The Fourcast October 2021

FOURCAST THE

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

11600 WELCH ROAD

WHAT’S INSIDE

DALLAS, TX 75229

OCTOBER 1, 2021

VOLUME 72, ISSUE 1

WORKSHOP INSPIRES ARTISTS

ALUMNAE DOMINATE THE LAKE

MAKING THEIR OWN ‘DORM’

College Counseling and Fine Arts chairs collaborate to host a virtual program for college-bound artists.

Annie Herring ‘21 and Teal Cohen ‘16 continue their rowing careers and take on the world championships.

With the continuation of the closure of boarding, students room and bond together in apartment complexes.

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Jump

into the world of

Frog

and

Toad

Unfurl to reveal the work behind the set of the musical, pages 12-13.

Art by Josie Agnew

October 1, 2021

“

02news

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

If we can’t accomplish anything more, we’re sacrificing our own people, our own resources. At some point we can’t occupy their country forever.”

Your World Today, p. 04

New year, new constitution Upper School ratifies updated document

By Elisa Carroll | Web Editor Students ratified the updated Student Council constitution earlier this month and its changes have gone into effect. Read about the process behind developing the constitution, its ratification requirements, and input from Student Council members.

T

he beginning of a new school year brought not only new classes and experiences for Upper School students, but also the implementation of the updated Student Council constitution.

Additions include the Affinity Council and Activities Committee as well as changes to processes and structures within the council.

The revisions were announced to the Upper School student body during the “Welcome Back!” Student Council assembly on the first Wednesday back to school.

Although this assembly was the first time students were formally and communally informed about the changes to the document, the process of amending the Upper School constitution began last November. Dr. Tiffani Kocsis, assistant head of Upper School, helped coordinate the process as one of the four adult sponsors on Student Council.

“Being new last year and part of Student Council, it was brought up that this constitution hadn’t been ratified since 2013,” Kocsis said.

“That felt problematic just because you want to make sure everybody and all the processes are protected and being followed.”

As Student Council President, Remy Finn works closely with Kocsis and is in charge of running meetings, planning initiatives for the year and representing the student body as a whole. She was joined conversations about the constitution when she was elected as president last May. “A lot of the work happened over the summer because lawyers were involved, and it’s also been an ongoing process from this past year,” Finn said. “Most of the desired changes had already been decided on before I was even on the council as president.”

COVID-19’s impact

In addition to amendments to the original constitution being long overdue, last year’s circumstances with COVID-19 also assisted in creating the correct conditions for changes to be made.

“We decided to take on the task of updating the constitution last year partially because we had such limitations on events, so we had more time to focus on the processes surrounding the constitution,” Kocsis said.

‘The goal was to get the constitution more in line with current procedures and move the mission of Student Council forward in an accurate way.’

Tiffani Kocsis assistant head of Upper School Besides the additions of an Affinity Council and the Activities Committee, a two-year term limit was added for faculty sponsors on Honor Council and The Fourcast representative position was removed from Student Council to allow for more objective journalism.

There was student input as well as conversations with each board, council and committee to look for ways to increase efficiency and productivity, and improve how things are being run. Kocsis coordinated with these groups in addition to Student Council sponsors and Lisa Culbertson, head of Upper School.

“Anything that was changed was in a different color, so it was very clear what had been updated,” Kocsis said.

“Conversations were happening in lots of different places, so my role really was to facilitate all the different moving pieces into one document that could work.”

The school’s legal counsel was also involved in reviewing the constitution because of its nature as a formal document and as a contract with the student body. Conversations with counsel happened toward the end of the process to double check for considerations of equity and also to avoid contradictions or confusion within the document.

“It was sent up the chain to make sure that nothing in the constitution goes against Hockaday’s mission or policies,” Kocsis said. “Anytime you have such a formal document, you just need everybody coming to it with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective.”

Changes to the constitution also included having the financial officer and parliamentarian read and review the constitution annually at the Student Council summer retreat.

This aims to allow Student Council to avoid having long periods of time

Financial Officer and Parliamentarian, Princess Ogiemwonyi, explains the new changes to the constitution at the Upper School welcome back assembly.

Photo by Victoria Gonzalez

between updates in the constitution, which causes build-up in needed amendments and makes the process much more difficult.

“The goal was to get the constitution more in line with current procedures and move the mission of Student Council forward in an accurate way,” Kocsis said.

Ratification process

After all the amendments were made, the ratification process began.

The whole Upper School student body is a central part of reviewing and approving the constitution, and the ratification process is outlined in the constitution itself.

For the constitution to be ratified, there needs to be a quorum of upper school students, meaning a majority of students have to be present and voting.

“That’s the reason we announced the constitution at the ‘Welcome Back!’ assembly since we knew most students were either there in person or tuning in online,” Kocsis said.

As financial officer and parliamentarian, junior Princess Ogiemwonyi played a major role in the ratification process as dictated in the constitution.

“My role was basically introducing the updated constitution to the US student body and informing them

of the changes and how to ratify it,” Ogiemwonyi said.

After a quorum of students is notified, voting has to commence within the same day. For the constitution to be ratified, two thirds of the voting population has to vote in favor.

“Our process was to start in the morning, send out the voting and keep it open until midnight,” Kocsis said.

“Everybody voted pretty quickly and we reached the votes.”

With the constitution now ratified, it goes into full effect for the new school year.

“I’m hopeful the student body will be more represented within the council, especially with the new affinity groups having a role on Student Council,” Finn said. “I think that’s a really great way of making sure that no voices are being extinguished.”

Although the revisions and updates to the constitution were made within Student Council itself, the council is representative of the student body and wants developments like these to feel open.

“I think that processes like this can always feel hidden, and my door’s open if anyone wants to see a copy or talk,” Kocsis said. “The constitution is also posted on the Student Council OnCampus page for everyone to see.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

news

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

03

CHECKING IN WITH

VACCINE CLINIC TARGETS DELTA SURGE School announces on-campus event

MISS

NIKKI Staff Writer Lacy Green asked Nikki Walker, dining hall director, about the return to Biggs Dining Hall for lunch this year.

Q. What has changed with lunch this year?

A. We have brought Middle School and Upper Erika Herridge, director of Health Services, encourages students and staff to get vaccinated during the upcoming clinics.

By Anna Gum | Editor-in-Chief

I

n the effort to fight COVID-19 and the B.1.617.2, it is roughly twice as contagious as Delta variant, Hockaday has announced previous variants, according to Yale Medicine. plans to host an on-campus vaccine clinic. Its high transmission rate has allowed it The clinic will be open from 4:30-7:30 to be responsible for 98 percent of new p.m. Oct. 1 and 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Oct. 23. On COVID-19 cases in the United States at the those days, students, faculty, staff and their end of the summer, the Healthline website families will have access to free COVID-19 reported. Named a “variant of concern” by vaccines. the CDC, Delta has provoked new CDC “Our hope is that those who have been recommendations, including masking while hesitant to get vaccinated will indoors regardless of choose to get one of the vaccines,” vaccination status.

Director of Health Services Erika Delta also differs from Herridge said. other strains in the type ‘We encourage The school’s medical advisory and severity of symptoms it everyone who team and the COVID-19 Core presents. Original COVID-19 is eligible to get Task Force are working in strains traditionally vaccinated, because partnership with Carpe Diem caused a cough and a loss the vaccine has been Health to plan the clinic. of smell and taste. Delta, shown to be effective Herridge said she hopes it will however, causes flu-like at preventing serious increase Hockaday’s vaccination symptoms such as headache, rate and result in a safer, sore throat and fever, infection and healthier community. according to Yale Medicine. hospitalization.’

“We encourage everyone Hackensack Meridian who is eligible to get vaccinated Erika Herridge Health also reported that because the vaccine has been director of those infected by the Delta shown to be effective at variant are two times as Health Services preventing serious infection and likely to be hospitalized hospitalization,” Herridge said. than those infected by the The school has released a previous Alpha variant. message encouraging its community to get Yale Medicine reported unvaccinated vaccinated and is only mandating vaccines individuals face greater risks for contracting for residence students who will move into and spreading the virus. While the Moderna the dorms in January. As of September, the and Pfizer vaccines have been shown to be school had reached a vaccination rate of slightly less effective against the Delta variant around 85 percent. The vaccine has proved to than previous variants, data has shown Pfizer be more important than ever as COVID-19 to be 42% to 96% effective after two doses and case numbers rise and the Delta variant surge Moderna to be 66% to 95% effective after two continues, medical experts report. doses, according to Healthline.

“I think it is a great idea to keep everyone With this data in mind, junior Stella in our community safe,” freshman Charlotte Kozielec said she thinks the clinic will have a Schultz said. positive, lasting effect on the school.

First identified in India in December “It will benefit the school greatly,” 2020, the variant arrived in the United Koizielec said, “and assure the health and States the following March. Also known as safety of our community.”

School back into Biggs Dining Hall, allowing us to serve more options on the menu. SAGE has gone back to our old menu style, having the salad bar, deli bar and more special events in the dining hall.

Q. How does it feel to have students back in the dining hall?

A. The feeling is AMAZING. It is so great to see everyone’s lovely face every day.

Q. Is there anything Upper School students can do to make the transition back to Biggs more smooth?

A. I feel that everyone is so excited to be back in the Dining Hall this year that everyone is doing a great job.

Q. What time do you typically arrive at school, and what does your day look like from there?

A. I arrive at 7 a.m. From there I do these things: stock the tables, make Lower School sandwiches, assemble the line for service, make sure all the condiments are filled, load the line with menu items, serve during lunches, clean up and go home.

Q. Is there anything you would like Upper School students to know?

A. Y’all are awesome.

Enjoy your time here at Hockaday and let SAGE know if there is anything we can do for you to make your experience better.

Photo by Lacy Green

TIDBITS & TALES What’s new on campus?

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Upper School students gathered in their advisories Sept. 3 to take part in a UNICEF: Kid Power Up dance break. Completing Kid Power Ups unlocks funding from partners, which UNICEF uses to deliver nutrition to severely malnourished children. By participating, students helped send therapeutic food packs to refugee camps globally.

Getting Involved

Upper School students attended the Social Impact Assembly on Sept. 10. Social Impact Board Chair senior Leena Mehendale and Education Board Chair senior Claire Cahoon explained the social impact requirements and what to expect this year. The student leaders of different programs described the goals of their programs and ways to get involved.

Light up the Night

Hockaday and St. Mark’s Upper School students attended the St. Marks home football game Sept. 10, decked out in red, white and blue in accordance with the USA theme. After the game, students gathered in the Great Hall for a spirit party, accessorized with glow stick bracelets and necklaces to fit the party theme “Light up With Lion Pride.”

