Fourcast December 2019 by Hockaday Student Publications

4FO U R C A S T

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD DALLAS, TX 75229

VOLUME 70

ISSUE 3

DECEMBER 2019

What is a fad diet?

Popular, specific eating plans exclude certain food groups from a person’s normal provisions. The typical motivation behind fad dieting is rapid weight loss, and fad diets are easy to come across in everyday life. But how do they affect health? Read full story p. 12

IN FOCUS: FAD DIET

FIXATION

Merits, Demerits and New Policies Boarding Department Institutes Changes

cover art by Kemper Lowry

MOVIE REVIEW

POPCORN OUT

SHAVE OR BE SHAMED

THE DOUBLE STANDARD SURROUNDING SHAVING

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

CLASSES CHALLENGE THE GOVERNMENT Government classes change curriculum to encourage students to push for government action.

p.3

photo by Haylee Salopek

NEWS

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4F O U R C A S T

Residence students Shruthi Juttu and Aishwarya Chandrasekaran laugh and work together with their dorm mom Masha Barsuk.

Merits, Demerits and Policies Two new directors implement changes in boarding department

by Niamh McKinney• Arts and Life Editor

hree quarters of a semester into the school year, boarding students at Hockaday are seeing the effects of new policies put into place this year. Now, the boarding department has two heads instead of one, and is focusing on implementing a new disciplinary system and integrating bonding activities for boarding students. In the past, there was only one Director of Residence Life, but now students and dorm moms have access to both Jill Flinders, the Director of Residence Life and Yesela Tadeo, Assistant Director of Residence Life. Flinders provides support during the school day and Tadeo is available in the late afternoon and evening. The pair have worked to improve the department’s behavior management policies, along with instituting changes to foster a sense of community. In August, they had a week-long training with dorm moms to go over the handbook and department policies. “When Ms. Flinders and I came and had our own discussions about our thoughts and feelings on behavior management,” Tadeo said, “we were very much aligned in that we believe in a restorative approach with students in which one action or essentially a poor choice doesn’t define who you are.” This mindset resulted in the decision to change the previous

merit and demerit system to one based more on conversation and learning from mistakes. House Council President Annalise Ashman said the change addresses student conversations and concerns from the previous school year. “I know last year’s House Council worked really hard to establish better connections between boarding students and administration, so that was a major reason the conversation piece was really pushed for,” Ashman said. Because Flinders and Tadeo are both new to Hockaday, they said they did not want to change too much in the boarding department too quickly. “So we decided to not necessarily announce that we were not going to follow the merit and demerit system, but said let’s take everything on a case-by-case basis and gather feedback from the dorm moms,” Tadeo said. Flinders explained they chose this as their main policy change. “That was our main goal this year, really looking at the disciplinary process and doing it from the ground up, giving the girls a chance to be responsible,” Flinders said. So far, boarding students have largely appreciated the policy change. “I have gotten a lot of feedback from younger and especially a lot of the newer students to boarding this year who feel that it is a better way

“That was our main goal this year, really looking at the disciplinary process and doing it from the ground up, giving the girls a chance to be responsible.” Jill Flinders

Director of Residence Life of learning the rules and policies rather than just being punished,” Ashman said. Tadeo and Flinders also are ushering in a new policy known as the ‘safe harbor’ policy, a common protocol in other boarding schools and in universities. Its purpose is to treat issues related to substance abuse as a health and wellness issues, not as disciplinary problems. Flinders said the policy’s intent is to encourage students to seek help from an adult if they have a concern about their own health and wellbeing or that of a friend or classmate. “Maybe it’s an immediate situation, or maybe a friend has seen a pattern and says, ‘I’m really concerned about this student,’” Flinders said. “Either way it will take the route of health.” The policy is in place not only in boarding, but for the entire Upper School, including day students. “The intent and the purpose of the safe harbor policy is to encourage

students, either day or boarding, who are concerned about the health and wellbeing of themselves or others to seek help immediately from an adult,” she said. The council also is trying to add a stronger sense of community to the boarding environment in general. “The one major focus we have this year is strengthening the boarding community itself and that goes hand-in-hand with working with the dorm moms and the boarding administration to establish a strong connection between the two,” Ashman said. While students focus on constantly improving boarding, Flinders, Tadeo and the dorm moms also have tried adding to the sense of community by providing some spontaneous activities for girls to join in, including ordering food for boarders, having a movie night or surprising a boarding group by paying for their lunch at a restaurant.

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THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

NEWS

“

YOUR WORLD TODAY White supremacist mindset tied to domestic terrorism is rising in the U.S., especially among youth.

It’s important that people stay informed because as incidences increase and don’t get news coverage, they fall by the wayside until something tragic happens,”

p.4

YOUR WORLD TODAY, p.4

Sophomores Challenge the Government Students take hands-on approach to political issues by Lacy Green• Staff Writer

TIDBITS

photo by Gracie Little

fter years of completing a research paper at the end of the semester, sophomores taking the government class are transitioning from the traditional assignment to a project collaborating with the Institute for Social Impact. Government teacher Kristen Blevins described the goal of the project as having everyone identify an issue they care about, then take action through the government to make a difference. “It has been really great so far, because everyone has been picking different issues,” Blevins said. Topics range from asking the city to create a sidewalk on a neighborhood street to addressing what can be done to help the homeless population in Dallas. Sophomore Victoria Hart focused on how local governments should receive more federal funds to focus on infants and toddlers. “This is critical to our current and future workforce because there are many open jobs that could help close the pover ty cycle in Dallas County,” Har t said. To encourage change, Hart crafted a letter and sent it to CEO and President of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, Laurie Larrea. By sending the letter, Hart said she hopes to inf luence Larrea to change policies in the city or federal government. To further educate herself on the topic, Hart interviewed Regen Fearon, mother of Sabrina and Fiona Fearon, who ser ves as Chair of the Board for Early Matters Dallas, an organization that focuses on improving school readiness, especially for low-income families. Leading up to both the Thanksgiving and Holiday Breaks, students have been hard at work at completing both

Sophomore students attend Climate Strike at City Hall in December planned by government student Elise Little.

Services Department at DISD and parts of the project. Although the social suggested a solution for the issue. impact project requires dedication “I enjoyed the project because and perseverance for each student, it allowed us Hart recommends to experience this project should firsthand how we continue for future can individually government classes. have the power to “I love this recognize an issue project because in our community I became very and create change,” fascinated by all the Ahsan said. information that Ahsan said was unknown to me that she saw some before,” Hart said. projects that hit Similarly, closer to home for sophomore Tukwa members of her Ahsan enjoyed the class, while other journey of the Social US Government Teacher issues were more Impact project. global. She said she Ahsan chose to enjoyed seeing the focus on ways to different problems prevent food waste that people in in DISD Schools. the class chose to After completing her address, and she recommends that research, Ahsan shared the information the project continue. She even had with the Food and Child Nutrition

“The hope would be that we’re actually going to see students making change in the community, and the plan is to continue on assigning it,” Kristen Blevins

some words of advice for the future government classes. “Choose a topic that you are truly passionate about in order to have a more meaningful impact on the community,” Ahsan said. Students and teachers alike have been happy with the results the projects have produced so far, although inf luencing change has been challenging. Blevins described the project as a learning experience. “The thing that I try to remind my students about is that if these problems had easy solutions, they would already be fixed,” Blevins said. Blevins acknowledged there might be small changes made to the assignment throughout various semesters, but she is confident in the continuation of her classes’ social impact relationship. “The hope would be that we’re actually going to see students making change in the community, and the plan is to continue on assigning it,” Blevins said.

AND TALES

1 The Gift of Giving

The annual Hockaday gift drive for the holiday season took place from Dec. 2 to Dec.10. Each advisory was assigned a list of gifts for boys and girls in foster care and members of the T.R. Hoover housing program.

3 Holiday Hits

The Middle and Upper School Orchestras performed a Holiday Concert on Dec. 5. With a range of tunes, orchestras’ performance put the audience members in a holiday mood.

4 Poetry Out Loud

The final round of the Poetry Out Loud competition took place in the Great Hall during Y-Period on Dec. 9. Senior Lily Forbes will be competing in Austin in February, with freshman Annie Hurley as the alternate.

