’s grandma bought it for her as a birthday gift.

Annie Heldman Senior

Spare Change

In case of emergencies

Stuffed Animal

bought as a gift, but ended up keeping it as aa keychain.

Lip Gloss

Kept in wallet for lip gloss touchups

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eys clinking against a unique keychain, senior Annie Heldman walks down senior hall. She has always gotten comments on her wallet and keys. Connected to a baby blue O-ring, she is able to keep her keys and wallet together with a unique accent piece.

“I got my wallet on my 16th birthday from my grandma, she gave it to me so I would be able to keep track of all of my money and cards,” Heldman said. “My grandma knew I was getting my license, so she made sure it would be easy to connect to my car keys and other things. I loved this gift so much, and it holds so many things that I need.”

Within Heldman’s Kate Spade wallet, there is everything that she needs on a day to day basis, like her credit cards and license.

“I always carry my credit cards and license with me no matter what. It is really convenient to have a wallet to keep track of them and make sure they don’t get lost,” Heldman said. “I always have spare change in my wallet. I never use it, so it just kind of sits in there. It is nice to have in case of emergencies though.”

Having a unique and distinctive wallet is important so it does not get lost or mistaken for someone else’s. Heldman’s wallet meets these requirements with the distinct key chains and decorations she has attached.

“One of my friends actually bought this [stuffed animal] for me as a joke, but I actually ended up putting it on my keys because it is so cute and fun,” Heldman said. “People always make comments about it, but it usually just makes people laugh.”

Along with Heldmans keychains and wallet, her car keys are also attached to the O-ring for quick and easy access. As the O-ring holds everything together, it makes sure nothing falls off or gets lost.

“I always keep my car keys connected to my O-ring so I never lose them, and so far I haven’t,” Heldman said. “I think it is really handy to have something that connects all of your valuables.”

By Satori Griffith Photo Editior