Photos by Kailey Bergstedt

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October 1, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

YOUR WORLD TODAY

U.S. TROOPS

EXIT FROM

AFGHANISTAN

After 20 years of involvement with the country, the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan on Aug. 30.

What does this mean for the world?

By KG Estess | Magazine Editor

T

he United States’ longest war drew to a close on Aug. 30. After 20 years of involvement in Afghanistan, U.S. troops withdrew from the country.

Afterward, the Taliban terrorist group invaded and took power in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. Tens of thousands of people evacuated the country. Kabul International Airport soon became a scene of chaos as thousands gathered on the tarmac and Afghani civilians clung to the sides of American military planes in an effort to escape.

An attack on the airport by the Taliban left dozens dead, including 13 active United States military personnel.

Pundits and journalists criticize the manner in which the Biden administration handled the exit from Afghanistan. Others argued that after 20 years of American involvement without a stable government to show for their efforts, a takeover from the Taliban was inevitable.

“It’s really complicated; I felt very disappointed that we were leaving and not able to help as much as we wanted to,” said Upper School teacher and veteran, Dr. Andre Stipanovic. “On the other hand, if we can’t accomplish anything more, we’re sacrificing our own people, our own resources. At some point we can’t occupy their country forever.”

American involvement in Afghanistan was sparked by the attack on the Twin Towers on Sept.

11, 2001. Following the death of almost 3,000 people, President George Bush vowed to win the war against terrorism. Weeks later, the United States invaded Afghanistan.

Taliban strongholds began to crumble in November 2001, and the United Nations looked to establish a strong democratic government in Afghanistan.

Experts estimate the United States has spent over $2 trillion in humanitarian and governmental efforts in Afghanistan since the beginning of the country’s involvement in Afghanistan.

Despite these efforts, no stable government has been established as the country struggled with the installation of a transitional government that produced no strong long-term leader.

“After 20 years, if there was not a stable government established, the question then arises: How long do we stay until there is an effective government?” Upper School history teacher Dr. Keith Clark said.

Following a near total collapse in the early 2000’s, the Taliban regained traction and influence in the Middle East over the past several years.

The terrorist organization stormed Afghanistan, reaching the capital

‘After 20 years, if there was not a stable government established, the question then arises: How long do we stay until there is an effective government?’

Dr. Keith Clark, US history teacher

Art by Amber Li

city of Kabul on Aug. 30, two weeks before President Biden’s deadline for the removal of all American troops from the country.

Roughly 1,000 Americans still await evacuation from the country as the United States government

struggles to remove them as the Taliban have taken over the Kabul International Airport.

The establishment of a Taliban government in Afghanistan marks a humanitarian crisis. The Taliban operate based on an extremist

interpretation of the Quran, enforcing their law with brutal public displays of violence and mass executions. They also strongly impose the subjugation of women, including banning women from any form of education.

According to the United States Refugee Agency: “There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the world...

Another 3.5 million people are internally displaced, having fled their homes searching for refuge within the country. In light of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in 2021, the number of people fleeing will likely continue to rise.”

On Sept. 7, the Biden administration called for Congress to pass $10 billion in humanitarian assistance for incoming Afghan refugees. A White House official said the budget would cover plans for over 65,000 Afghans fleeing to the United States by the end of September, and an additional 30,000 over the next 12 months.

The International Rescue Committee has stepped up in light of this recent crisis to settle Special Immigrant Visa holders around the United States.

“Right now in Dallas, our local branch of the IRC is working to welcome Afghan newcomers into our city,” said senior Leena Mehendale, president of the Social Impact Board. “Hockaday students can help by donating directly to the IRC Dallas Wishlist, volunteering to sort and deliver donations and help with office administration.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW These aide agencies are two of many offering help to refugees from Afghanistan. Scan the codes to access their sites.

This link redirects to the Amazon Wishlist for the Dallas branch of the International Rescue Committee.

At this link, donate to the UN Refugee Agency. Funds go to displaced families from Afghanistan or around the world.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons

news

Whether schools should teach the history of racial suppression in the United States has become a deeply controversial topic, sparking bills surrounding the topic and protests both for and against it. “What these bills are doing is trying to ignore America’s problems,” Dallas ISD teacher Zena Amran said.

Limits on history

Texas restricts public school social studies topics

By Zoya Haq | Arts & Life Editor

T

he Texas State Legislature has officially limited the scope of history education in all Texas classrooms, effective Sept. 1.

After a groundbreaking special session — characterized by a quorum break by Texas Democrats fighting new voter requirements — the legislature reconvened in late August to vote on certain agenda items.

Among these was HB 3979, a bill dictating that teachers cannot discuss current events in the classroom, cannot teach that slavery constituted the “true” founding of the United States and must teach that slavery simply represented a “hard work ethic” and was not created as an oppressive mechanism.

The billl’s author, Rep. Steven Toth (R-The Woodlands), said the bill was necessary during a time of racial tensions in the country. He added that “we don’t need to burden our kids with guilt for racial crimes they had nothing to do with.”

Satoria Ray, an eighth-grade honors Social Studies teacher in Dallas ISD,

said, in simple terms, this bill prevents educators from teaching an authentic narrative of U.S. history.

“There was a suggestion that we might need to be careful calling enslaved people ‘slaves’, that maybe we should just call them ‘workers’ so that we don’t blur the lines of what we can and cannot teach,” Ray said. “That moment is what made it really clear for me that what is being attacked is truthtelling in history classes, which is a very dangerous precedent to set. Workers get paid. Enslaved people don’t.”

Zena Amran, who teaches 10thgrade World History at H. Grady Spruce High School in Dallas ISD, said bills like HB 3979 promote a nationalistic worldview and shut down pathways for criticism of America.

“What these bills are doing is trying to ignore America’s problems,” Amran said. “They’re saying ‘We’re a good country! We’re freedom fighters!

We’re a democracy! We don’t do any wrong!’ But how are we ever going to fix anything if people don’t know why things like systemic racism happened?”

Amran also said authentic history classes give students context for the world’s current issues.

“We can’t tackle a problem if we don’t know why that problem is occurring,” Amran said.

In the media, the words ‘critical race theory’ often accompany discussions around HB 3979 and its effects.

According to Britannica, critical race theory is “a framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically distinct feature of subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed category used to exploit and oppress people of color.”

Critical race theory is often taught at the university level. And according to Ray, it is not the same as what Texas is trying to ban in classrooms.

“I’ve never taught critical race theory to eighth-graders. I didn’t even learn that when I was in undergrad,” Ray said. “A lot of people — not only the general public, but lawmakers — don’t understand what critical race theory is. Or, they understand very well and they’ve just taken this term and

05

are misusing it.”

HB 3979 is just one of many bills aiming to restructure Texas social studies curriculum. It originated in the Texas House in March 2021, moved to the Senate after a partisan 79-65 vote and passed in the Senate in June.

Its “critical race theory” companions, Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 2202, are both currently pending in the House.

Junior Elle Chavis, an intern for Texas State Rep. Victoria Neave, followed the progression of HB 3979 and its companions in the Texas Legislature from April until June.

“I think that the lasting repercussions will be a lot longer and wider than people realize, because it’s a whole generation that’s not getting a proper education,” Chavis said. “We’re giving them a disadvantage. When they go off into the world, they’re going to be less educated and less informed.”

Chavis said receiving a Hockaday history education is, now more than ever, a privilege.

“Hockaday doesn’t have the government mandating what they do, so it gives them a little more freedom to teach the lesser-known parts of history,” Chavis said. “In public schools, they have to fulfill so many requirements that they often end up teaching the bare necessities and the bare minimum. This will only worsen that.”

As school districts across the state are preparing for a school year with brand new social studies requirements, teachers are looking for silver linings in HB 3979.

“A lot of the bill is really rooted in this idea of ‘indoctrination,’ claiming that educators have the power to indoctrinate children and shift the tide of what they believe in one history course,” Ray said.

“However, if students are coming to the conclusions themselves, then that’s not indoctrination, that’s just a child being able to critically think. Students are brilliant. Students know right from wrong, more so than adults.”

Ray and other teachers are working to adapt their classrooms to better fit this student-oriented learning plan.

“We are working to create a curriculum where we as teachers are simply there as guides, which prevents us from getting in trouble for teaching ‘critical race theory,’” says Ray. “But it also works on creating critical thinking in students, which is a lifelong skill.”

LOOKING FOURWARD College Bound Athlete Coffee Oct. 5

US Austin Street Dinner Oct. 7

US Musical: Frog and Toad Oct. 7-9

Photos provided by Sally Hudspeth, Austin Street Center, and Kailey Bergstedt

October 1, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

06arts & life

“

This concert is one we will never forget.”

Falling for Harry’s Love on Tour, p. 08

Fresh faces in fine arts Photo, ceramics, dance teachers join faculty

By Hanna Zhang | Copy Editor With a new school year often comes many new changes, and this year is no different. The Fine Arts Department welcomes three new faculty members: Ciara Elle Bryant, Paige Furr and Alex Karigan Farrior ‘03. Read on to discover more about who they are and what they plan to do in their classes.

A

mong the many fresh faces that graced the hallways and classrooms, the ceramics, dance and photography studios also opened their doors to new teachers.

Joining the fine arts faculty are Ciara Elle Bryant, Middle and Upper School photography teacher; Paige Furr, Upper School ceramics and sculpture teacher; and Alex Karigan Farrior ’03, Middle and Upper School dance teacher.

Dark room, bright future Bryant arrived after working as a practicing artist for the past 10 years in Dallas, where she held her own shows and helped other artists facilitate their own. Previously, she taught photography and digital art at Southern Methodist University and then taught digital art at the University of Texas in Dallas. Here, she has taken the role of teaching both an eighth-grade photography rotation and beginning and advanced Upper School classes.

She said her class structure in the beginning will allow students to hit on alternative processing, look at transfers, recognize the different ways to create an image and begin to understand the camera basics. The students will also begin to use the darkroom and learn how to roll and develop their own film.

“We will talk a lot about each other’s works and critique one another, as I really want them to have a well-rounded understanding of photography,” Bryant said. “I want them to have an understanding that you don’t need a camera to make an image.”

The class will also delve into photo history and look at historical figures who did not necessarily stay in photography but have also crossed over into other disciplines of art like video or film.

“I hope they start to build their own practice whether it be just photography or other things that they like, like installation art or film making or digital art,” Bryant said. “I want them to build their own creative art practice and be comfortable with it.”

“The dance balcony was my home base when I was here, so it’s really surreal to be back. To see how much it feels the same but also how much it’s changed and feels different, even bigger and better – I’m really enjoying my new home.”