Sing for the Holidays

The choir performed a selection of holiday songs for the Upper School student body on Dec. 10 and for parents and loved ones in the annual Holiday Concert on Dec.11. photos provided by Sally Hudspeth and Hockaday Instagram

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

4F O U R C A S T

With the rise of the Neo-nazi mindset,more anti-hate rallies have been occurring like this anti-facist rally in Philadelphia.

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

photo by Flickr user Joe Piette

Your World Today W hite supremacist mindset rises in U.S., especially among youth by Eliana Goodman • Editor-in-Chief

riving 11 hours from Allen to El Paso, shooter Patrick Crusius deliberately targeted Hispanic individuals in Aug. 2019, resulting in 22 deaths and 26 injuries at a busy Walmart store. Shouting, “All Jews must die!” and that the “Jews have committed genocide against my people,” shooter Robert Bowers murdered 11 people and injured seven on Oct. 27, 2018, at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. Hate crimes like these have been rising rapidly in the United States. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) annual “Year in Hate and Extremism” report, hate groups have increased by 30 percent over the past four years and by seven percent in 2018 alone. Students in the Spycraft class analyzed data from the Southern Poverty Law Center and other organizations about the rise of domestic terrorism in the United States. Jewish Student Union treasurer Alex Rabin said she was distraught in class while learning about the prevalence of white nationalism and Neo-Nazism. “When we looked at the SPLC hate map, it was eye-opening for me to see how many hate groups there were even in Texas. Evidence proves that the amount of hate in our country is prevalent and on the rise,” Rabin said. There is a worldwide debate about the cause of the rise in attacks. The SPLC and other leftwing organizations blame rightwing leaders and media outlets for the alarming rise. Others argue the growing tolerance of different lifestyles threatens the white supremacists’ dominance, spurring hate movements. Spycraft teacher Tracy Walder has studied domestic terrorism and hate crimes and views the current rise as a result of racially or religiously charged rhetoric across the world. “I think the rhetoric in our country and worldwide has become

“It was eye-opening for me to see how many hate groups there were even in Texas. Evidence proves that the amount of hate in our country is prevalent and on the rise,” Alex Rabin

Senior very charged and very loaded,” Walder said. “It has become almost acceptable to use that harmful rhetoric because we don’t necessarily have role models who are actively saying not to use it.” That kind of divisive rhetoric arguably provoked attacks in Charlottesville, New Zealand, Pittsburgh and El Paso. White nationalist crimes, however, cannot be tried as domestic terorrism in the United States because there is no formal domestic terrorism law. Spycraft student Sarah Beth Kelton said she was surprised to learn about the lack of a domestic terrorism charge in the United States. She also emphasized the importance of staying educated about the growing white nationalist mindset in the United States and about classifying race or hate crimes as terrorism. “The fact that we have to specify with the term ‘domestic’ preceding the word terrorism speaks volumes about the American view of terrorism,” Kelton said Both Kelton and Walder said in the United States, terrorism is typically viewed as something that comes from outside. Walder said Americans need to stop thinking about national security as an “us versus them” issue.

“The threat is here, and I think it’s hard to accept that Americans are capable of that kind of thing,” Walder said. “Take the Oklahoma City bombing, for example. Everyone thought that it was an international terrorism attack but it was actually just a white nationalist.” The University of Alabama’s George Hawley, a political scientist who specializes in demography and the far right, concluded in his research that 5.64 percent of American white people actually align themselves with the alt-right, despite notions that such extreme beliefs are almost nonexistent in the United States. Hawley’s research also suggests that young, white men with technological proficiency comprise a large majority of white nationalists. Young people gather in hate groups listening to “hate music” or chatting online. During her time at the FBI, Walder noticed the younger demographic when observing a

white nationalist rally. “When I walked in there, I thought I would see an older generation of white men in tight leather-wearing swastikas, but they looked like a bunch of high school seniors together at a youth group,” Walder said. “Other than listening to hate music, they looked identical to a youth group at a temple or a church.” Walder emphasized education is crucial in fighting misconceptions about domestic terrorism and racism. She said education has the power to make positive world changes. “It’s important that people stay informed because as incidences increase and don’t get news coverage, they sort of fall by the wayside until something tragic happens,” Walder said. “If people educate themselves, we put pressure on our congressmen to make laws that prohibit this kind of activity. That’s really the crux of why people need to stay educated and vigilant.”

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THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

ARTS & LIFE

RTS&LIFE

I have to be careful because any part of the fruit can move. If one piece moves, I have to start over.

BEHIND THE SCENES, p.6

Chelsea Watanabe and Catherine Jiang collaborate on the entreprenurial podcast “Founder’s Couch,” which Jiang created at Stanford.

photo provided by Catherine Jiang

Podcast Pioneer

Fourcast alum shares evolution of entrepreneurial program by Kelsey Chen • Copy Editor

pioneer in machine-readable duct tape that can store information, the CEO of a biotech company and a YouTube celebrity with over 1.2 million subscribers—these are just three of the entrepreneurs Catherine Jiang ’16 and Chelsea Watanabe ’17 have interviewed on their podcast, “Founder’s Couch.” In the winter quarter of her junior year at Stanford, Jiang started the radio show featuring student founders and their journeys from ideation to implementation. “I was thinking, ‘What am I super passionate about? What are some of the interests that I could combine to form something special?’” Jiang said. “I’m interested in media, entrepreneurship, storytelling and promoting community on campus and making it a better place.” After a Stanford consulting session, Jiang wrote down the format, listened to other podcasts and researched software she could use to put together and record the podcast. “It was the moment when I thought I actually want to make this happen and that I’m serious about this,” Jiang said. In one of her earliest episodes, Jiang interviewed Evan Michelle Miller ’16, who founded her own music publishing company and released an EP her sophomore year at Hockaday. “It was a nice reminder of some of the things that I’ve done over the past several years,” Miller said. “It was a really cool opportunity, so I’m glad Catherine reached out to me for that.” Though the first couple of interviews

were with friends in her personal network, Jiang began to meet new people through the podcast. She asks her interviewees for references and keeps a list of people she can interview. “I’ve gotten to meet some really cool, really driven people,” Jiang said. “I also like the aspect of storytelling, so not just talking to people, but trying to draw out those really interesting stories that build who they become today.” Miller said Jiang is encouraging Stanford students to speak about what they’re doing while they’re doing it, which is uncommon. “Stanford’s always been a place where things are created, but we don’t really talk about it with our peers,” Miller said. “That’s good, but it can also work against you because you don’t know where there might be opportunities to collaborate, so I think this is a cool way to talk about these things.” While Jiang recorded and edited the episodes by herself in the first couple of months, Watanabe, who attends MIT, reached out in the summer of 2019 to show her support. The simple comment

ended up launching the podcast on the MIT campus. “I’ve always loved listening to classmates who are really into entrepreneurship,” Watanabe said. “It was more of a side comment like, ‘Oh, it would be cool if MIT had something like this,’ but it ended up becoming a reality.” Now, Watanabe records her episodes at the MIT radio station. She clips and processes her files before sending them to Jiang, who pieces them together with music. Like Jiang, Watanabe said she enjoys learning about different people through the radio show. In fact, by interviewing a freshman who lives only two doors down from her, Wantanabe was able to learn something new about her. “I knew who she was since the beginning of the semester, but I never knew that she had this really cool side project that she was building up as an entrepreneur,” Watanabe said. “You realize so much more about people that you’re living next to.” However, without Hockaday and the

“It’s been nice to have that community engagement aspect."

Chelsea Watanabe ’17

support of former publications adviser Ana Rosenthal, the podcast may not have been born. “Being on The Fourcast made me appreciate media and storytelling,” Jiang said. “Mrs. Rosenthal would always be like, ‘Where’s the story?’ and that definitely shaped my approach to this. If I didn’t do Fourcast, I don’t think I would’ve started this, actually.” Similarly, Watanabe’s experience with Laura Day on the Wesley Rankin Teen Board taught her to appreciate giving back to the community. “Ms. Day was always a super great advocate for community involvement, and that has always stuck with me,” Watanabe said. “What I love about talking to entrepreneurial students or people in general is that it’s just so inspirational to see a different perspective, and I think it’s cool that I get to use this platform to share how inspiring they are to everyone in this community.” Watanabe was especially touched when listeners in Boston donated to WMBR, the MIT student radio station that played “Founder’s Couch,” and thanked the show. “It’s been nice to have that community engagement aspect, especially because it’s very easy to get swept away with my classes, my job search and my research here,” Watanabe said. “It’s just so important to stay grounded and remember that there are people around you who support you and that there’s value in giving back and creating something that’s going to help the community.”

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FOU R C A S T

Behind the Scenes Creator of Sage Spa Water describes her creative process by Libby Hill • Staff Writer

Sage staff member Yolanda has been creating the intricate designs for the dining hall spa water for the past year. Every day, when students walk into the lunch line, they see containers with beautiful and intricate designs made up of fruits and vegetables. Creating refreshing water admired and enjoyed by staff and students alike, Yolanda works every day to make the water a creative and special part of Hockaday dining. To learn the process behind Hockaday’s spa water, the Fourcast spoke with both Yolanda and Sage General Manager Hillary Cox.

What is the process of making the spa water every day? Hillary: So she goes to the fridge and sees what is there that day and what she wants to use. If there is any fruit or vegetables, like carrots, she uses those. She lets the person know who is buying it what she wants.

How do you arrange the fruit so that it can stay like that? Yolanda: So first I cut the fruit, then I lay the container on its side. I layer all of the fruit into a design, and then I pack the ice on top. I have to be careful because any part of the fruit can move. If one piece moves, I have to start over.

JSB 2020

How long have you been creating the designs? Yolanda: One year. We had done it before, but before we just cut and threw the fruit into the water. Hillary: She learned from someone else who did it — they came to Hockaday and taught her to do it. Yolanda: I’m glad because the teachers, you know, they come in and love to see what I’m making and what fruit I’m using and they take pictures. And now other people take pictures and try to make it, too.

Has it ever happened that you have gotten [the design] and it’s broken and you’ve had to do it again? Yolanda: No, never! But sometimes I don’t like the way it looks so I try to make it better.

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ARTS&LIFE

THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

SLICKER 1

5 GIFT SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP Stores offer unique selections for everyone on your list

by Campbell Harris and Lea Whitley • Staff Writers

The holiday season is right around the corner. Need a one-of-akind gift for a special someone? This December, try visiting these unique Dallas shops. For your artsy family member, check out Jade & Clover, a multifaceted gift shop with succulents and other special trinkets. The Store in Lake Highlands is perfect for your homedecor obsessed relative in need of new inspiration. The shop only sells local and made-in-America products. Read Between the Lines is a stationery-focused shop that goes beyond typical greeting cards. Its stationery is sure to make your family smile. For your musicobsessed relative, check out Good Records. The recipient will surely appreciate a high-quality record or poster to add to their collection. Forget Me Not offers home decor, clothing, and other cute gifts and accessories. Check out these five shops!

1. Rockin’ Records Good Records 9026 Garland Rd Dallas, TX 75218

2. Livin’ Local

The Store In Lake Highlands 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 226 Dallas, TX 75238

3. Perfect Plants Jade and Clover 22633 Main Street Dallas, TX 75226

4. Super Stationery Read Between the Lines 2412 Victory Park Lane Dallas, Texas 75219

5. Unforgettable Gifts Forget Me Not 4266 Oak Lawn Ave Dallas, TX 75219

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

Tried & True

Reviews of new books, movies, podcasts and trendy restaurants

Popcorn Out

"Knives Out" puts the fun in 'whodunit' films

Seated shoulder to shoulder, viewers gathered in Angelika Theater to watch the premiere of “Knives Out.” I was unbothered by the continual crunching of popcorn from the large crowd because the attention-grabbing movie kept me on the edge of my seat for its entirety. "Knives Out” revolves around the relatives of the powerful patriarch Harlan Thrombey who attend his 85th birthday party at his lavish mansion only to find him dead the next morning. Renowned detective Benoit Blanc investigates suspects, revealing secrets and scandals within the Thrombey's family history. What sets this movie apart from many other whodunit films, however, is the complex plot. Most mysteries introduce and follow the suspects in a way that makes the outcome easy to

guess, but “Knives Out” has a surprising and unpredictable storyline. Along with the mysterious twists and turns of the investigation, the movie has some great elements of humor that are bound to make a crowd laugh.

I purchased my movie ticket halfheartedly after viewing only a portion of the movie trailer on my computer before I got too bored to finish. Typically, I am not one drawn to thrillers or action movies, which is precisely how “Knives Out” appeared in the trailer. In reality, the movie was a mix of thriller, murder mystery and comedy, which

together formed an amalgamation of entertainment. There is even an element of political satire and social commentary beneath the surface. The cast is spectacular, filled with well-liked actors such as Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and Katherine Langford. These talented actors were cast perfectly and were very convincing in their roles, making me even more invested in the movie. I felt like I was truly a part of the mystery—like one of the investigators putting together the most difficult and confusing puzzle ever. Although I usually prefer watching movies from the comfort of my own home, I am glad I ventured to see this movie on the big screen and suggest that others do so as well. My only criticism is that the film should have been edited to make the run-time under two hours.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMDB

by Sasha Schwimmer• Staff Writer

Because of the lengthy duration of 130 minutes, I recommend you wear comfortable clothes and buy some snacks before sitting. Don’t let someone spoil the mystery for you—cozy up and head to the cinema to witness the intense and suspenseful plot unravel before your own eyes. Pull out your popcorn and enjoy “Knives Out.”

OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY RIAN JOHNSON

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Brick (2005)

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

7 Mummies (2006)

Looper (2012) photos provided by IMDB

Almost Payne-ful by Remy Finn • Staff Writer

Picture this: it’s the year 2013. “The Story of My Life” plays lazily in the background as you hum along, taping up posters of One Direction on your wall to venerate the five members of the wildly famous boy band. You’re convinced the group will remain together forever. Life is simple. Now back to the present day: It’s Dec. 6,

PHOTO PROVIDED BY COMMONS WIKIMEDIA

2019 and you are excited that Liam Payne finally dropped his new solo album titled LP1. You listen to it. It’s horrible. Let’s rewind a little bit—Dec. 6, 2019 wasn’t a complete disaster for all former members One Direction. Payne’s past bandmates Harry Styles and Niall Horan both indulged fans with singles, Styles with his third single “Adore You,” as part of his new album to be released on Dec. 13 and Horan with “Put A Little Love on Me.” Despite the fact I listened to, truly loved, and could go on about both of those songs, this is a review of Payne’s new album.

In the wreckage of the hypersexualized and watered down album, the songs “Live Forever” and “Strip That Down” have the most potential. In the latter song, Payne exhibits a suggestive side of himself that was either nonexistent or restricted during his years in One Direction. The tune is catchy, yet Payne seems less than excited to be singing as he drones in what I can only describe as an uninterested

monotony. The song, as raunchy as one could expect from the title, pushes the limits of the audience’s comfort. His song “Both Ways” inspired serious backlash from many listeners. In lines that aren’t appropriate for this review, Payne alludes to a sexual experience in a way that people are finding extremely offensive and fetishizing. Even if the song wasn’t offensive, I can find nothing special about it that would cause me to feel even remotely inclined to recommend it. As for the rest of Payne’s songs, “Stack it Up” was equally catchy as “Strip That Down,” with my only complaint being his feeling the need to spell out words like “T-I-E” and “D-I-E” throughout the song. I guess I’m just averse to singers trying to rhyme singular letters and getting away with it. Call me C-R-A-Z-Y. Please don’t listen to this album. Rather, spend your time reminiscing over old One Direction songs, or better yet, the new singles by Styles and Horan. Whatever you do, don’t begin listening to LP1 with any expectations, because if you do, you'll be even more disappointed than I was. And that’s saying something.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AWAL

Liam Payne album lackluster at best

OTHER HITS BY LIAM PAYNE

1. "Story of my Life" 2. “What Makes you Beautiful" 3. ""Best Song Ever" 4. "Night Changes" 5. "You & I"

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THE FOURCAST DECEMBER 17, 2019

ARTS&LIFE

Farm Means Community photos by Kate Clark

Bonton offers food so fresh, you can see it growing in on-site garden by Kate Clark•News Editor

After a 20-minute drive, I pulled into the Bonton neighborhood in South Dallas, with its uniform housing units and freshly paved streets. Sitting on a corner, a fresh restaurant with an urban, wooden exterior seemed as if it is a hub of the neighborhood. That hub was The Market at Bonton Farms. The outside of the market was inviting. Entering the restaurant, I was flooded with chatter and an immediate sense of community. Every table was packed, ages ranging from kids running around outside to grandparents enjoying a delicious meal. The ordering process was simple:

FROM THE FOURCAST

KITCHEN

whisk by Peter Williams, photo by wikipedia

you stand in line and peruse a menu consisting of all-day breakfast, lunch and drinks. The menu is brief, yet contains a variety of healthy options, from yogurt parfait to catfish and collard greens. Beside the line is a wall of open refrigerators filled with easy grab-and-go options, indicating that the Market is not only a restaurant but also a quick-stop grocery store. The people taking my order were so kind and helpful, offering suggestions and assistance. All the items on their

menu are fresh from their farm, right out the window. Everything was very affordable and reasonably priced; the lowest price on a dish was $5 and the highest was $10. Sitting outside, I was impressed with the serenity. The ample seating on the deck offered a beautiful view of the garden. The service was quick and personal;

they constantly asked about my meal and if I needed anything else. The food was outstanding and I could taste the freshness and love from the kitchen. I ordered from the breakfast menu: the sweet potato hash topped with a fried egg. It was the best breakfast I’ve ever had! It was very filling, taking up a whole plate but it was only 7 dollars. You can see the community coming together here. Some of the employees’ kids were even running around helping their parents and clearing plates. They were so cute. Everyone—eight years old—or 87 is eager to make sure your experience is the best it can be. After I ate, I walked along the rows of fresh vegetables. There are aesthetic, colorful murals along the back walls of the garden, creating a happy environment. Additionally, I went to pet the donkeys and chickens. The staff working with the animals was very knowledgeable, inviting me to interact with the animals. If you are looking for a wonderful atmosphere, a sense of community, great food and interesting conversations, the Market at Bonton Farms is the place to go.

News Editor Kate Clark's Recipe for A Protein Packed Breakfast Ingredients:

Directions:

2-3 eggs 3 slices of bacon 1 sweet potato 1 tsp olive oil 1/2 tsp black pepper

1. Cook eggs to your liking 2. Fry bacon in a skillet with olive oil 3. Dice sweet potato, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle black pepper over sweet potato slices 4. Bake sweet potato 45 minutes in 425 degrees 5. Enjoy!

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

Fad Diet Fixation:

What is a fad diet?

What are fad diets? Today, fad diets are popular, specific eating plans that exclude certain food groups from a person’s normal provisions. The typical motivation behind fad dieting is rapid weight loss, and fad diets are easy to come across in everyday life. From celebrities’ constant posts on social media, to commercials for the Atkins diet, to dishes on menus in restaurants that fulfill the requirements of the Whole30 or Ketogenic Diet, the culture that supports fad dieting is everywhere. Though fad diets are incredibly popular, they are accompanied by controversy related to how they actually affect the health of the dieters.

Is the mindset healthy? Pam Chin-Lai is a dietician at a Dallas organization called Girls to Women. The organization focuses on girls’ mental and physical health during the stages of their lives leading into womanhood. “Most of the teens that I see have fallen down the dieting rabbit hole,” Chin-Lai said. Chin-Lai noted the downward spiral of dieting usually begins in teenagers who have negative thoughts about their bodies sometimes the teens desire to be “more fit” or “to have defined abs.” Although fad dieting is popular among teenagers, Chin-Lai has observed that rather than teenagers going on a full-fledged diet, they choose to implement guidelines from several diets, such as cutting out or reducing bread or counting calories. Chin-Lai argues that all fad diets are harmful because of the causing of disordered relationships between people and food by cutting out one’s favorite foods, leading to a cycle of deprivation and binge eating. “Not having what you want to eat can lead to feelings of deprivation and cravings,” Chin-Lai said. “When

deprivation builds, it often leads to overeating or binge eating. Alas, the cycle of restricting and overeating begins.” Chin Lai said there is no magic solution for weight loss and that moderation is important. Fad diets are popular because people search for instant results and these diets tend to guarantee quick outcomes. Chin-Lai said girls often choose fad diets as a result of the media, where people continuously exclaim their immense weight loss while doing the Keto diet or Intermittent fasting; although one never hears about the people who tried different fad diets and regained their weight or more. Chin-Lai explained that some people who have tried and failed at fad dieting begin to struggle with an eating disorder. “Moderation, single portions, increasing fruits and vegetables is more likely going to lead to life-long healthy habits,” she said. Due to the culture of social media today, teens are often exposed to messages and media content that glorify a certain image of what health looks like. Chin-Lai said celebrities and influencers who promote thinness and dieting do contribute to eating disorders and a culture invested in dieting in teens. However, Chin-Lai pointed out that with all of these negative influences, there are also celebrities who model positive relationships with body image and food. “There are also celebrities that are role models for body diversity and eating disorder recovery,” Chin-Lai said. She gave model and body positivity activist Ashley Graham and singer Demi Lovato as examples. Both celebrities speak out about beauty coming in many sizes, and Lovato herself has been open about her struggle with eating disorders. “It’s important for teens to take selfresponsibility for who they follow and how much time is spent on social media,” Chin-Lai said. art by Kemper Lowry

Business owner touts Co-founder of health food restaurant The Juice Bar, Heidi Lane addressed the subject of dieting, and juice cleanses. The Juice Bar specializes in chef-created pressed juices, smoothies, and bowls which Lane recommends as a way to add nutrients to one’s diet. “Most people fail at diets because they are so specific and restrictive,” Lane said. As an alternative, Lane recommends that those wanting to becomne healthier add fruits and vegetables rather than focusing on restricting what they eat. “We seem to easily be able to get in enough carbs and protein without extra effort,” Lane said. “If we actually ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, we would be more full, and it would be easier to make good food choices throughout the day. It’s when we starve ourselves that our willpower gets compromised.” Lane recommends juicing as a healthy option to add

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

INFOCUS

THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

Experts say finding balance essential to maintaining health,avoiding disorders Education is key, Nuñez says

Diet information sources: mayoclinic.org; healthline.com; usnews.com; health.harvard.edu

s benefits of juicing more fruits and vegetables to the diet with all of their nutrients. Other than fiber, the process doesn’t remove any beneficial nutrients from your body, she said. “Juicing allows you to get in extra nutrients from fruits and vegetables because you can consume an increased amount in the form of a juice,” Lane said. Lane said she has followed both dieting and juicing programs throughout the years. “It’s a good reset,” Lane said. “I like it because it’s much easier than buying, cleaning and prepping the food you would need to get the same amount of calories.” Lane also said she has noticed that it is easier for people to make healthy choices when they are active and feeling good. “It’s like you have positive momentum that you want to keep going,” Lane said.

Coach Melina Nunez teaches health classes to middle school and upper school students. In her experience she has noticed different dieting styles and trends come and go in teenagers and parents. “I hear a lot of teenagers talk about juice cleanses; students’ parents try the Keto or Paleo diets which impacts what their children are eating too,” Nunez said. Nunez noted that the common element of different fad diets is that certain food groups are either eliminated or restricted. She said because diets lack certain food groups, crucial nutrients are missing in dieters’ diets. Each nutrient plays a role in helping the body function efficiently and missing these nutrients can cause symptoms including headaches, bad breath, fatigue, and constipation. Nunez confirmed the negative impacts of social media on people’s opinions of themselves and the influence it has on people’s diets. “Adults and teenagers alike are influenced by beautiful pictures and testimonials that are carefully crafted to appeal to insecurities,” Nunez said. Nunez recalls the most popular weight loss methods when she was a teenager were taking appetite suppressant pills and following no-carb diets, both of which can cause health problems. “Education is key when it comes to dieting,” Nunez said. “Making small lifestyle changes and practicing moderation is a more successful and lasting approach to a lifetime of healthy eating habits and a healthy relationship with food.”

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FO U R C A S T

EATURES

FACES AND PLACES Hockaday students attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference and learn about inclusivity.

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DAY IN THE LIFE OF KATHY FECHTMAN Follow around Kathy Fechtman, Fitness Center Facilities Supervisor, as she helps students, faculty and parents stay fit.