Alex Karigan Farrior ‘03 Dance Teacher

Melding ceramics and chemistry Turning to ceramics, Furr began her Hockaday career with 25 years of teaching experience under her belt, with 20 of them at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and four at the Greenhill School.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in ceramics at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, she returned to Dallas and worked as a custom tile artist for a few years until she began her teaching career.

Furr said students in her beginning level class will learn how to hand build with clay as well as understand how to do fabrication with paper and cardboard. In the spring, the students will begin to work on the wheel and do some more figurative clay work to further their sculptural skills.

In comparison, the intermediate group will relearn the wheel while advanced groups will warm up with bowls and start doing more advanced wheel work and hand building. They will also incorporate slab building with some raku in their sculptural projects, and Furr said she hopes to teach some students how to cast glass.

Finally, in the spring, the students will collaborate in making a totem, where each student will contribute one large piece.

“I hope that my students will gain not only the technical skills of working with the clay both on the wheel and off but also the technical aspects of firing and the different

Farrior ‘03 works with Workshop I students on new choreography and demonstrates a dance position for her class.

Photos by Libby Hill

types of firing,” Furr said. “I want to utilize the full capabilities of this studio because it’s fabulous, and I want students to start learning how to develop their own glazes.”

Furr also said she hopes to incorporate the chemistry of the glaze materials into the course and help students understand what they do and why. To this end, she is hoping to collaborate with some chemistry teachers.

“I’m excited to be teaching a yearlong course for the first time in my career,” Furr said. “There are a ton of possibilities for what we can do this year, and I’m just really excited to be here.”

A return to her roots In the dance studio, Farrior returns to the dance balcony; not as a high school dancer but now, years later, as a dance teacher alumna.

“The dance balcony was my home base when I was here, so it’s really surreal to be back,” Farrior said. “To see how much it feels the same but also how much it’s changed and feels different, even bigger and better — I’m really enjoying my new home.”

After graduating from Hockaday, Farrior decided to continue her pursuit of dance, ultimately going to Southern Methodist University for her Bachelor of Fine Arts and then moving to New York to pursue her professional career. Though trained in all genres, she said classical modern dance was what spoke to her and as a result, she danced for a few modern dance companies in New York City, before returning to Texas.

“I also got to experience dance photography and it really opened my mind of what dance could be beyond just for a live audience,” Farrior said.

“There are other mediums that movement can be expressed in, photography being one of them.”

In the dance studio here, Farrior teaches ballet, modern, and jazz which work on a rotation based on the six-day schedule. While learning these fundamental skills, the class will also plan the choreography for their upcoming shows, Farrior said. Hockadance will be performing the Nutcracker in the fall and hopes to collaborate with the orchestra as much as possible.

“What I love about Hockaday is that there is so much encouragement and room for evolution and new ideas,” Farrior said. “There’s just so much encouragement for that and that makes me feel really inspired.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

arts & life

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

Which workout wear is best?

07

FIT CHECK! Where did senior Anne Rubi get this outfit?

Students compare Lululemon, Free People, workout dress

Shirt:

Lululemon relaxed fit t-shirt

By Campbell Harris | News Editor

L

ululemon is at the top of the workout brand industry, but, since new brands like Outdoor Voices and Free People Movement have hit the scene, Lululemon has competition.

Since hitting the scene in 1998, Lululemon quickly became a bestseller. Starting with just products designed for women to wear during yoga, the business expanded and became a brand made for yoga, running, cycling, training and other activities for women and men.

But why is it still so popular today? Senior Abigail Willingham, a Lululemon lover, prefers it over other workout brands because it is good quality and loves all of the new products the company releases.

“All of the colors are super cute, and you can get matching sets because the colors are the same in both tops and shorts,” Willingham said.

In her opinion, Lululemon is a durable, reliable brand that designs the cutest workout clothes.

“I’ve had some of my

Lululemon stuff for years, and it still looks good,” Willingham said.

“Also, you’re not just wearing a T-shirt and shorts, you could make a whole outfit out of just Lululemon, and it would look cute and presentable.”

While Lululemon superfans like Willingham exist, others, such as senior Anne Rubi, have found Free People Movement clothes to be cuter and cheaper.

“I like Free People over Lululemon because I like how the Free People Movement is more unique,” Rubi said. “They have a wider variety of cute shorts and for a better price, so Free People Movement is the way to go.”

Although Rubi said Free People Movement has become more popular because of TikTok and other influences wearing it, she has personally been a supporter since the line started.

“I have always been a Free People Movement fan,” Rubi said.

“Two summers ago I purchased two workout tops from them and was very happily surprised.”

She said she would encourage

Shorts:

Free People’s The Way Home Shorts in ‘Bluestone’

Shoes:

Nike Women’s Air Max 90 GS in ‘Pink Volt’

Photo by Anne Rubi

others to purchase from Free People Movement because it is a reputable, yet less expensive brand.

“It is way cheaper, their pieces are simple yet unique and they have a wider color variety than Lululemon,” Rubi said.

Another new item that has become more popular is the workout dress. Although many companies make them, senior Lindsay Heusinger chooses to buy hers from Outdoor Voices.

“It’s very easy to put on as

an outfit and it makes me look presentable without having to actually assemble something,” Heusinger said.

Heusinger believes that along with being comfortable, easy to wear and cute, the workout dress is easier to buy as one whole outfit.

“Lululemon is very expensive, and buying a top and shorts from Lululemon is way more expensive than just going to Outdoor Voices and getting one dress for cheaper,” Heusinger said.

and our arms would get really tired.

The wall also wasn’t quite smooth, so we had to go over the paint a couple of times.”

With the deadline pending, Park wasn’t sure if they would be able to finish in time.

“I put pictures on my Snapchat story and asked if people would like to help,” Park said. “Around 15 volunteers came to help, which was pretty cool.”

With the help from the volunteers, Park and her friends not only met the deadline, but their work was applauded by the owner of the Center. Morgan Chow, a junior at St.

Mark’s who helped with the painting process, said the experience was rewarding.

“I feel accomplished because I have never done a mural before,” Chow said. “It was my first time painting as well, which just shows that apart from the sketching and designing, anyone could do this.”

Park agreed the hard work paid off and encouraged others to participate in these kinds of activities as well.

“I think this is a great way to contribute to the community,” Park said. “I had a lot of fun painting while also just hanging out with my friends.”

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Park paints mural for service

Junior collaborates with Chavez Learning Center

By Melody Tian | Staff Writer

W

ith the “swish swish” sound of the paintbrush beating against the giant blank wall, junior Olivia Park worked on a mural for the Cesar Chavez Learning Center.

For the first two weeks of August, she spent five to eight hours each day designing the mural and painting it with her friends. Park used her iPad to make the basic design and projected it onto the wall to trace it.

Park had previously painted a mural, working with the non-profit organization “United to Learn” for a food pantry. The organization recognized her talents and connected her with the Learning Center, which asked Park to paint a mural to make their learning environment more friendly and joyful.

Park seized this opportunity as a chance to do something bigger than she has done before. The giant

mural spans across an entire hallway, encompassing a book, butterflies, flowers and eagles.

“Whenever we started we were all a little unsure because this was my first time painting a mural on a big scale,” Park said.

The project was fraught with challenges as she and her fellow volunteers started, and they were even skeptical that they would be able to finish before their deadline.

Junior Lauren Li worked with Park on the mural and described some of the obstacles they faced.

“Painting on a wall was really tiring,” Li said. “We had to get ladders

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ON THE BIG SCREEN

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HISTORY-MAKING, RECORD-BREAKING: ‘SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS’

By Bennett Trubey | Staff Writer

S

mashing Labor Day weekend Box Office records, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” premiered in theaters on Sept. 3. The film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, is a thrilling, action-packed experience that focuses on diversity, culture, grief, family and the meaning of legacy.

“Shang-Chi” is Marvel’s first superhero film to feature an Asian male lead, alongside an AAPI dominated cast with talented actors such as Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Meng’er Zhang and Michelle Yeoh. With the mainly-AAPI cast and crew, and introductions of more empowering female characters, the film represents another step Marvel is taking toward creating equal representation in superhero films.

The impressive cast brought the movie’s jokes and humorous moments to life with witty smirks

5 Photo provided by Olivia Nguyen

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and perfect delivery. It was so exciting to sit in a theater again and hear the audience laugh.

Simultaneously, Liu and his fellow actors delivered impactful, genuinefeeling scenes that moved me, working brilliantly with the writing and plot of the intricate story.

The movie avoided stereotypes, and the plot’s integrity never fluctuated.

“Shang-Chi” boasts a phenomenally engaging storyline that seamlessly blends intense, action-filled scenes with fascinating character arcs, allowing the movie to unfold in a naturally paced, exciting way.

I left the theater filled with anticipation and excitement for the films to come in Marvel’s Phase Four.

I can’t wait to see how “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” fits into the upcoming films and overarching story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

BENNETT’S TOP MARVEL MOVIES Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Captain America: Civil War (2016) Photos provided

by Wikipedia

ON THE RECORD

FALLING FOR HARRY’S LOVE ON TOUR Former One Direction frontman’s first live tour since 2018 unforgettable

By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief & Lea Whitley | Castoff Editor

A

fter a year and half without live music, concerts are back.

And what better way to return to the stage than with Mr. Harry Styles?

On Sept. 11, Styles graced American Airlines Center with his vibrant personality and even better setlist. We were lucky enough to be able to attend, after buying our tickets two years prior and hoping for a rescheduled date throughout COVID-19.

We arrived at AAC right at 8 p.m., when the opening act was scheduled to begin. After waiting in a short line, walking through security and showing our vaccination cards (which were required for the show - nice one, Harry), we were immediately welcomed into a caring community known for treating people

with kindness.

After a quick trip for some popcorn, we arrived at our seats toward the end of opening act Jenny Lewis’ set. We enjoyed hearing the bit of Lewis’ set we heard but were ready for Styles to take her place.

Ever the gentleman, Styles did not leave us waiting for long: he came onstage no more than 15 minutes after Lewis departed. We had been eager to see his outfit for weeks leading up to the show, as he is known for his stellar fashion sense, and Styles did not disappoint.

The performer graced the stage in a monochrome white silk set, immediately launching into his first song, “Golden.” He went on to perform 16 more songs, a mix from his first and second album and a single One Direction hit, “What Makes You Beautiful.”

The energy in the arena was at an all-time high: we were surrounded by signs advertising “Harry 2020” and “Marry Me

Harry,” the outfits resembled that of a fashion show and Styles even performed “Happy Birthday” for a girl directly in front of us.

Styles is always one to engage his crowd – throughout the show, he picked up both a cowboy hat and a Pride flag thrown onstage from the pit. His band is no different: everyone involved in the concert was clearly passionate about putting on a good show, no matter their role.

While it is difficult to pull out high points from such a stellar evening, some of our favorites songs were “Carolina,” “Sunflower Vol. 6” and, of course, “Fine Line.”

We’re not afraid to admit that we shed a few (maybe many) tears during that one.

After a long night full of a wide range of emotions, we are certain that this concert is one we will never forget, one full of too many highlights to name. There was no better way for us to come back to live music – thank you Harry!

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October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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AM I IMPRESSED? LA-based chain opens Dallas location

Pressed Juicery, 6025 Royal Ln #105, Dallas, TX 75230

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By Caroline Bush | Staff Writer

e rolin

Ca s by hoto

Bush

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Anyone looking at healthy food recipes on the Instagram explore page or “What I eat in a day” TikToks is sure to come across smoothie bowls at some point while scrolling.

Smoothie bowls are thicker versions of smoothies and are usually topped with fruit, granola, or other delicious toppings. Not only are these breakfast treats refreshing and healthy during the summer, but they are also trendy and aesthetically pleasing.

Dallas has its fair share of juice bars and smoothie shops, and I have certainly enjoyed many of these tasty treats, so I was excited to hear Pressed Juicery would be opening at the Preston Royal Shopping Center.

Pressed is a Los Angeles-based chain and sells 100% plant-based and gluten-free juice cleanses, smoothie bowls, and even freezes (which are like ice cream).

From the moment I walked up to the new Dallas location, the atmosphere was clean and welcoming, and, when I got inside, the shop was perfectly decorated. An employee handed me a packet about their juice cleanses, which I wouldn’t be trying today.

I ordered two of its most popular items on the menu, starting with their Citrus 2 juice. The packaging was clean and simple, and so were the four ingredients listed on the paper: apple, pineapple, lemon, and mint.

I was anxious to take my first sip, and I was immediately hit with the refreshing taste of mint on a hot summer day. I will say I found the mint flavor to be a bit overpowering, but overall, I enjoyed the juice and continued to drink it for the rest of the day.

The second most popular item on their

FROM

CAROLINE’S KITCHEN

Juice ingredients:

Smoothie bowl ingredients:

1. 1 cup 100% Honeycrisp apple juice from Whole Foods 2. 1/2 a pineapple, juiced 3. 1 mint leaf 4. 1/2 a lemon, juiced

1. Unsweetened frozen Acai 2. Frozen blueberries 3. Oat milk 4. Maple syrup 5. Coconut cream

menu was their Original Bowl with an acai base.

If you aren’t a fan of acai, you can go with the beautiful pink dragon fruit base, but I decided to keep it basic. The bowl itself had an amazing presentation, topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries and bananas, with granola and agave syrup to finish it off.

The granola was some of the best I have ever tasted, perfectly sweet and crunchy. The acai base was delicious as well. My only complaint is I wish it contained more of the smoothie base, as it was too shallow, and I did not have much to eat without the toppings.

The total for my two items before tax came out to a whopping $15.25, the juice priced at $6.75 and the bowl at $8.50. After realizing I probably would not want to pay that much every day for breakfast, I decided to see if I could replicate these treats on my own.

The trip to the grocery store was made easy

by Pressed’s website, which had all the ingredients for each item on the menu. After doing the math, I concluded I could make both items for about half the price when I make them at home.

I used recipes to make juice and a smoothie bowl (pictured at left).

Since Pressed did not have exact measurements on the website, I altered the recipes a bit to make them more to my liking. I will say I preferred my own juice better since I did not let the mint overpower the rest of the flavors. It was super easy to make with the proper materials and some help from my family, taking only about 15 minutes.

However, the smoothie bowl was extremely difficult to recreate and even more disappointing when I tasted it.

If I ever were to stop at Pressed again, I would most likely skip the juice and make it at home, but buy the smoothie bowl if I am craving one.

Overall, Pressed met my expectations. For a healthy, refreshing beverage or breakfast on a hot Texas day, I recommend scoping out all your options before you decide. While I did enjoy my order at Pressed, I think it might be a bit too pricey to order every day.

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October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

AND FROM

Photo by Hanna Asmerom

HARPER’S THOUGHTS

Staff Writer Harper Harris loves pop culture – and she’s here to tell us what we should know right now.

Liz Troper, assistant professor of instruction at UT Dallas School of Arts, Susan Sanders, visual arts chair at Hockaday and art teacher Cynthia Miró educate students on the bridge between digital and visual arts. The presentation advised students to create art that reflected their personalities and talents.

Painting a picture of the arts in college Fine Arts staff hosts event addressing students’ interests

By Hanna Asmerom | Staff Writer

T

wo years ago, Performing Arts chair Emily Gray and Visual Arts chair Susan Sanders started the College-Bound Artist Workshop for students looking into majoring in the arts in college. Anticipation for this year’s event was high after the first year’s success. Going to the online format due to COVID-19 altered original plans, but had an unintended benefit.

“In a funny way, it actually opened it up wider for us because we can host more people virtually,” Gray said, adding that students from Florida, Oklahoma and Maryland attended.

Because of the virtual format,

HAVE A LAUGH

attendance has doubled since the first event in 2019. Gray said the event is helpful for students who are thinking about pursuing the fine arts in college to get a little bit more information.

“A lot of students don’t even know that extra help is available,” she said.

Students had the opportunity to learn about composing resumes and portfolios as well as developing their skills in visual art, theater, journalism and film. Staff from Southern Methodist University, the Maryland Institute College of Art and six other schools gave students insight into life in an art-focused environment.

By Stella Sigurdsson

“It was a really helpful experience,” said sophomore Helen Railsback, an aspiring animator. “ It was really informative and taught me a lot about what art-oriented schools are like.”

With the goal of being a multi-hyphenate artist, senior Cate Goglia said she appreciated the connections the workshop provided with regional art schools.

Gray said she was happy with the presenters as well as the event as a whole. The organizers overcame technical issues to create a fun and informative event.

“I really loved it,” Goglia said.

“You get the fundamentals from fun people.”

#FreeBritney has been trending for months, but the movement surrounding the pop singer has been around since 2009. Before the movement, on Jan. 4, 2008, the “Toxic” singer had a public breakdown which included her shaving her head and attacking paparazzi. She later credited this to mental health problems for which she was not seeking help.

After her public breakdown, Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, filed for temporary conservatorship, which eventually became permanent.

After 12 years of conservatorship and hate from media and fans, in August 2021, Jamie said he would step down.

Conservatorship is the appointment of a guardian by a judge to manage the financial activities and life of another person due to physical or mental conditions.

Jaime allegedly took conservatorship to help his daughter after her breakdown, but he continued to control her after she had sought help.

The courts have not revealed the horrors that Britney endured, but we do know that her father’s conservatorship directly caused a decline in her mental health.

People thought Britney was insane for acting out in 2008, but in my opinion, it was a cry for help. The pressure of being one of the world’s biggest pop stars got to her and she did not know what to do, except to show the world that she was not perfect. Her actions revealed society should not view celebrities as perfect people.

After Free Britney, we need to look at celebrities differently and encourage them to seek help. Free Britney gave Britney a new life; we need to let her live it.

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October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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DOS EQUIS PAVILLION From Parker McCollum to Pitbull, the Dos Equis Pavilion in Fair Park welcomes a variety of big-name artists to give outdoor concerts. As the largest outdoor amphitheater in Dallas, the Pavilion attracts people from all over Dallas with low-ticket prices and the COVID-19 friendly outdoor environment.

Before COVID-19, the American Airlines Center and AT&T Stadium were two of the biggest concert venues around Dallas, holding more than 20,000 people in their indoor facilities. However, while still in the pandemic, concert fans have transitioned to outdoor venues that still give the same concert experience.

“With COVID-19 and everything going on, being outside at the Pavilion does make me feel more comfortable about going to a concert with a lot of people,” junior Alexa Welch said.

With concert dates ranging from April to November, the Dos Equis Pavilion offers a wide range of singers and sells tickets for much lower prices in comparison to some of the inside concert venues around Dallas. Both reserved and open seating are available, so guests can purchase tickets either in a section seat or on the lawn.

“I love the environment at the Dos Equis Pavilion, and I feel like it is livelier than just being inside the American Airlines Center or AT&T Stadium,” senior Margo Washburne said. “It’s fun how you can see so many people you know, whereas at other places it is hard to leave your assigned seat area.”

In addition to the stage, the Dos Equis Pavilion offers vendors at the back of the pavilion, which sell food, drinks, and apparel.

“It’s definitely more of a music festival type of feeling compared to a regular concert where you have to stay in your seat the whole time,” junior Brie Johnson said. “The lawn really adds to the fun atmosphere of the Pavilion.”

As the Pavilion finishes up the 2021 season, tickets are on sale for concerts in late September and October including rapper “Lil Baby,” rock band “Kings of Leon” and the wellknown boy band Jonas Brothers.

Juliana Blazek | Features Editor

Photos by Jane Clark and Juliana Blazek

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October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Behind the scenes of

‘A Year With Fr

The upper school musical, ‘A Year with Frog and Toad,’ is put together by a team of tech crew members who control the design, costumes, and build of the set. Without the crew, the musical would not be possible. They have been building a stage from scratch in the amphitheater, and designing and painting backdrops and set pieces.

The costume crew has been working with the actors to fit them and design creative outfits that reflect the story. ‘A Year with Frog and Toad’ will be performed Oct. 7-9.

Design

Design crew pins design inspiration on the bulletin board outside the shop.

As heads of design, juniors Sonali Konda and Lillian Rubarts create the look of the sets for the musical. They start by reading through the script with the rest of the crew to come up with design concepts and ideas. After they finalize what they want the set to look like, they create scale drawings and scale models.

“We basically make all the set pieces out of paper, just to be able to picture it,” Konda said. “The one we have now is a quarter inch scale.”

After the build team finishes building the actual set pieces, they pick out the paint colors and assist with painting the sets. At musical practices, they are responsible for putting the pieces on the stage and assisting the director with what she needs. During the performance, they stay in the wings and help with scene changes or assist with other crew roles.

“Sometimes we are up in the balcony making sure there are lights, on the sound board or light board, or rigging backdrops and signs,” Rubarts said. “We really just help with whatever is needed.”

Crew member Madison Conerly explains build plans to the crew.

Crew members work with Robert Kallos to build a stage in the amphitheater.