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Making a Difference Plan aims to make Hockaday the top independent school by Ava Berger • Sports Editor

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

-Environmentalist Jane Goodall

Since the arrival of Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman, Hockaday has embraced Goodall’s words and made significant changes within the Hockaday community with The Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan: Educating Girls for Extraordinary Lives. The Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan is an umbrella term for a project devised by the Hockaday administration to solidify Hockaday as a top Independent School. The project comprises four phases: the original Hockaday 2020 strategic plan; the creation of four goals for the revised strategic plan; the implementation of these goals into work groups; and finally a complete analysis of the school community through the Hockaday 360 campaign. “The Hockaday Difference is an ambitious roadmap of our school priorities and executing the goals and strategies contained in the plan allows us to build on the vision Miss Ela Hockaday established for her school,” Coleman said.

Phase 1 The first phase began in 2014 with the creation of the Hockaday 2020 plan. This plan was a collection of objectives set for Hockaday between 2015-2020. However, when Coleman arrived for the 2018-19 school year the Board of Trustees instituted the idea of “continuous planning” rather than a static plan, thus beginning phase two: the creation of the new Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan based on Hockaday 2020.

Phase 2 Coleman and her Leadership Team kicked off phase two with a two-day leadership retreat during the summer of 2018. Throughout this retreat, the Leadership Board reflected on Hockaday 2020 and ways they could improve and revise the goals. “We sought to create an enduring plan that can guide our priorities and investments for many years, while also being a living document that is flexible and can be updated periodically,” Coleman said. At the end of the retreat, the Leadership Team presented the draft of the new plan to the Board of Trustees. Once they gathered feedback from the board and faculty and staff, a set of four goals—as well as a new Hockaday vision

photo provided by Hockaday Instagram

Hockaday faculty members work in small focus groups with issues presented by the Hockaday Difference campaign.

“We sought to create an enduring plan that can guide our priorities and investments for many years, while also being a living document that is flexible and can be updated periodically.” Dr. Karen Warren Coleman Eugene McDermott Head of School

statement—marked the completion of phase 2.

Phase 3 In phase three of the plan, Coleman launched two work groups to implement these goals— The Quality of the Student Experience Workgroup and the Educational Innovation Workgroup. The Quality of the Student Experience Workgroup focused on enhancing student experiences. The Educational Innovation Workgroup put its efforts into evaluating the tools the Hockaday education should provide its students from the time they start at Hockaday to the time they graduate. Upper School Biology teacher Dr. Katie Croft offered to lead the Educational Innovation Workgroup, realizing the impact it could make on students’ lives. “We want to be the leader in girls education (not just a leader), and I think the school is very dedicated to taking a hard look at itself and asking what can

we do even better,” Croft said. Croft explained the group used the Design Thinking Method. To encourage empathy, Croft and her team members had the ability to interview students, parents, alumnae and faculty to understand each unique experience within the Hockaday. “My partner and I interviewed one faculty member and two students, and in those hour-long interviews just talking to people, I felt so connected to them as they shared their honest and genuine thoughts,” Croft said. The Student Experience Workgroup also had the opportunity to shadow students and literally walk a day in their shoes. Physical Education Coordinator Melinda Nunez shadowed Junior Sarah Crow as she proceeded with a normal day at school. “I think it was a great idea and Coach Nunez asked great questions and truly listened to ideas to improve the student experience,” Crow said. After empathizing, both workgroups finished their data collection with a summary of information and ways to prototype new ideas.

Croft and the AP Biology Teachers, for example, are prototyping a new way of assessing students this year; there are no major tests—only low-stakes assessments with feedback. The teachers also are putting an emphasis on the Tenets of Student Excellence in science and teaching their students not to simply memorize content, but also to learn the skills of a scientist.

Phase 4 The fourth and final phase of the Hockaday Difference Strategic Plan is Hockaday 360. In this phase, Hockaday hired an outside firm, The Art and Science Group, LLC to look at Hockaday from every angle—from an external view by consulting heads of other schools, as well as an internal view. “The information we gather [from Hockaday 360] will help us to understand the value Hockaday provides to students and families and how we can best preserve and enhance that value,” Coleman said. In the future, as the Hockaday Strategic Plan continues to progress , Coleman, Croft and the administration set their sights on establishing Hockaday as the leader of girls education, in addition to molding each Hockaday student into a strong woman. “You all have been given this amazing gift of education that not many people get to have and we want you all to be confident in yourselves to go out and change the world,” Croft said. “In my own students I see that every day. They are so capable, so knowledgeable and some of them don’t know it yet, so we are doing everything we can to show you the way and lead you to a happy and balanced life.”

“

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

FEATURES

TURNING TABLES INTO CONNECTIONS Kristin Kessler Schell ‘86 turns a Turquoise Table into a global movement about spreading hospitality and creating connections.

The Hockaday Difference is an ambitious roadmap of our School priorities and executing the Goals and strategies contained in the plan allows us to build on the vision Miss Ela Hockaday established for her school.”

p.15

MAKING A DIFFERENCE , p.12

Faces & Places

by Eugene Seong • Web Editor

LADIES IN LEADERSHIP: GROUP ATTENDS DIVERSITY CONFERENCE

photos provided by Gabby Evans

1. Students get seated and talk with each other before the conference begins. 2. Gabby Evans, Zaria Aquart, Emily Vargas. Arushi Mukherjee and Neelam Jivani snap a selfie on stage after the conference ends.

3. Hockaday attendees gather next to the conference sign before the first day of sessions. 4. Hockaday students discuss diversity with other members of the Southwest regional group.

When senior Gabby Evans arrived at the National Association of Independent Schools Student Diversity Leadership Conference, she was in awe of the people and how willing they were sharing difficult memories. “Automatically, people were so willing to be vulnerable the second you got there,” Evans said. “On the first day, people were divulging their entire life stories.” Every December, a group of six students and chaperones have a chance to hear stories like these when they travel to SDLC. The conference, designed to host 1,600 students nationwide, focuses on diversity, self-reflection and community. Seniors Evans and Arushi Mukherjee, Director of Inclusion and Community Tresa Wilson and French teacher Chérine Chlone attended the Seattle conference Dec. 4-7. Mukherjee said the conference took her “out of the bubble of Hockaday” and allowed her to hear a variety of stories. It also provided a microcosm of the college experience after high school. To attend SDLC, one must go through a selective process. Last spring, a committee accepted applications who expressed intellectual curiosity and an underlying passion for diversity. Excited to learn about diversity from others her age, Evans looked forward to meeting high school students from across the nation and hearing their experiences. Although Hockaday values diversity, she wanted to hear about problems at other schools like commuting and transgender bathrooms. “I wanted to learn about others who are like me, the same age and have the same background of independent schools, and how those schools are handling problems that don’t really apply to Hockaday,” Evans said. Mukherjee, vice president of Student Council, was introduced to SDLC through friends who attended in previous years. After being elected, Mukherjee’s confidence grew and she wanted to immerse herself in different experiences. “After getting elected to the Student Council, I [realized] that I had never been to [an event] like that, so I thought it was important for me to go because it would help me better lead and better understand people,” Mukherjee said. Evans, like Mukherjee, said she felt more in touch with her own diversity. By meeting empowering black women, she was able to evaluate her own black culture. “I was more expected to go in and hear other people’s situations and how Hockaday can be better equipped,” Evans said. “However, I learned about myself, what I value and things I need to think about in terms of my life. It was a good check-in with myself.” On the last day, Wilson and the attendees took time to discuss the takeaway. They agreed that while presentations in assemblies are important, hearing real people’s narratives gives insight and self-awareness. “Starting to have [difficult] conversations with an adult in Hockaday will encourage the students to start becoming more open and bring down the expectation of perfection all the time,” Mukherjee said. “As girls, we were taught to be perfect and smart and everything else at the same time, and Hockaday does an amazing job of empowering us. But I also think that we need to go back to being less obsessed with perfection.” Wilson encouraged students who are interested to apply for SDLC, as it creates new relationships, interests or possibly a new understanding of self. “Step out of yourself, learn something new and different about the world, “Wilson said. “Don’t be afraid of the judgment; we just want to know what you think and share what we think.”

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4F O U R C A S T

A Day in the Life of

Kathy Fechtman Kathy Fechtman has helped members of the Hockaday community achieve their fitness goals since 2003. As Fitness Center Facilities Supervisor, she loves helping students, teachers and parents become stronger. Through hour-long training sessions with private clients, working with students in PE classes and teaching classes after school, Fechtman packs her day in the Hill Family Fitness Center.

Rise & Grind!