Build

Heads of Build Alex Cox and Caroline Rich are responsible for building the sets and stage for the musical. Because the musical is taking place outside in the amphitheater this year, they are building a wooden stage from scratch.

“Before we can even begin building, we have to level the ground first, but after we get that done the stage should get done fairly quickly,” Cox said.

Once Rich and Cox receive the designs and scale models from the heads of design, they will begin the building and painting of the sets. Making the set weatherproof has been an additional challenge.

“We are in the shop for the same amount of hours as the cast rehearses, if not more,” Rich said.

They have a tight schedule because they must have the stage finished long before the show because the actors need time to practice on it.

Also because of the outdoor setting, the crew members do not have to operate lighting, curtains or sound. They are going to be backstage during the performance, but will make appearances to change the sets.

“Because we will be more visible on stage, we will be dressed so that we look like a part of the frog and toad world,” Cox said. “ We might wear butterfly wings or something along those lines.”

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Frog and Toad’

By Melody Hu and Jane Clark

Costume crew looks for garments that fit the look of the musical.

Costume head Anneliese Scherz looks through potential costumes.

Costumes The head of costumes and makeup, Anneliese Scherz, works with other students and Middle School Fine Arts Coordinator Susan Hubbard to put together costumes for the actors and dancers in the musical.

She holds fittings in the costume room and sizes each character to make sure she has the right size of all of the clothing. She also brainstorms with the rest of the costume crew to come up with props that would be meaningful to the characters and would add to the enlivenment of the characters.

The “Frog and Toad” costumes mostly consist of brown and green clothing in the form of vests, blazers, dress pants and berets. The costume crew also is responsible for helping with hair and makeup for the dress rehearsals and on performance day.

Q&A with the Stage Manager Melissa Dodson describes her role Q: What is your primary job as stage manager?

A: My primary job is keeping the cast informed about schedules and communicating between cast, crew and the directors. I also write down costume and prop information, all the characters’ blocking, and any other information that the directors might need. It is a lot of work, but I have a lot of fun with everyone, and I enjoy every second.

Q: What is the musical going to look like this year?

A: The musical is going to be outside in the amphitheater this year, so the crew has been working on building an entirely new stage and set for the amphitheater, which I think is super cool. We are doing it in the fall rather than the winter, and it’s a very quick process – we have longer rehearsals so that we can get the show done faster and perform in October. Some other things that are different are obviously the all-Hockaday student cast. In years past we have had St. Mark’s students come in and audition, but we weren’t able to do that this year. Also, we have a much smaller cast than usual, but I think that’s super fun because we can bond more and become more tight-knit.

Q: What does the timeline look like, leading up to the musical?

A: The crew has been working on set design and building for weeks, starting this summer. They start during the summer. At the moment the cast is just doing daily rehearsals to get their scenes blocked and the songs and dance routines memorized, and crew is starting the building process. As we get closer to performance dates, the rehearsals will get longer and more intense, and we will start to have Saturday rehearsals.

Q: What is your favorite part behind the scenes of the musicals? What brings you back every year?

A: My favorite part is just getting closer with everyone involved with making the show happen. It’s a super special experience, and in the end it is so rewarding to have this show that we’ve been working so hard on actually come to life on stage. I can’t get enough of it. That’s why I keep coming back.

Photos by hanna zhang, Sofie Santana and Jane Clark Artwork by Josie Agnew

October 1, 2021

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14features

“

I don’t think words can fully capture what it was like to race.”

Sports after Hockaday, p. 15

T(ACT) it out!

Planned Parenthood’s teen volunteers take sex-ed to stage

By Caroline Petrikas | Photo & Graphics Editor Planned Parenthood’s TeenAge Communication Theater, also known as TACT, is made up of 40 students from 10 different schools in the DFW area. Together, they work to perform informational skits on sexual health and women’s rights.

M

ics! Cameras! Action!

On April 18, 2021 members of TACT, Planned Parenthood’s TeenAge Communication Theatre, logged onto zoom, unmuted their mics, and prepared for their last performance of the school year. An educational skit focused on STDs, their zoom performance aimed to fulfill TACT’s mission of entertaining and informing teens in foster care, homeless shelters, youth groups, and juvenile detention centers.

TACT is a troupe of teenage volunteers from across the DFW area, who perform short, informational skits on a bi-monthly basis.

Performances typically last from 45 to 90 minutes, tackle up to nine subjects and are split into three parts. First, there is a brief scene with an unresolved problem. Next, the audience questions the actors while they remain in character.

Finally, the actors leave character, introduce themselves to the audience, answer questions and provide factual information about the topics covered.

Their skits focus on topics schools do not traditionally cover like stress management, prejudices, mental health, sexual health, relationships and drug and alcohol abuse. The skits take serious topics and introduce them in a humorous way, so the audience can both laugh and educate themselves. The audience selects which skits TACT performs ahead of time, but there are a few fan favorites.

“I always get assigned to do the skit about STIs. I think it’s a really funny and humorous skit, so it’s really fun to be able to talk about these important topics and be entertaining at the same time,” junior Ava Stern said.

Although the group skits focus on the lesser-known aspects of Planned Parenthood’s resources, senior Sienna Ellis estimates TACT might perform their teen pregnancy skit more frequently in order to cater the education to new needs in Texas after the new abortion law SB8 came into effect on Sept. 1, 2021.

Because their performances were moved to Zoom due to COVID-19, TACT had to adjust their skits and information to make sense on this other platform, but they used this opportunity to reach new audiences.

“We did have to rewrite some of the skits, but being virtual also let us perform for a group in Austin and Utah,” Ellis said.

Members of TACT not only educate their widespread audiences, but also themselves.

In the summer, they spend four hours a week learning from experts and

‘Everyone in the troupe becomes really close – they’re like a second family to me, a family I get to make an impact with.’

Eleanor Lockhart Senior educating themselves on teen problems, and during the school year they rehearse their skits for three hours every week.

“Before I joined TACT, I was passionate about sexual health and women’s rights without any factual basis behind my opinions”, Lockhart said. “Now, thanks to TACT, I hope that I’ve become a wealth of knowledge for my peers on topics that most of us are scared to talk about – STDs, sexual health and consent, to name a few.”

TACT employs a variety of methods to provide their members with more information.

“One of the activities is called ‘TACT it out,’ where we sit in a circle and have a conversation about something controversial going on,” Ellis said. “So we talked a lot about Sha’Carri Richardson and the Olympics and the abortion bills. Getting to hear everyone’s opinions is really educational.”

TACT is different from other community service groups because it combines both theater and social justice work and creates a tight-knit group.

“I care deeply about educating teens on issues that are probably relevant to their lives, and I also love acting and doing theater,” Ellis said. Getting to put these two interests together is a really meaningful and unique experience!”

For senior Eleanor Lockhart, TACT was a family experience. Encouraged by her mom and aunt, who both participated in the troupe in the ’80s, Lockhart joined the summer going into her junior year,and it was a perfect fit.

“Everyone in the troupe becomes really close – they’re like a second family to me, a family that I get to make an impact with,” Lockhart said.

TACT members like the audience interaction aspect of theater that TACT embraces because it gives meaning to their work.

“My favorite part is when we get to engage with our audiences,” Lockhart said. “ When we’re asking questions to teens and they engage with us, share parts of their stories, it makes us feel like we’re doing something right.”

Following their end of year party in May, TACT gathered for a photo together. Due to COVID-19, TACT was completely online during the 2020-2021 school year, so this was the first time members got to meet each other in person. “It’s been good to meet all the new people face to face,” Ellis said.

Photo provided by Sienna Ellis

Clad in matching blue T-shirts, members of TACT smiled for a Zoom photo after filming several skits to send to groups without access to live Zoom performances. “Being virtual has been really cool because we got to perform for groups in other places we normally wouldn’t get to, like Austin and Utah,” Photo provided by Sienna Ellis Ellis said.

BY THE NUMBERS

40 10 40

number of students currently involved in TACT

number of schools with students participating

number of performances done each year

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

features

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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SPORTS AFTER HOCKADAY Rowers Annie Herring ‘21 and Teal Cohen ‘16 make their mark in world level competitions

F

or Teal Cohen ‘16 and Annie Herring ‘21, Hockaday Crew served as the launchpad for each of their rowing careers.

Herring, who plans to row for Brown University in the fall, raced a 4x in the Junior World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria over the summer.

She was selected to race the boat while at the USRowing Women’s U19 Selection Camp, a month-long training camp in Chula Vista, California. Annie spoke on the camp and the rigorous selection experience: “USRowing invited a squad of around 60 rowers, who were selected through race results, 2k times, technique, and coach recommendations, to participate in the Women’s U19 Selection Camp.

While we were there, we did a series of erg tests and on-water seat racing to determine who was the fastest of the bunch.”

After being selected to bow the quad, Herring continued to train intensely with her teammates before she traveled to Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the regatta. During that time, she spent around 6-7 hours at the boathouse everyday.

When asked about what it was like to race internationally, Herring said, “I don’t think words can fully capture what it was like to race. Just the opportunity to see the top youth rowers in the world, let alone be considered as one of them, was an honor.”

Overall, Herring’s quad proved to be incredibly competitive at the regatta, earning 6th place in the A final in the regatta.

Annie Herring ‘21 considers racing in the Junior World Championships this summer an honor.

Similar to Herring in her love and passion for rowing, Teal Cohen rowed for University of Washington after graduating from Hockaday in 2016.

Cohen ‘16 attended the U23 World Rowing Championships for the second time this summer, but was presented with a unique challenge. She was selected for two races at the regatta, in the 4- and 8+.

“Having two races so close together was a challenge unlike anything I’d ever done before.

Racing at the World Championships is stressful already, so having two events instead of one added a whole other layer of stress. The four of us who were selected to race twice are all very experienced and seasoned vets of the National Team, and we were up for the challenge,” Cohen said.

The athletes prepared for the challenge. “When we got to the days of our races, we were vigilant about hydration and nutrition, and made sure we were doing everything we could before, during, and after racing to ensure we were fully recovering,” Cohen said.

Cohen has been a member of the rowing team at University of Washington during her college career, and plans to take a fifth year this year.

“When our 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID, the NCAA granted all spring season athletes a fifth year of eligibility, if they wanted it.

It was an easy decision for me to stay, as I feel that there is still more work to be done and more speed to be gained for me and the team this year.”

Cohen raced her way to a gold medal in the 8+ and a silver medal in the 4- in the Czech Republic in her return to international racing post-COVID.

Annie Herring ‘21 with her teammates in Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the World Rowing Junior Championships in August. She finished sixth in the 4X boat.