8:00 A.M. HELLO HOCKADAY | Fechtman arrives in the Fitness Center between 8 and 9 a.m., depending on the time of her first client.

9:00 A.M. TRAINING TIME | Fechtman

begins hour-long private training sessions with her clients, who consist primarily of moms whose daughters currently attend or have graduated from Hockaday.

4:45 P.M. FITNESS FUN | Fechtman teaches a fitness class for students and teachers with full-body workouts on Monday and Friday, kickboxing on Tuesday and Thursday and yoga on Wednesday.

10:00 A.M. ROUND TWO | Fechtmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second client arrives. She usually works with them on stability, strength and power through a total body workout.

4:15 P.M. STRENGTH & CONDITIONING | She helps the Hockaday athletics teams with their 30-minute workout.

6:00 P.M. TIME TO LEAVE | -After a final team training session at 5:30, Fechman closes up the Fitness Center and heads for home.

11:00 A.M. LUNCH BREAK | Fechtman eats whenever she can, sometimes at 11 a.m. and other days not until 3:30 p.m. She always brings her lunch to school.

Goodbye!

3:15 P.M. CLASS TIME | Fechtman finds time for a workout whenever she can, sometimes breaking it up into two 30-minute sessions.

Afternoon fu l

1:10 P.M. CLASS TIME | After another private client at noon, she teaches an 8th-grade class on even days and an Upper School class on odd days

photos by Kate Woodhouse and the Public Domain

11:10 A.M. MOVE! | Fechtman teaches a Middle School elective titled Move! on days one and five, where the kids do fitness activities ranging from kickboxing and Just Dance to dodgeball and cardio machines.

by Kate Woodhouse â&#x20AC;˘ Managing Editor

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

photo provided by Kristin Schell

FEATURES

Turning Tables into Connections

Kristin Kessler Schell ‘86 sits at her own Turquoise Table, ready to talk to her neighbors.

Kristin Kessler Schell ‘86 turns a Turquoise Table into a global movement.

by Erin Parolisi • Features Editor

fter a difficult French class in her sophomore year, Kristin Kessler Schell ’86 signed up for a summer abroad program in the small town of Ornans in western France. Every night, Schell’s host family would sit around their dinner table for hours and converse. It was there Schell found her love of hospitality and relationship building. Years later, Schell turned her passion for dinnertime conversations into a global movement surrounding a simple turquoise table. In everyday life, Schell noticed the lack of in-person communication with the growth of technology and cellular devices. As a simple and easy way to create a gathering place for neighbors, Schell put a turquoise table in her front yard. “So, it is this paradox of being connected in a false way and, yet, the loneliness stems from that desire to have face to face and real-life

BOARDER

“The table has met that need for so many people, just quick conversations, spontaneous and planned, where you can just go to the art of conversation.” Krisin Kessler Schell ‘86

connected relationships,” Schell said. “The table has met that need for so many people, just quick conversations, spontaneous and planned, where you can just go to the art of conversation.” The Turquoise Table did more than just bring people together from Schell’s neighborhood; it spread into a movement in the United States and 13 other countries. Now, Schell has partnered with Tuesday Morning stores which sell her tables ready to go, making the table more accessible to members of the movement. One of Schell’s classmates from Hockaday, Adreinne Gruben ‘86, is building a community in her neighboorhood in Valley Village, Los

Angeles, with her daughter in mind. She bought a miniature Turquoise Table for her daughter to remind her of Schell’s lessons of hospitality and connections. “The presence of the Turquoise Table has made me meet my neighbors,” Gruben said, “and we stand outside and congregate on various sidewalks, and I wanted to pass that to my daughter,” But Schell pointed out that people don’t need the exact turquoise table to join her Front Yard People movement. She suggests finding any meeting place in the neighborhood and organizing gatherings. Another of Schell’s Hockaday classmates, Elizabeth Malakoff ’86, helped design the

Turquoise Table logo and aims to get to know people from her neighborhood. “I have kids of my own, and obviously growing up in Dallas, it is so easy to not get to know your neighbors,” Malakoff said. “In my neighborhood, everyone plays out in their front yards, and so it is a front yard people block.” Creating a community that brings people together is the foundation of Schell’s Front Yard People movement and the Turquoise Table movement. With thousands of tables and a community that spans almost all 50 states and and countries around the globe, Schell has created a movement that builds relationships and spreads hospitality around the world. “I think the community, it is built on all different levels, so not only is it thousands of tables across the United States and 13 countries, but we also have a collective community of people online on the turquoisetable.com, and so people come on there to discover new ideas,” Schell said. “It has been this unexpected delight of all the different communities.”

LINE

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ORNAMENT CEREMONY

What is the sentiment behind the ornament ceremony? Itzel Ruiz: I think the whole ceremony is good because everyone is showing their emotions about the seniors going on to their next life. It gets really emotional for a lot of people during the ceremony, so the whole thing is really good.

How does it feel to be a senior at the ceremony?

Holiday Traditions The Residence Department had its annual Ornament Ceremony for the seniors Dec. 15. Every year, underclassmen prepare an ornament and speech to present to a senior to thank them for positively influencing their life at Hockaday.

MERRY AND BRIGHT

Jenny Choi: When the underclassmen are giving their speeches about all the good memories they have with their seniors, and how sad they are that they’re leaving. It is a heartfelt moment.

photos provided by Eugene Seong

by Erin Parolisi • Features Editor

December 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

Sports

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4F O U R C A S T

They Can(Can) Create a Team

Three student dancers introduce the Hockaday Drill Team. The team hopes to embrace a style of dance new to Hockaday and break the glass ceiling with their high kicks.

p.17

LAX Legend Brings Talents Home Hockaday Lacrosse Alumna Taylor Thornton teaches girls her skills by Hanna Zhang• Staff Writer

A Hockaday Varsity Lacrosse athlete for four years, Taylor Thornton '09 went on to play lacrosse at Northwestern University and then entered the professional league. On Nov. 2, Thornton held a lacrosse clinic for the younger girls at Hockaday. She had held a similar clinic in the spring. “To be able to share my experiences and what I have learned throughout my career with Hockaday students was really neat,” Thornton said. “So cool being back and seeing all the young talent!” Thornton started playing lacrosse when she was in 7th Grade; after playing tennis at an elite level. When her mom introduced her to lacrosse, a sport that many of her close friends played, she was hooked. “My experience playing lacrosse at Hockaday set the foundation for my lacrosse experience,” Thornton said. “I loved playing with all of the older girls my freshman year which helped me grow as a leader and a player.” In 2008 Hockaday won its first state championship in lacrosse, repeating in 2009. Thornton then committed to Northwestern University in the fall of her senior year and devoted herself to practicing to be prepared for the college season. “I stayed diligent and tried to be a sponge during fall ball,” Thornton said. “When the season came around, I started every game for the rest of my time at Northwestern from my freshman year.” At the time, Northwestern, always a top academic school, also had the best lacrosse team in the nation. The team practiced anywhere from three to four and a half hours a day, with only Sundays off. “It was grueling and took a lot of sacrifice, but it was totally worth it,” Thornton said. “Lacrosse has taught me to be a leader, how to work with people to reach a common goal, and how to stay calm and bring out the best in people.” During her time at Northwestern, Thornton was a four-time All American, two-time National Champion, 2012 Player of the Year, 2011 Defender of the Year, and Big 10 Athlete of the Year Teewaraton Finalist. Her last game in the professional league was in 2018. “You have to remain disciplined and truly want to work hard to be where you want to go,” Thornton said. Athletic Board Chair and lacrosse goalie Margaret Woodberry views Thornton as an influential role model in her life. "Getting to see her play for Northwestern on TV inspired me as I was really growing to love the sport,"

ONE TO WATCH

Alexandra Weinmeister

exceled in tryouts and was placed on the Hockaday Varsity Soccer team as a freshman for 2019-20 season. Q: How does it feel to be a freshman on varsity soccer? photo by Patricia Gum

Taylor Thornton '09 came back to Hockaday in April 2019 and ran a clinic for Hockaday middle schoolers. A Northwestern Alumna, Thornton is a 4 x All American, 2 x National Champion, 2012 Player of the Year, 2011 Defender of the Year, and Big 10 Athlete of the Year Teewaraton Finalist. Woodberry said. "Seeing a girl from my school not only win a national championship but be one of the main contributors on a championship team showed me that you didn't have to be from a traditional lacrosse area to make it to the next level." Texas is not known as a power state in the lacrosse world, as lacrosse has been a sport that's mostly played in the northeast. However, lacrosse in Texas has made major strides nationally since Thornton lived in Dallas. “Coming from Texas, people didn’t expect much from me; most people thought I was going to sit on the bench my entire career,” Thornton said. “But I knew what I was capable of and just kept my blinders on and worked hard. I knew what I could accomplish and I had a coaching staff that believed in me.” Varsity Lacrosse Head Coach Molly Ford played against Thornton in college and they also played on the U.S. National Team together. "Taylor was the first big-time lacrosse player from Texas to make a mark on the lacrosse world," Ford said. "She has now inspired

“You have to remain disciplined and truly want to work hard to be where you want to go.” Taylor Thornton '09 other Texas players to surpass her accomplishments." Ford said the major factors to Thornton’s success have been her work ethic, athleticism, passion and motivation. “The dream is to be the next ‘Taylor Thornton,’” For said, “and we are fortunate she is still involved in the Hockaday lacrosse community.”