Photo provided by Annie Herring

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October 1, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Laura Laywell Have you ever wondered what Assistant Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Laywell’s daily life is like? We did! The Fourcast sent our Managing Editor Libby Hill to follow Laywell and find out what her typical day looks like. Here’s a peek into her life.

Good morning!

8:30 A.M. HER DAY STARTS | Laywell drops her son Jonah off at the CDC and then heads over to the Institute to check in with Laura Day, director of the Institute for Social Impact, about what the day ahead holds.

9:15 A.M. ORGANIZATION | Laywell focuses on organizing and streamlining the processes and Social Impact programs Day created to make them run more smoothly, devoting most of her days to making things more efficient.

4:30 P.M. END OF THE DAY | Wrapping up their work, Day and Laywell review everything they’ve done that day and what’s scheduled for the next day before they leave for the evening.

5:00 P.M.

See you tomorrow!

2:30 P.M.

HOME | After picking up her son from the CDC, the two of them sing songs on their drive home. “It’s like a celebration of our day,” she said.

STUDENTS POP IN | Students pop in and out

10:20 A.M.

of the Institute’s offices to share updates on social impact projects that are a part of their classes or outside of school, which is one of Laywell’s favorite parts of her day. “It’s really inspiring to hear the passion and purpose of all the students connecting their skillset and interest into impact in the community,” she said.

ADVISORY TIME | During the

20 minute period every day, Laywell and her advisees discuss their days. “I have loved having a freshmen advisory this year, because I feel like we’re all in this together since we are all new.”

12:30 P.M. LUNCH DUTY | Laywell heads to the lunchroom to serve lunch and eat in the cafeteria. She loves spending time around students.

“The energy of the campus explodes when students are around,” she said.

Photos provided by Libby Hill and Adobe Stock

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

features

Boarders move off-campus

17

Students gain independence, look forward to returning to residence halls ‘I miss having all my best friends live right next door.”

Christy Guan Junior said. “I miss having more of a structured schedule and having easy access to services such as the library or gym.”

Moreover, living off-campus burdens students with responsibility that neither life at Hockaday nor regular home life encompasses.

“Now that I live here without SAGE, Hockaday staff or my parents, I have to make all of my own food, do my own grocery shopping, clean my own laundry, and so much more,” Cao said. “It’s been very difficult to learn how to balance it all.”

She said she also misses the social aspect of boarding.

“I used to be able to go outside and there was always something to do because there were always people around. Here, I’m limited to those that I’m staying with.”

Just the same, Sprouse argues that in the boarding community, she gained a wealth of knowledge about diverse cultures.

“One of my favorite aspects of boarding is the opportunity to interact and learn about so many different people from various places,” Sprouse said.

While thankful for the unique adventure of living off-campus, the boarders agree the beauty of living at Hockaday is not limited to convenience and structure.

“When I get the choice, I definitely want to go back to boarding,” Guan said.

“I miss having all my best friends live right next door.”

Sprouse’s mom Chris Taliaferro cooks dinner for seniors Sherri Hong, Natalie Yan, and Cici Sprouse after a long day of school.

Photo by Nancy Chen

A

fter a full year of remote learning due to COVID-19, former boarders were eager to return to campus to have the full in-person experience of the 2021-22 school year.

With residence halls not opening until January, students took matters into their own hands by finding alternative places to stay off-campus.

“The majority of people either decided to stay with a host family or rent a house,” junior Christy Guan said. “ Personally, I live in a rented house that I share with three other students from my grade.”

Free from boarding regulations, offcampus life gives students autonomy over their extracurricular agendas.

“Without Hockaday staff watching us, there is so much more potential for us to have flexibility,” junior Lucy Cao said. “It’s not as much about having strict rules or guidelines, but rather maintaining an open line of communication with the mom that is watching us.”

The change in residence also brought a change in access to transportation.

“A major setback that we had in boarding was always transportation which, in turn, limited the social opportunity we had,” Guan said. “Now, the expectations with a parent are considerably more lenient.”

The students said the experience of living off campus prepares them for life ahead.

“I learned that I could handle being independent and balance my social life and schoolwork without my parents’ help,” senior Cici Sprouse said. “Gaining this independence has really prepared me for college.”

Though this new living situation grants students flexibility and self-sufficiency, they acknowledge living off campus has its limits.

“The hardest part about my transition is how much my routine has changed,” Cao

Photo by Nancy Chen

By Ambyr Baker | Staff Writer

As senior Cici Sprouse completes her homework, senior Natalie Yan enjoys dinner after coming home from extracurricular activity.

HOCKA-HISTORY A look back into our past

Melissa Allan ‘90

Each issue, the Fourcast browses Hockaday’s archives and chooses a moment to look back on. This month, we are focusing on the new teachers who have returned to 11600 Welch Road since their graduation: Melissa Allan ‘90, Alex Karigan Farrior ‘03 and Caroline Robb ‘07.

By Maddie Stout | Editor-in-Chief

Alex Karigan Farrior ‘03

M

elissa Allan graduated in 1990, but has continued her involvement with Hockaday to this day.

As an Upper School student, she wrote for the Fourcast, sang in the Choir and especially enjoyed her English and Fine Arts classes. Since her graduation, she has worn many hats: Upper School English teacher, Middle School English teacher, Director of Communications and Marketing and Hockaday parent.

This year, Allan will teach English I, returning to the discipline she loves best.

“Since I’ve returned, I’ve seen that the girls really are so wonderful, articulate, ambitious and ready to learn,” Allan said. “I love to see that has remained the same.”

Farrior, who graduated in 2003, returns to her “second home” of the dance balcony as a Middle and Upper School Dance Teacher. While

Caroline Robb ‘07 in Upper School, Farrior spent the majority of her time involved with Upper School Orchestra and Hockadance, developing a special relationship with Beth Wortley, former Director of Dance.

“Coming back has been so amazing,” Farrior said. “The dance balcony still feels just like home, and it’s only gotten better.”

Fifteen years following her graduation, Robb came back to campus as an Upper School math teacher, teaching Integrated Math III and Precalculus. After coming to Hockaday in eighth grade, Robb developed a special love for her math and history classes, eventually double majoring in the subjects.

“Since returning, I’ve been so impressed with the girls and am absolutely floored at the amount of intellectual capability and prowess that they have displayed.”

October 1, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

18sports

“

Football games are a big community event that goes a lot farther than just a game.”

Friday Night Fun Returns, p. 20

Training reimagined Revised program extends to all sports

By Kailey Bergstedt | Staff Writer The humming of the ice maker. The low rumble of the washing machine. The thumping of shoes as they cross the tiled floor. The occasional beeping of the ultrasound machine. These sounds of the training room are deeply familiar to the members of the athletic training program.

C

oach Jeff Geier, Director of Sports Performance and Medicine, has recently made several changes to the training program. This year, Geier was able to expand the program and recruit more trainers than in past years due to a greater need for them, as teams resumed a more normal, postcovid schedule.

Another change is how the trainers now work with each sports’ team. “I am assigning them in groups of three to specific sports, where they will stay for three or four weeks and then rotate to another sport,” Geier said.

While assigned to a sport, the athletic trainers will attend that sport’s practices and games. This change was made as an effort “to build connections with the teams so they recognize us and feel more comfortable visiting us if they need to,” Kate Borson, a senior and one of the athletic trainers, said.

The trainers’ presence at practices and games has not gone unnoticed by fall athletes. “The trainers com e down and hand out ice or send us up to the training room if we need it,” cross country runner Jada Beard said.

Looking forward, Geier wants to include more day-to-day learning opportunities in the program, including homework, quizzes, and demonstrations. “For example,” Geier said, “if someone comes in with a sprained ankle I can say ‘Okay, everybody come gather around and watch this’ and then they can see what I’m doing and practice doing it themselves.”

Amidst these changes, the athletic trainers still have many of the same responsibilities of years past. These responsibilities include equipping Coach Geier’s golf cart with medical supplies; making sures the kits are stocked; providing towels or bags of ice; wrapping injuries; occasionally performing ultrasounds; and, of course, bringing the coveted, ice-cold water to games.

The athletic training program has provided unique opportunities for those involved. “I really enjoy getting to still be a part of the athletic community and have my fellow classmates, who are on sports teams, come in and I am able to help them,” Borson said.

Training co-captain Rachel Jan wraps a student’s wrist in the athletic training room.

Photo by Libby Hill

“I really enjoy getting to still be a part of the athletic community and have my fellow classmates, who are on sports teams, come in and I am able to help them.”

Kate Borson Trainer

BY THE NUMBERS

45 7 9

Trainer Kate Borson prepares to perform an ultrasound on a student with deep tissue pain.

Photo by Libby Hill

bags of ice prepared each afternoon

minutes spent in an ice bath on average

number of student trainers

Rachel Jan performs a thermal ultrasound on an injured athlete, which uses microscopic vibrations to massage soft tissue.

Photo by Remy Finn

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

sports

19

AND IN

ATHLETES ON THE ROAD AGAIN

REMY’S

COURT

Teams return to travel tradition Taylor Hua, member of Varsity Field Hockey, said she enjoyed her experience traveling with the team.

By Lacy Green | Staff Writer

A

fter over a year of traditions and protocols being altered due to the pandemic, varsity athletes are seeing some progression to normal practices.

Last year, mask mandates varied by season and changed throughout the year. During the fall and winter seasons, indoor and outdoor sports were required to wear masks during practice and competition. The spring season athletes were required to wear masks during practice, but not for game play.

This year, indoor fall athletes continue wearing masks to practice and on the bench. However, while playing in the game they are allowed to remove their masks, while their spectators must wear masks.

Masks for outdoor athletes and their spectators are optional. Mask mandates are subject to change for the winter and spring season as the COVID-19 circumstances change.

In terms of travel regulations, the rules varied by season on who athletic teams could play as well as how they were allowed to travel for competition.

Specifically for the 2020 fall season, since athletes were not permitted to travel together on team buses to any away games, all transportation was organized by each individual player and her family. In addition, teams were not allowed to play teams outside of the North Zone so all away games were within the DFW area.

This year the travel protocols have significantly changed and have become more relaxed for fall athletes. For away games, charter buses and Hockabuses are now being used at full capacity to transport athletes to and from their games. Masks are required on all buses.

In addition to athletic competition, the Upper School looks forward to the return of athletic festivities such as the Color Run Oct. 4, the Fall SPC Championship in Dallas Nov. 4-6 as well as the return of SPC rallies. While Coach Deb Surgi, director of athletics, and the rest of the athletic department are excited to bring these events back to campus, they are

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

Senior Sydney Ghorayeb battles for the ball with a Fort Worth Country Day player.

Photo by Jane Clark aware that it is all subject to change.

“We will continue to plan events while simultaneously assessing COVID-19 protocols weekly, sometimes daily, given the changing landscape,” Surgi said.

On Sept. 9, the Varsity Field Hockey team boarded a charter bus and made the trip to Houston to compete in its first out-of-area SPC competition since the onset of the pandemic. They played three games, winning one and losing two.

While senior and junior players already had the experience of traveling out of town with the team, this was a first for the underclassmen, including sophomore Taylor Hua. “My first experience traveling out of town with the team was so much fun,” Hua said. “Last year, we didn’t get to travel for field hockey, but everything about the trip to Houston – the bus ride, team meals, games – was the best.”

Led by senior Riley Carter, the team held a 2-3-2 record as of Sept. 20. Their performance in upcoming SPC games will determine the team’s standing going into the SPC tournament in early November.

As I scrolled lazily through my Instagram feed, my fingers paused on a story posted with three Hockaday players, jumping in celebration with the caption “Varsity Field Hockey Beats St. Johns!” I looked up at the account that posted it, and to my surprise it wasn’t the official Hockaday athletics account, but Superfanmen— an account St. Mark’s students started to encourage school spirit.

In fact, Superfanmen has uploaded various posts and stories supporting Hockaday athletics, in the past even coming to games regularly. Our own Hockaday athletics account does provide coverage of our athletics updates, but a student-run account similar to Superfanmen would allow greater support, visibility, and encouragement of student athletics in general. This is exactly what seniors Landry Grover and Brooke Adams are trying to create with their version of the account, the Hockaday Hype Women.

“I feel like we’ve lacked school spirit in our community for a while, and I know social media is a big contributor to getting people and events noticed,” Grover said. “With it being student-run, we can be more connected to our peers and get them supporting our athletes.”

Grover and Adams said they are hoping to establish a student fan base on Instagram similar to that of the St. Mark’s Superfanman account.

Camden Reeves, one of three senior boys in charge of the Instagram account Superfanmen, said he is excited at the prospect of a Hockaday version.

“I think that it’s great for the two schools to be able to work together and I know they’ll do a good job,” Reeves said.

“All three Superfanmen right now play a fall sport so it has been difficult to cover Hockaday games, but hopefully with the help of the Hockaday Hype Women we can amp up the coverage even more in the coming year.”

CAPTAINS’ CORNER

SYDNEY EYESTONE, volleyball

TUKWA AHSAN, fencing

LEENA MEHENDALE, cross country

“This season has been an amazing one!

Our last biggest upset was beating Bishop Lynch, in an exciting 5 set match as our first time playing them.”

“We have a tournament the weekend of Sept. 24, and it’s super exciting for them to be able to use their skills and training to represent Hockaday.”

“Some activities we’ve done are our fun Thursday meet at Midlothian, team pasta dinners before meets and cheering on our teammates at every race.”

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Photo by Juliana Blazek

20

October 1, 2021

“The fans really set the tone for the whole game.

I missed the energy of the student section last year at the scrimmages where only parents were allowed to attend.”

Sarah Roberts Varsity Cheer Captain

Friday night fun

Cheerleaders hype up the crowd before a play at the first home game of the year. “Whether a play went well or not, we try our best to keep the fans and the players positive throughout the game,” captain Sarah Roberts said.

Fans return to St. Marks football games

By Juliana Blazek | Features Editor

F

rom rowdy fans to spirited cheerleaders, students are eager to participate in the return of “Friday Night Lights” for the first time in almost two years. Blue and gold decorated fans have begun filling up the student section of St. Marks’ Hunt Stadium on Friday nights as they prepare to cheer on the football team throughout their season.

As a result of COVID-19, spectators were very limited at the football games last season, and no students were allowed to watch in person. However, this year, St. Marks is allowing full capacity at football games, inviting students from both Hockaday and St. Marks to join together and support the football team, while being outside and still cautious of COVID-19.

“The fans really set the tone for the whole game,” said Sarah Roberts,

varsity cheerleading captain. “I missed the energy of the student section last year at the scrimmages where only parents were allowed to attend.”

For each home game, fans are given a theme to dress in to show a unified support for the football team and all the high school students are encouraged to stand in the student section, so they can socialize and get to know each other better.

“I think that there’s a lot more participation and energy this year for sure because everyone missed going to FNL last year,” junior Josie Sinwell said. “I really try to get people spirited during the games, so I’ve been making posters,

going all out with the themes and encouraging others to join me in doing so.”

In addition to the football team and fans, the St. Marks band, Spurs, and cheerleaders play a role in making sure everyone has fun-filled Friday night.

“I’m really excited that they’re bringing back with full force the student section, band, cheerleaders and everything else that makes FNL so special,” cheerleader, Molly McPhail said. “We’ve been really successful so far at bringing together our community of students and getting everyone excited for a new year of FNL.” Through the duration of the football season, which lasts from September to early November, events such as T-shirt handouts and spirit parties occur either before or after the games to encourage fans to cheer on and celebrate the football team.

“Football games are a big community event that goes a lot farther than just a game,” Roberts said. “The band, cheerleaders, and Spurs all see these games as a large part of our athletic season, and we all contribute to creating a lighthearted and fun atmosphere for the community.”

ONE TO WATCH Daisies to keep an eye on

MEET

AVA THIGPEN Thigpen began this year as a novice rower on the crew team, but she’s quickly established herself as an athlete to look out for.

By Aadya Kuruvalli | Staff Writer

F

reshman Ava Thigpen is a jack of many trades.

This year, she joined the Upper School rowing team, but rowing isn’t her only talent.

Thigpen ran cross-country before high school, although she chose to row in ninth grade.

Thigpen’s rowing career began in the summer before she began eighth grade when her mom took her to participate at a rowing summer camp.

It immediately lit a fire inside of her.

“I came to try in the summer of seventh grade,” Thigpen said, “and I was just kind of like, ‘Oh my God’.”

Although she didn’t start on a team until ninth grade, Thigpen went back the summer afterward as well. She said she finds rowing relaxing.

“It’s really peaceful, just rowing with the oars,” she said.

Thigpen also said she enjoyed rowing with a team rather than individually. Cross-country is a solo sport, in which everyone competes for their schools by themselves, but rowing requires a team at each boat, emphasizing the importance of communication and coordination.

“Since some people use high school sports to get into college, they’re just naturally more intense, which I think

Freshman Ava Thigpen uses an erg during a crew practice.

Photo by Libby Hill

makes them fun to participate in,” Thigpen said.

She plans on rowing throughout high school, but isn’t sure what her future looks like. Rowing isn’t currently her main focus for college, but Thigpen said she would be open to using her skill in the sport to apply for scholarships and continuing to row at the college level. In the end, she said it would depend on the quality of the college academically.

Although Thigpen does want to

continue rowing throughout high school, there are some downsides to pursuing this exhaustive sport.

“It’s quite time-consuming because of all the driving,” she said. “I don’t get home until 7, so I guess I have less free time.”

The schedule isn’t the same for every day though, and Thigpen said she enjoys the other aspects of the sport, which is what motivates her to continue to row.

“It’s like you’re part of something bigger than yourself.”

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

21views

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

views

“

Returning to the older system this year of having advisory between first and second period has taught me how brief 20 minutes really is.”

Staff Standoff, p. 22

Airline dress code dilemma It’s not my fault if my knees distract the baggage handler

By Lea Whitley | Castoff Editor This summer, Castoff Editor Lea Whitley boarded a plane. This isn’t unusual: thousands of people board planes every day. For her, though, this experience was not so typical.

“E

xcuse me, ma’am,” said the flight attendant tapping on my shoulder.

“One of our employees just let me know your shorts are inappropriate and distracting. Do you have a pair of pants you could put on for this flight?”

I looked down, glanced around, and then my heart dropped: I realized what was being asked of me.

It was an hour-long flight with a 30-minute connection, so I let her know I did not have anything I could change into.

“You will have to buy a pair of pants during your layover,” she said.

“The man loading luggage that complained filed a dress code violation against you, so you will not be allowed on your next flight without finding something else to wear.”

As she walked away, I felt a plethora of emotions hit me all at once: shame for being told this in front of the other passengers, confusion because I had worn this exact pair of shorts on two American Airlines flights prior, and lastly, anger. If I didn’t change out of my athletic shorts into something “less distracting,” I wouldn’t be able to get home that night.

I wanted to yell. I wanted to find the man who complained and make sure he knew that one, I was a minor, and two, his inability to do his job was his own problem, not mine or my body’s. But I couldn’t do any of those things. If I had, my mom and I likely wouldn’t have made it back to Dallas. I felt trapped.

As our flight deboarded and I walked off the plane, I sensed the

‘Was

the world really trying to say it was my fault a grown man on the job couldn’t stay focused while I, a 17-year-old girl, boarded my flight in perfectly appropriate running shorts?’

Lea Whitley Castoff Editor emotions seep through once more.

Shame came over me as I tied my sweatshirt around my waist. I kept asking myself why I felt so wrong just for wearing shorts. I couldn’t help but cry under my mask silently as my mom tried to find the nearest store that sold pants.

Then came the anger. Being at Hockaday since pre-kindergarten, I never had to spend a second of my life worrying about following a dress code (especially dress codes that deem women’s bodies distracting in order to “save” wandering minds of men).

Was the world really trying to say it was my fault a grown man on the

Whitley originally wore a pair of Free People shorts on her flight.

However, she was later told to purchase a pair of sweatpants before she could board her connecting flight. “The entire experience was extremely unsettling,” Whitley said. “ I couldn’t Photos by Lea Whitley believe what had happened.” job couldn’t stay focused while I, a 17-year-old girl, boarded my flight in perfectly appropriate running shorts?

(And yes, I checked the website afterward. My shorts were acceptable to American’s standards.)

As I sat down on my bed that night in the grey sweatpants I almost missed my connection for, I wrote a strongly-worded email to the airline’s customer service department about the experience. This was two months ago and I have yet to get a reply.

I understand the idea of dress codes in certain situations, and I also

know that since airlines are private businesses, they technically have the power to enforce any restrictions they want. But in hindsight, the part of this experience that angers me the most is how utterly at fault I felt when the flight attendant told me I was in the wrong.

I want any young girl reading this to know that if you have been in a situation like the one I just explained, it is not your fault. Do not feel shameful. And most importantly, do not feel like you did something wrong by simply existing.

LIKE & COMMENT Some of our favorite recent posts

Senior G abriella Rees po ses with the St. Mark’ s cheerlea ders.

Junior Jo sie Agnew dresses up the St. M for ark’s football game.

Soc i Med al Spo ia tlig ht

Senior A nn Rubi cele e brates the gran ting of off-cam pus lunch.

Graphic by Shreya Gunukula ’18

22

October 1, 2021

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

STAFF STANDOFF

20 MINUTES or TWO HOURS?

We Love It, We Love It Not

Advisory is back to 20 minutes between first and second period, but some miss the extended time spent together last year

Shorter advisory

By Elisa Carroll | Web Editor

By Olivia Garcia | Business Manager

As we started this school year, we were reminded of what life was like before COVID-19.

Two-way staircases, lunch in the cafeteria, study hall wherever we want and, of course, a 20-minute advisory break right after first period.

Waking up and attending that first class of the day can be pretty hard after a long night of homework and studying. Last year, it was even worse, because we had to go right from first period to second, with no break in between.

A 20-minute advisory between first and second period provides a good time to take a breath. In advisory, I can chat with friends and eat some snacks. This short break with my peers puts me in a better mood for my second period. Without the quick break last year, I felt drained in my second period class.

The greater issue, however, was the amount of time we were in advisory. I enjoyed having the extra time to bond with my advisees, but I missed being able to see my other friends. I felt confined in a space that was supposed to be relaxing.

Teachers tell students that when working in our room we should work at our desk and only our desk. If we start working on our bed, the space which our brain thinks of as rest and sleep gets mixed with work and stress. I think this is similar to our time in advisory last year. Since we were in advisory for so long, it felt less like a break and more like a study hall.

I appreciate the extra time to work, but I think having this extra work time in advisory was like working in your bed.

Even though our advisory is shorter now, we did not lose this extra time to work. We still have conference to start on our homework and our long lunch period provides even more time to work. We just get to do this work in the library or other study areas, which I think is more beneficial.

Though a longer advisory meant more time with my advisees, I prefer advisory the way it is this year. Having less time with my advisees than last year just makes me appreciate them more.

Longer advisory

ory

Goldstein Advis

VS

ory

Berryman Advis

In all of the uncertainty that came with school and so many other aspects of my life last year, one thing was certain: I had lots of time with my advisory. Although it was a weird adjustment from the mere 20 minutes in years prior, I came to love the big block in my day that encompassed advisory time, conference and lunch.

Unlike some of my peers, I am not a person who can be productive in every small minute of every school day. The 20 minutes in advisory that I had been accustomed to from freshman and sophomore year gave me plenty of time to eat snacks, talk with my advisees, work on puzzles with them and mess around (definitely not doing homework). I can safely say I never opened my backpack during this allotted time, except maybe to show a funny video on my laptop.

I am a proud member of the Berryman advisory, and last year gave us the opportunity to get to know each other more and bond over all of life’s craziness. Having such a large block of time in the middle of the day gave us so much quality time to spend with one another, and I think every advisory has developed an elevated sense of unity and sisterhood from their experiences together.

Last year’s system of having advisory right before conference and lunch felt like having an entire free period to work on homework. Our advisory ate lunch with one another and studied together, so I still felt like I had that time with them to talk and laugh about things while enjoying some COVIDsafe SAGE food. I had the benefit of more productive work time while also advancing the bond with my advisees.

Especially with it being between the first two and last two classes of the day, advisory was optimal timing for me to both get ahead and catch up on any work I had. It made my days more consistent, routine and organized, which helped me stay on top of my work.

Returning to the older system this year of having advisory between first and second period has taught me how brief 20 minutes really is, especially when you are with such amazing people (and have a lot of work to do). In my final year at Hockaday, I need to work on enjoying every minute I get with my advisory, and I hope that in the future advisory time could be longer to allow for the same amazing bonding experiences I was able to have because of last year’s schedule.

Homecoming An exciting weekend filled with football, friends, and festivities. St. Mark’s hoco is on Oct. 23!

Fall Season Pumpkin spice and everything nice! Cool weather means comfy sweaters (and sniffles).

COVID affecting the school year Social distancing and masks are still around, but roaming outside of advisory is now allowed.

College App Season Stress is in the air with seniors getting ready to submit first rounds of applications.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

October 1, 2021 | THE FOURCAST

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Law turns neighbors into bounty hunters

23

Bill’s enforcement method unacceptable STAFF STANCE

S

enate Bill 8 went into effect in Texas on Sept 1. Known colloquially as the “heartbeat bill,” it outlaws abortion in Texas after six weeks of conception, regardless of the circumstances, and puts enforcement into the hands of their fellow citizens. We condemn this method of enforcement.

A fetal heartbeat is defined by the statute as “cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac.” This cardiac activity is usually detectable around the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy, meaning the bill almost completely bans abortion in the state.

Early on Sept. 2, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 against an emergency appeal to block the bill. However, a week later, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the Texas state government to prevent future enforcement of the bill.

The enforcement of the bill sets a new disturbing precedent for

anti-choice laws. Texas citizens are encouraged to actively enforce this law through civil action.

It is now legal, under the S.B.8 bill, for any Texas citizen to sue anyone who “aids and abets” an abortion that violates the strict parameters of the bill. The doctor who performs the procedure, the secretary who schedules the appointment, the neighbor or Uber driver who drives the patient to her procedure, all are committing a crime under the new law.

The payout minimum after being sued for this infraction is a minimum of $10,000, with no upper limit. The defendant personally pays this fine. In a case with multiple defendants, each will pay the fine.

“So a single abortion could generate tens of thousands of dollars for the bounty hunter plaintiffs delegated enforcement of this law,” said Elizabeth Sepper, a professor specializing in health law and religious liberty at the

University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, on behalf of the three Supreme Court Judges who voted to block the bill, wrote: “In effect, the Texas Legislature has deputized the State’s citizens as bounty hunters, offering them cash prizes for civilly prosecuting their neighbors’ medical procedures.”

We condemn the deputization of American citizens against those who cooperate with or further the process of an abortion after six weeks of

Fetal heartbeat bills by state, including time limit without exceptions marked: Heartbeat bill passed (to go into effect).

Law partially passed by state legislature.

Law blocked (Temporarily or permanently) by court order.

Photo Credit: User:Nice4What This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

conception. Regardless of one’s beliefs about abortion, this aspect of the bill violates the rights of private citizens and effectively deepens the divide between Americans on opposing sides of the abortion issue.

Confronting the dangers of internet stalking Fighting online harassment means taking precautions without blaming the victim

I

have always been a relatively careful person when it comes to internet security. When I first got my Instagram, I refused to use my real name as my username, only let my close friends follow me and deleted message requests from people I didn’t know. Nevertheless, as I noticed my close friends taking these risks and evading abduction, I reasoned I could take similar liberties.

If asked to rate the importance of maintaining personal information on the internet a year ago, I likely would have given it a two out of 10. I reasoned that the company collecting my data would receive an abundance of data toward general research, so information like my age or gender would not be directly attributed to me, much less have adverse consequences on my real life.

That all changed earlier this year when my mom received a call that the windows of her company’s hub in Costa Rica had been shattered.

Upon investigation, my mom

discovered that the son of an employee had shattered the windows after other employees of the company confronted him about an Instagram account, or rather, hundreds of accounts, they found directly targeting me. He had posted threats to kidnap, rape and murder me as well as detailed drawings of what he thought I looked like naked.

My mom had known about it for weeks before me, but she decided not to tell me about it until I finished my exams in May. But this had been going on since September.

As soon as my mom said the man’s name, I remembered deleting messages regularly from a user with that name. She later told me we could have used those texts as evidence in the upcoming trial. More disturbingly, his posts indicate he had been physically stalking me when I visited the house over Spring Break. Nothing matches the sheer repugnance I felt when I watched my mom, her employees and my family sift through the graphic evidence one post at a

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Anna Gum & Maddie Stout

MANAGING EDITOR Libby Hill

JADE EDITOR

Katherine Grace Estess

WEB EDITOR Elisa Carroll

COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang

BUSINESS MANAGER Olivia Garcia

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley

time. I was repulsed, humiliated, angry and horrified.

I am not going to take responsibility for the perverted actions of a psychopath, but I do acknowledge there were myriad preemptive measures I neglected.

For one, I assumed messages from strangers on line were just a part of growing up as a woman. Had I told my mom about the repeated messages, she could have helped me recognize a pattern and investigate earlier.

But let me be crystal clear that if I have garnered one thing from this experience, it is that harassment of any kind from anyone is unacceptable.

Women are frequently victimblamed for their harassment. If a boy teases a girl, he likes her. If a man catcalls her, he is complimenting her.

If he rapes her, it was because her skirt was too short.

We are not responsible for other people’s feelings. Digital harassment

NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris

PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas

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ARTS & LIFE EDITORS

Ambyr Baker

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By Haley Coleman | Guest Writer exists, and should be taken just as seriously, because these crimes have detrimental repercussions.

This experience robbed me of my sense of security on line. My parents had to scrutinize drawings of my exposed body stabbed, beaten and raped. This is not normal or flattering behavior.

I’m not alone either. According to the Women’s Media Center, one in six women will be stalked in their lifetime. Measures like noticing trends, reporting accounts and refusing to normalize early harassment can certainly help.

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. The staff reserves the right to refuse any advertising which is deemed inappropriate for the Hockaday community. Opinions will be clearly marked and/or will appear in the views section. Commentaries are the expressed opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of The Fourcast staff, its adviser or any other member of the Hockaday community. The Staff Stance on the views page reflects the position of The Fourcast staff, but not necessarily the position of the Hockaday administration or community. The Fourcast staff determines the content of each issue and strives to work as independently as possible in producing the student newspaper. Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome and should be addressed to the editor-in-chief. Only signed pieces will be published.

Corrections and clarifications from previous issues will be found as designated in the news section.

Any questions or concerns should be addressed to Editors-in-Chief Anna Gum at agum22@hockaday. org or Maddie Stout at mstout22@hockaday.org.

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24 Letters from my freshman self...

October 1, 2021

castoff

On the final day of retreat week, seniors opened their freshman letters and reminisced.

Here are some memorable passages from the letters they wrote to their future selves.

“What kind of person are you now?

Are you who you want to be?

Are you happy? Are you proud?

I really hope you are.”

-Premanshi Agarwalla

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

“I wonder if you’ve made lifelong friends. I hope you tried hard while also having fun and making memories.

-Elise Little

“I hope you still understand that it doesn’t really matter where you go to college.

It’s who you are and what you do while you’re there that matters.”

-Katherine Grace Estess

“I hope you had fun. I hope you’re a good sister and friend. And I hope you’re happy. With who you are and what you look like. Life, school, and anything else. I hope you love yourself.

I can’t right now but I know you can.”

-Cristiana Miele

By Lea Whitley Castoff Editor

Art by Veronica Fang