A: It’s really cool to be able to

learn from the older girls and get closer as teammates and friends. It’s exposed me to the differences from middle school soccer, as I am playing with and against girls four years older than me, which is a great experience because that is how college soccer will be.

Q: What do you think led to

your success as a soccer player?

A: I think I gained success as a

soccer player by working really hard even when I didn’t want to. I’ve had ups and downs with soccer and have almost quit at times, but I worked through it and love the sport. I train a lot and try to keep my conditioning up.

Q: Do you want to continue

playing soccer throughout high school and into college?

A: Yes, I would love to keep

playing soccer throughout high school and plan to play in college. My club team goes to about three or four college showcases a year so I hope that I can go to college for soccer.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | December 17, 2019

SPORTS

“

Drill Team is a great way to raise school

spirit and also give girls an opportunity to explore a new style of dance."

They Can(Can) Create a Team Three Hockaday students create new drill team to perform for sports events by Maddie Stout• Staff Writer

t’s 11:43 a.m. on Nov. 12, and nearly 40 Upper Schoolers are spread out across the floor of the Beth Wortley Dance Studio stretching and practicing kicks. They are preparing for the first-ever auditions for the Hockaday Drill Team, a new group formed by sophomores Elise Little and Anne Rubi and junior Elizabeth Roosevelt. A week earlier, Upper School students had received an email advertising the team, offering a Google form to sign up for auditions and information about the before-school practice schedule. But planning for the team had begun months before, at the beginning of the school year in August. To take on the task of creating the team, Little, Roosevelt and Rubi met with members of the Hockaday community including Assistant Head of Upper School Joni Palmer and Athletic Director Deb Surgi. “We spoke with Mrs. Palmer to figure everything out in the beginning and talked to Coach Surgi about pep rallies,” Rubi said. “We also met with Mrs. (Emily) Gray and Mrs. Wortley about the audition process and any recommendations they may have.” Drill, the type of dance the team will perform, is a style of jazz dance with an emphasis on kicks, jumps and turns. The dance style focuses on precision and sharp movements. The founders said they created the drill team to boost school spirit and to offer new dance opportunities to girls who may not be involved in other drill-based programs. “Drill team is something that is offered at almost any school,” Roosevelt said. “It is a great way to raise school spirit and also give girls an opportunity to explore a new style of dance.” All three founders have backgrounds

photo by Emma Roseman

Drill team members Celese Gierhart and Ellie Estes practice from 7:15 to 8:00 every Tuesday and Thursday in the morning at the Beth Wortley Dance Studio. In this routine, Gierhart and Estes perform a tilt jump in unison. in dance or drill and felt motivated by other drill teams in the Dallas area — such as the Highland Belles and Jesuit Rangerettes — to bring the program to Hockaday. “I did drill in middle school at Highland Park,” Little said. “I really like it because there’s a lot of upbeat music and you get to experience a different type of dance you wouldn’t always be able to try.” At the audition, the girls began floor work, waltzing across the studio in groups of four to perform kicks, turns and leaps. Preston Center Dance teacher and either former or current dance teacher of all three founders Brittany Tynan-Sisk watched from the

side, taking notes to look back over later when formulating scores and deciding the final team. “We wanted to see that people were really determined and excited about the team,” Rubi said. “We know it’s going to be a lot of commitment, and we want people to be able to honor that.” The finalized team was announced on Nov. 15, ultimately filled by 21 girls from all four grades in Upper School. Although the team was not able to fit everyone who tried out due to the small number of founders, Little, Roosevelt and Rubi hope that next year they will be able to add more dancers. “We definitely want everyone who did not make it to try again next year,

because we had a great turnout and are hoping to make the team even bigger and better next year,” Rubi said. Practices began on Dec. 3, and the members of the team started planning routines for the rest of the year from 7:15-8:15 a.m. To ensure everyone had enough time for sports and outsideof-school commitments, the founders scheduled practices before school. As the year progresses, the team hopes to perform at Hockaday spirit rallies and One Hockaday events, as well as Upper School sporting events. “We are so excited to start the team and perform at school events,” Rubi said. “We can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us.”

TIPS & TRICKS

THE GIFTS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS Decrease your stress and increase your well being with these tips for gifts to ask for this holiday season. photos provided by wikimedia commons

Weathering the Storm

Scrub away Sorrows

The holiday season holds some of the coldest months of the year. To avoid getting sick, health professionals advise anyone going outside to bundle up. By asking for sweaters, scarves, and gloves, you can stay warm and look stylish at the same time.

Leading up to the holidays can be overwhelming with the stress of wrapping up school assignments and buying presents for your friends and family. When we finally get a break, it’s time to de-stress. One way to do so is lounging in a tub of Epsom salts and bath bombs.

Lie Back on a Cloud A key aspects to living a healthy lifestyle is sleeping well. The best way to ensure you get a good night’s rest is to make sure you are comfortable. A memory foam pillow is the perfect gift for anyone who needs help falling asleep, or anyone with neck or back pain.

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

VIEWS

4F O U R C A S T

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

“

Personally, I mostly shave because I want to. I always feel gross when I don’t shave. But sometimes I do feel a little embarrassed when I don’t.” THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID, p.19

DALLAS COWBOY CHEERLEADERS: FEMALE IDOLS OR SYMBOLS OF SEXISM? Dancing in their iconic two-piece uniforms, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders have gained fame across the country. Do the Cowboy Cheerleaders celebrate female empowerment or serve as symbols of a sexist system?

Feminist Role Models

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have come a long way since their installation in 1960 under the name of the “CowBelles & Beaux.” Back then, these women served as independent and empowering icons in the midst of a sexual revolution of sorts in the United States. To this day, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are still the same empowering women they were almost 60 years ago. This becomes clear the second one looks past their bigger-than-life hair, impeccable makeup and spray-tanned skin and recognizes the women for the incredible things they do—on and off the field. In 2006, the CMT network began airing “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team,” a reality show exposing the tryout process and a behind-the-scenes look at the cheerleaders’ lifestyle. The show makes it apparent that every single one of the women auditioning is willing to endure the many obstacles, emotional and physical, to have the privilege of becoming a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. “Making the Team” also reveals that the hundreds of young women who audition each year to be a part of arguably the most renowned NFL cheerleading squad in the country are told upfront that being a part of the team should not be seen as a way to make a suitable living. Every woman on the squad is either a student or holds a full-time or part-time job. On the field, these women flaunt the historic two-piece and perform alongside Ezekiel Elliot and Dak Prescott, but off the field, they are attorneys, nurses, medical school students, accountants, business owners, dance instructors, doctors and more. One of the most common arguments against the cheerleaders is that they promote the sexualization of women and are exploited by the team and fans alike. However, the intensive training the cheerleaders undergo to perform, especially given their iconic jump-splits are broadcast on the largest screen in the NFL, should not be ignored. Discrediting their talent, passion and hard work under the guise of oversexualization only reveals a larger issue with society’s need to objectify women, not with the women themselves. In a 2018 New York Times article titled “How the Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleaders Became Improbable American Sports Icons,” former DCC Dana Presley Killmer contradicted that toxic belief.

Underpaid and The Over-Sexualized

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by Shea Duffy• Jade Editor

Cheerleading has been a significant part of the NFL for decades, with many women trying to become part of the squads of various teams. However, cheerleading has transformed from hyping up the stadium to serving as eye candy, with little to no regard for the cheerleaders beyond their appearance. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad, a prime example, is no longer meant for boosting spirit, but rather for enticing viewers through sexualization, thereby earning more money for the team and the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have faced their share of issues; in fact, former cheerleader Erica Wilkins’ filed a federal lawsuit against the Cowboys in June 2018. The lawsuit states that the cheerleaders’ payment then, $8 an hour and a flat $200 for game days, was less than that of “Rowdy” the mascot, who then earned $25 an hour and $65,000 a year. Reportedly, since that dispute, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ pay has boosted to $12 an hour and $400 for game days. This complaint does not address the fact that cheerleaders must also pay hundreds of dollars for their own uniforms despite their inadequate wages, as well as the amount of work besides cheerleading they are required to do. This includes modeling for calendars, appearing at charity events, swimsuit shoots and more. Furthermore, there is the issue of uniforms, which are little more than glorified swimsuits. The sheer amount of skin these women must show further objectifies them, turning them from athletes into objects to ogle. A TMZ Sports article from 2015 sums up the NFL’s outlook on cheerleaders. “Roughly 1,000 of the hottest chicks in Texas went down to Houston this weekend ... to try out for a spot on the Texans cheerleading squad ... and TMZ Sports has pics from the smokin’ hot audition,” opens the article, which focuses on pictures of the tryouts. However, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad is a part of Dallas culture and thus should not be completely eliminated. Rather, the over-sexualization of the cheerleaders needs to change, along with their meager pay, expensive uniforms and extreme rules. Without these changes, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad (and all squads in the NFL) will become a thing of the past, antiquated by their flashy costumes and glaring inequality. by Catherine Sigurdsson • Business Manager

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | DECEMBER 17, 2019

VIEWS

Illustration by

4F A pink disposable razor sells for almost double the price of a men’s one. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Eliana Goodman MANAGING EDITOR Kate Woodhouse WEB EDITOR Eugene Seong COPY EDITOR Kelsey Chen MAGAZINE EDITOR Shea Duffy BUSINESS MANAGER Catherine Sigurdsson NEWS EDITOR Kate Clark FEATURES EDITOR Erin Parolisi ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Niamh McKinney SPORTS EDITOR Ava Berger VIEWS EDITOR Sahasra Chigurupati CASTOFF EDITOR Julia Donovan PHOTOS & GRAPHICS EDITOR Libby Hill STAFF WRITERS Laine Betanzos, Elisa Carrol, Remy Finn, Olivia Garcia, Lacy Green, Anna Gum, Campbell Harris, Libby Hill, Charlotte Rogers, Sasha Schwimmer, Catherine Sigurdsson, Maddie Stout, Lea Whitley, Hanna Zhang CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Margaret Thompson, Simone Hunter, Annie Herring, Velazyia Scott, Sarah Roberts, Haylee Salopek, Karen Lin, Anne Rubi, Victoria Gonzalez, Clementine Lee, Jenny Choi, Kendall Marchant, Arushi Mukherjee, Emma Roseman CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Kylee Hong, Anoushka Singhania, Angelina Wu, Kemper Lowry, Olivia Park FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

EDITORIAL POLICY The Fourcast is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, its faculty and staff. The Fourcast has a press run of 1,500 and is printed by Greater Dallas Press. It is distributed free of charge to the Hockaday community. Businesses who wish to advertise in The Fourcast should contact Catherine Sigurdsson, Business Manager, at csigurdsson1@ hockaday.org. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate to the Hockaday community. Opinions will be clearly marked and/or will appear in the perspectives section. Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any member of the Hockaday community. Unsigned editorials on the opinions page will reflect the official position of The Fourcast, but not necessarily the position of the Hockaday community. The Fourcast staff may cover student, staff, faculty or alumnae deaths as the staff is made aware. We reserve the right not to cover a death based on relevance, timeliness and circumstance. Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found as designated in the news section. Any questions or concerns about should be addressed to Eliana Goodman, Editor-in-Chief, at egoodman@hockaday.org.

Shave or be Shamed

Double standard surrounding shaving based on outdated societal norms by Anna Gum• Staff Writer

Two pale legs lounge on a luxurious pink bedspread, with matching fuzzy slippers on the feet. This image appears as the opening scene in a Billie razor commercial from 2018. It may sound like any other commercial for women’s razors, but upon first glance, it is apparent that long, visible hair covers these two legs. With this commercial, Billie became the first women’s razor company to actually show body hair in their commercials, including leg and armpit hair. All women have hair, from their arms and legs to their faces and armpits. Why then, have razor companies, who design products aimed toward hair, purposely decided to hide it? Why are women expected to shave in the first place? The idea of women shaving their body hair is a double standard in itself. Double standards occur when a “person or group of people are held to a higher standard than others,” according to Vocabulary.com. Shaving, then, exists as part of a double standard because our society allows men to go their entire life without shaving if that is what they want, whereas women are expected to have bodies free of almost any body hair. In other words, only

men are given the choice as to whether they want to shave.

“A woman should not feel guilty for not shaving.” ‑ Anna Gum Staff Writer

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with shaving itself. The problem arises when people expect and practically mandate that women shave. Society tells women that their body hair should be hidden. These commercials and magazines create an expectation that women have smooth, hair-free legs and underarms every single day. This is an unrealistic and sexist standard. It additionally creates an environment in which girls and women can feel embarrassed or judged when

they go any period of time without shaving, whether they forgot or did not have the time. No one should ever feel as though they owe it to anyone to shave, especially because this expectation is based on societal norms, not on hygiene issues. If not for hygiene, why do women shave? During the Medieval Period, certain religions considered human hair unclean, and different methods of hair removal were common in particular occupations and communities. In more modern times, however, women had no reason to shave for appearances’ sake prior to the 1910s and 1920s because of the conservative nature of their clothing. As World War II persisted, razor companies needed to target a different consumer population as millions of men left the country for war. To salvage their profits, companies such as Gillet portrayed underarm hair as unattractive and repulsive to push women toward their product. Women’s fashion also played a role as the war limited available materials and popular styles shifted to shorter skirts and less modest clothing. Today, women continue to shave because it has become a societal norm. Based on my own experiences and my classmates’ experiences, I know girls today can feel as though having visible leg or underarm hair makes them less beautiful. As a society and a culture, we need to stop this judgment and false view of female body hair. Every single person grows hair— on their legs, on their stomachs, under their arms— so a woman should not be shamed for leaving it visible by not shaving. It is no one’s business whether someone shaves her legs or underarms, especially considering there are no hygienic consequences of choosing to not shave. A woman should not feel embarrassed or guilty for not shaving for any given period of time, and she certainly should not be made to feel as though she owes it to society or to anyone else to do so. Shaving daily should not be an unbreakable societal law for women, and we need to work to break it.

That’s what SHE said: How Hockaday girls see shaving “ I do feel

PRESSURE

to shave. When I don’t shave, I look at my legs and compare them to everyone else’s, which makes me want to shave. I feel like my legs should look like other’s legs.”

Addie McCrary, Form III

“ I don’t shave very often because it is TIME

CONSUMING, but I

do feel embarrassed when I don’t, especially if someone makes a comment on it.”

Melissa Dodson, Form II

“

I feel like I shave for me rather than for other people. For example, I feel

UNCOMFORTABLE when I’m running and I can feel the hair on my legs. It feels gross to me. I don’t really feel pressured to shave, I just do it for myself.”

Rosemary Sands, Form III

“Personally, I mostly shave

because I want to. I always feel gross when I don’t shave. But sometimes I do feel a little

EMBARRASSED when I don’t.”

Genesis Flores-Homuth, Form II

by Elisa Caroll and Olivia Garcia •Staff Writers

The Fourcast The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

DECEMBER 17, 2019 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

4FOU R C A S T

Secret Santa Present Idea s Feat uring Target It’s that time of year again! The crisp, cool weather and holiday spirit fill the air. With the holidays’ arrival come...presents! If you’re looking for the perfect gift, here are a few ideas:

A great way to get into the holiday spirit: a festive scented candle. Price: $10

Get your friend or family member cozy slippers for this chilly winter weather. Price: $15 Socks! You can choose to gift of silly holiday-themed or slipper-style socks. Price: $6

A fleece is a perfect warm Christmas gift. Price: $25

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor