The Fourcast November 2020 by Hockaday Student Publications

18 SPORTS Without fans, sports teams adjust and persevere with help from parents’ FatHeads 21 OPINIONS Cloth masks or surgical masks? Staff debates new questions

04 NEWS Your World Today: Exploring dangers of human trafficking in a technology-filled world 16 FEATURES See how four masks stand up to the Fourcast candle test

THE

FOURCAST

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

November 13, 2020

Volume 71, Issue 2

A WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE

Photo illustration by Ava Berger

02 November 13, 2020

Inside the ’Cast

News 03-06

FOURWARD HockaBriefs

Catch up on the latest campus news The Athletic Board planned a Spirit Week on the week of Nov. 8 to celebrate fall sports athletes.

• 06 Learn about

Hockaday’s very own literary magazine: Vibrato

Arts & Life 07-11 • 11 Discover the

photography classes’ self-portraits

Infocus

Centerspread

• 12-13 Women

fight to gain rightful seats in Congress

Features 14-17

The Fourcast

On Nov. 3, each Middle School advisory was assigned a state and voted on the presidential candidates. Whoever won the popular vote received the respective state’s electoral votes. The final tally was 509 votes to 29 votes with Biden as the winner. The Community Service board held a Coat Drive from Oct. 1930 and a Candy Drive from Nov. 1-4 . The coats were donated to local elementary schools and the candy was donated to local homeless shelters.

The Student Diversity Board hosted a discussion about Social Media Activism on Nov. 11. Look for more information about the forum on hockadayfourcast.org

Just FOUR You

What’s coming up in the next month?

1Thanksgiving Break 2 Winter Sports Thanksgiving break is under two weeks away and this means a weeklong break! This will be a no- homework week to be enjoyed with family and friends for whom you are grateful.

Winter Sports will begin soon with plans to have an SPC tournament. Make sure you know the schedules regarding soccer, basketball, swimming and diving!

• 16 The Fourcast

tested four masks. These are the results.

Sports 18-20 • 19 Captains share favorite memories from distanced season

Opinions 21-23 • 21 Student shares view on college board policies and procedures

Castoff • 24 Check out the coolest Halloween costumes students worn to school

3 Upper School Musical 4 Coffee House The Upper School Musical, “Songs for a New World” is going to be coming out soon and will be presented on Zoom. The cast has been through many master classes with alum Victoria Clark ’78.

Fun House is happening on Nov. 14 and will have live performances, visual art, Fair games and food. It’s at 4:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater so make sure to bring your own blanket!

hockadayfourcast.org

05 Students work the polls on election day

NEWS

November 13, 2020

06 Wilson plans MLK Day

despite COVID-19 challenges

Searching for waste solutions

School works with Sage Dining to reduce lunch trash, leftovers by Remy Finn Sports Co-Editor

ith the rise of COVID-19, an increased sensitivity to the spread of germs has exacerbated a growing problem: plastic and food waste during lunch. Each day after lunch, students leave behind multiple plastic containers and uneaten food. Hillary Cox, the General Manager of SAGE Dining Services, has been implementing new ways to reduce the food and plastic waste produced. “We’ve adjusted items that we use daily, such as reusable bags versus paper bags,” Cox said. “Also, it always helps for students to rate their meal in the Touch of SAGE™ Mobile App so that we know what’s working well and can reduce food waste. We adjust food production numbers based on how popular the items are.” Like Sage, the housekeeping staff has noticed the increase in waste and the heavier workload placed on the staff as a result. With lunch serving lines placed in locations around the school, the housekeeping staff now spends more time picking up trash in each location. Carolyn Hoke, who recently retired as head of housekeeping, confirmed this increase in workload. “Because there are now satellite lunch locations, trash is generated in more places than when everyone ate in Biggs,” Hoke said. “That means

photo by Lauren Bailey

Eva Framjee and Emma Simons enjoying an outdoor lunch in Metzger Plaza.

“This is our wake-up call to change our wasteful lifestyles before the global damage supersedes any solution.” Camille Green Junior that the housekeepers, with support from maintenance, are spending several hours a day collecting trash from Lower School and Upper School lunches. In the Lower School, three to four housekeepers not only remove the full trash bags but they also make

photo by Jane Clark

Sage lunch locations help with social distancing and use plastic containers to protect food from germs.

sure the student desks are clean for afternoon classes.” Furthermore, students have recently been throwing away food waste into recycling bins, making the job even more difficult for housekeeping staff. Only clean containers can be recycled; everything else needs to go in the trash. Students can alleviate some of this workload in several ways. By consolidating their trash into the smallest footprint possible, such as putting smaller containers inside larger containers, the bulkiness of the trash will be reduced. Water bottles and milk cartons should be emptied to help lessen the weight in the trash bags, and empty water bottles can go into the recycling containers. Despite the measures the school has taken to identify and reduce waste, it is part of a larger worldwide problem. Earlier in the year, with lock-downs to reduce the spread of corona virus, worldwide demand for petroleum has drastically plummeted, thus making the production of plastic from fossil fuels cheaper than the act of recycling. While emissions of CO2 plummeted during lock-down, the concentrations of the long-lasting gas are increasing in the atmosphere. Junior Camille Green said we need to act before it is too late. “The waste that we are now producing is truly alarming,” Green said. “This is our wake up call to change our wasteful lifestyles before the global damage supersedes any solution.”

New approach to welcoming families

No-visitor rule changes H-Club process to connect applicants to school by Campbell Harris Assistant Opinions Editor

he job of H-Club members has changed as the admissions process has adapted to COVID-19 restrictions. The student ambassadors who represent the school previously led tours, helped out at admission events, hosted visiting students and assisted with various offcampus events. This year, however, H-Club implemented new channels to promote the school. Instead of visiting families at admissions events and hosting students, H-Club members will meet with applicants on Zoom before the applicant interviews, answer prospective parent questions via email and create videos for Hockaday’s social media and website. “While the regular tasks of H-Club members have shifted this year, the focus on supporting prospective families who want to know and experience the mission of Hockaday is the same,” Associate Director of Admissions Molly Averitt said. Along with H-Club jobs changing,

photo by Campbell Harris

Four H-Club team leaders hold meeting

the admissions process is changing, too. Applicant assessments and regular admissions events were moved to Zoom. While the process looks different at each grade level, the admissions staff relies on extensive testing networks, strong peer school relationships and many technical avenues to assist with these transitions. H-Club implemented the #WhyILoveHockaday campaign on Instagram and Facebook and the student ambassadors respond to parent questions via the Ask an Ambassador button on the admissions page of the

Hockaday website. However, the main channel for showing off Hockaday and H-Club’s main focus this year is the H-Club vlogs. The vlogs are short videos made by H-Club members that highlight different areas of the campus. “The vlogs are exciting because they provide H-Club with an experience that is much more collaborative than we’ve had in past years,” junior and H-Club leader Lucy Jane Roberts said. The H-Club Vlogs are videos made entirely by students to give prospective families a look into the lives of Hockaday students. The viewers will get to see different parts of the campus and how students use them in their everyday lives. They also will incorporate personal reflections different students have regarding each section of campus. “The parents will be able to see Hockaday from a lot of different perspectives and meet several different Hockadaisies with varying interests,” Roberts said. “This will help to maintain the unique experience that is an in-person tour, while also providing stories and opinions from a large

variety of students.” Additionally, an updated virtual tour was added to the admissions page on the Hockaday website. It provides a 360 degree view of places on campus including classrooms, the theater, athletic fields and the dining hall. “During this unprecedented time, the Office of Admissions goal is to ensure each family feels encouraged and supported during the admission application process,” Tiffany Nelson, director of admissions and enrollment management, said. Although COVID-19 restrictions have changed H-Club tasks and admissions, these new H-Club initiatives are designed to keep prospective families connected to the school. “My hope is that each H-Club member is able to contribute her own unique talents as we create new activities,” Averitt said. “I’m looking forward to the many ways H-Club students have already and will continue to bring forth innovative ideas in connecting with applicants and their families virtually.”

04 November 13, 2020

NEWS

YOUR WORLD TODAY

The Fourcast

A closer look at human trafficking Experts: No evidence package-delivery texts tied to pervasive problem by Erin Parolisi Web Editor “We came across a parcel from August owed to you. Please claim ownership and confirm delivery here: [link].” Starting in Aug. 2020, texts similar to this one were sent out nationally. Social media spread the idea that they were connected to sex trafficking, but agencies involved in tracing human trafficking have found no connection. All across social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, users have posted screenshots of these phishing texts and warnings about clicking the links. According to social media users, by clicking the links in these texts, human traffickers would be able to track the user and have access to their location. Several students, including senior Anna Connolly, have received similar phishing texts. But with the recent attention on social media, students have refrained from clicking the links. “I actually have received a human trafficking text,” Connolly said. “It was really scary, but I am lucky that I knew what it was and did not click the link. Some of my friends had previously received them and told me about it, and I hadn’t ordered anything via FedEx, so I was automatically suspicious.” Although this outpouring of warnings on social media has been occurring for three months, there is no evidence these text scams are related to sex trafficking. Caren Benjamin, the chief communications officer at the Polaris Project, which fights human trafficking, told USA TODAY she

“I love teaching Spanish, don’t get me wrong, but if I can teach about real life and real things that are happening in today’s world, it is way better.”

Alejandra Suarez World Languages Deparment Chair

graphic by Maddie Fisher

has not yet seen a human trafficking situation that “follows this pattern” of being tracked by a scam text. Instead, USA TODAY reported these texts are phishing scams to acquire financial information. While these texts have no association with sex trafficking, a local nonprofit agency estimates 400 teens are trafficked for sex each night in Dallas. The Dallas Observer recently reported the COVID-19 pandemic may prompt an increase in human trafficking in DFW. As more people turn to internet and social media use, human traffickers to turn to those methods to find new victims, the Observer article said. To learn more about the topic of human trafficking, Spanish and Latin American Short Fiction semester seminar, led by World Languages

Department Chair Alejandra Suarez, has been reading different short stories, including Las Medias Rojas. The story is about a girl who is being physically abused by her father and simultaneously lured into human trafficking. Additionally, they watched the Javier Bardem movie “Biutiful,” which dealt with the topic of labor trafficking in Spain. While the class is based on Spanish literature and culture, Suarez wanted to add components to the curriculum that addressed current global issues and raise awareness for them .“I want my student to know their value and I want my students to know how much they are worth,” Suarez said. “I love teaching Spanish, don’t get me wrong, but if I can teach about real life and real things that are happening in today’s

world, it is way better.” Suarez said one of her goals was to inform her students of human trafficking’s prevalance and for them to have awareness of the issue. Senior Inez Johnson said she learned about the different forms of human trafficking and how little the topic is discussed. “One of my main takeaways was how pervasive human trafficking is, and how it seems to not get talked about enough, especially in all the different ways that it exists,” Johnson said. Conolly also takes Spanish and Latin American Short Fiction and has learned the importance of educating girls about human trafficking and the way traffickers abduct people. “We live in a world where we are so privileged to not see such a dark side of the world. So, if we were to encounter it, it would be very scary,” Conolly said. “You never think something like that could happen to you or someone you know.”

Full (Hocka)House Big Sis-Lil Sis tradition expands to take in students in all four forms by Rachel Jan Staff Writer A beloved tradition, the Big Sis Lil Sis program has long been a cornerstone in welcoming freshmen to Upper School. But what about the sophomores and the juniors? This year, the Student Relations Board will implement an extension of the Big Sis Lil Sis program involving students from all four grades: HockaHouses. HockaHouses are meant to be small sub-communities within the Upper School, consisting of at least one student from each grade. This initiative builds off the Big Sis Lil Sis program. To form the houses, the Board takes Big Sis Lil Sis pairs and adds a second pairing of a junior and a sophomore, matching them through surveys before assigning them all to one house. Like advisories, this house will stay the same for all four years of high school. The program is scheduled to begin in early November. “This year, the hard work is making the [HockaHouse]

families,” Student Relations Board representative Abby Ruble said. “But after this year, the work will just be adding the freshmen, or little sis, to families in relation to who the Big Sis gets.” The Student Relations board hopes this program will improve the bonds between students in different grades, especially with girls feeling isolated or uncertain due to the pandemic. “We are all going through uncertain times, and having closeknit connections with others is very important,” Student Relations Board chair Kele Onuoha said. In addition, Ruble and Onuoha both say the program will help unite juniors and sophomores, who usually aren’t involved in the Big Sis Lil Sis program, with the rest of the student body. “A lot of times girls in these grades can only bond with other grades through certain sports or other Hockaday activities, but now we have a way everyone has easy access to those types of relationships,” Ruble said. This program also aims to solve some of the shortcomings of the Big

Sis Lil Sis program. “We noticed that for the Big Sis Lil Sis Program, many students enjoyed it as freshman, but were upset that they wouldn’t cross paths with it until senior year,” Onuoha said. “Others never even got to encounter this wonderful program.” With the new HockaHouse program, students will have a support system from other grades all four years of their time in Upper School. In addition, HockaHouse will give Big Sis Lil Sis pairs more opportunities to do activities together. Initially, Student Relations planned in-person activities for the houses like group lunches, but with social-distancing measures, they now have to be more creative in incorporating all students, including distance-learners. “We have some fun ideas like mass trivia games, Kahoots, best TikTok creation, dance battles, best costumes and many more fun things on our Instagram,” Onuoha said. “Although all these are still in the works, we hope we can implement

them soon.” While this new program will be a bit tedious to carry out at first, the Student Relations board is hopeful for the program’s impact and role in Upper School. Already, students are looking forward to the program. “I’m really excited to see what we’re going to do in HockaHouse,” junior Emily Estes said. “I think it will be a fun experience for everyone.” Onuha said other students shared the same thoughts in a survey sent a few weeks ago about HockaHouse. “We have received mostly positive feedback,” Onuoha said. “After I reviewed the survey I noticed that many people were just as excited to have this program in school as we were.” Students with questions or suggestions regarding the program can reach out to Kele Onuoha (KONUOHA21@hockaday.org), Caitlin Katz (CKATZ21@hockaday. org), Abby Ruble (ARUBLE22@ hockaday.org) and Emma Estrada (EESTRADA23@hockaday.org).

NEWS

hockadayfourcast.org

November 13, 2020

Bringing in the vote

Checking in

Students get involved in registration, working polls by Caroline Petrikas Staff Writer

tudents immersed themselves in the 2020 election by working polls and organizing voter registration drives. Sophomores Josie Agnew and Caraday Martin, junior Eleanor Lockart and senior Mia Xia were among those who fulfilled their civic responsibility, even though some were not old enough to vote. Texas allows students at least 16 years old to serve as county election clerks. Agnew, Lockhart and Martin organized the polling locations before they opened and closed, ensured qualified voters were permitted to vote, checked in voters, distributed ballots and processed these votes. “I can’t vote so this is the only thing I can do to help move the election forward,” Lockhart said. “If I can do anything to make voting easier, even if it means working 13 hours, I’m happy to do it.” Beginning work at 6:30 a.m. and ending 13 and a half hours later at 8 p.m., Lockhart did just that. She managed the ballot box, approved voter IDs and gave registered voters their ballots. She said she really enjoyed it because it was fast-paced and felt like an important job. “It felt like a lot of responsibility to be giving to a 17-year-old, but I’m not complaining,” Lockhart said. Likewise, Agnew couldn’t vote but still wanted to contribute to the election. Partnering with her sister, Harper Clouston ‘15, Agnew checked people in and helped anyone who requested assisted voting, which required her to bring the voting equipment outside to them. Agnew said her favorite part was meeting all the other workers that day. “It was clear some of us shared opposing views while others shared similar ones, but at the end of the day we were all there to help with an election that holds a very high importance in our lives, and we bonded over that,” Agnew said. Like Agnew, Martin’s goal was to help all the voters, regardless of their political affiliation, so she loved seeing her impact reflected in Texas’ voter turnout. “Our goal is to help people,” Martin said. “We want to help them use their voice so we exhaust every option allowing them to vote.” At her station, Martin served as the poll monitor the whole day. She scanned voters’ license or other forms of photo ID, provided additional forms and administered ballots. Because she is 18, Xia was able to vote; however, she said civic responsibility doesn’t end there and continued to immerse herself in the election to increase voter turnout. She partnered with the League of Women voters of Dallas and Hockaday volunteers to organize a voter registration drive North Dallas.

with

Hillary Cox Sage General Manager by Jane Clark Staff Writer

Q A

How is Sage adjusting this year?

photos courtesy of Josie Agnew

Agnew joins fellow sophomore Alexandra Crosnoe, left, and her sister Harper Clouston ‘15 report to their polling station at Hillcrest High School.

SAGE has adjusted well, and we’re doing everything we can to keep the entire community safe. Our team members complete training in COVID-19 safety precautions, get their temperature checked and health screened every day, wear face masks and gloves while preparing and serving food and maintain physical distancing. We developed a unique menu and service style based on what works best for the Hockaday community, and we’re continuing to improve as we get more feedback.

Q A

How is the lunch menu selected?

photo courtesy of Eleanor Lockhart

Eleanor Lockhart shares a donut with one of her fellow poll workers.

“Our goal is to help people. We want to help them use their voice so we exhaust every option allowing them to vote.”

Q A

How long does meal preparation take, and how many staff members are involved in the process?

We have a team of 21 people producing lunch and serving at the stations. Preparation and packaging take at least eight hours, depending on which items we’re preparing for that day.

Caraday Martin Sophomore They set up outside Wesley Rankin Community Center on Oct. 3, the last day for voter registration in Texas. Her biggest challenge was not knowing how many people would come. It took awhile for the drive to pick up momentum, but turnout gradually increased as awareness spread, Xia said. Originally people were at the center to pick up their kids, but as the event continued, people began to show up just to register. Xia estimated they helped register around 40 people. In addition, she worked at a phone bank with March for Our Lives to register voters and inform them

Our SAGE team puts together the menu daily, while following guidelines and SAGE standards. We create a 12-week menu cycle that repeats four times through. Once that’s completed, we start a new menu cycle. When we update menus, we focus on the favorite foods at Hockaday, using our food production records, student feedback, and ratings in the Touch of SAGE™ Mobile App.

Q A

How are students being fed compared to last year?

photo provided by Josie Agnew

Eager to begin work, Agnew shows her excitement outside her polling location on election day.

about the upcoming election. “I got involved because I believe your voice as a constituent is so important in government and especially in a democracy,” Xia said. “It is your responsibility to make a tangible change.”

To make sure we could prepare and serve meals safely, we had to limit the number of food selections daily, but we chose menu items we could make at a high level of quality and that the community would enjoy. It’s been an adjustment, but we’ve adapted and are constantly making improvements to give Hockaday the best possible dining experience.

06 November 13, 2020

NEWS

The Fourcast

All about Vibrato

Literary magazine staff works to showcase student talent by Libby Hill Photo Editor

ave you seen the variety of posters, some mirroring a Hamilton poster others featuring a cute fluffy dog, around the Upper School hallways? These are brought to the Upper School courtesy of the Vibrato staff, a group of Upper School students who review the many forms of work submitted to them to create a literary magazine each year. Submissions include photos, art, literature and other media such as video and music files. Students’ work is judged anonymously, and the only attachment of identification to their work is their Student ID number so that it can be connected back to the student later in the process. Staff members consider each work by viewing it on a screen and discussing its merits. Junior Leena Mehendale, a Vibrato editor-in-chief, said the staff takes care to be respectful when reviewing work. “Although it seems harsh critiquing and reviewing other students’ work, the entire Vibrato staff treats each and every submitted piece with the utmost respect, reviewing as if the author was in the room (which oftentimes she is),” Mehendale said. Junior Seera Sohal said submitting

Junior Leena Mehendale and Vibrato staff at work.

her own poetry to Vibrato was exciting, but she was unsure whether it would be published. Both times she submitted, her poems were included in the magazine. “The sensation was equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking,” Sohal said, “like the feeling you get on a roller coaster as it slowly ascends before coming to a halt. You know what will happen next, but you still can’t help but feel a little unsure.” Vibrato staff members often submit their own work to be reviewed, and their peers review that work in the same way while the creator of the art or media is in the room. Sophomore

photo by Libby Hill

staff member Lillian Rubarts said she was able to give it a shot and submit her own work anonymously. “I think that sending my work to Vibrato is a step in the right direction to breaking out of my shell,” Rubarts said. “I know and am comfortable with Vibrato since I am part of the class, but it is still quite nerve-wracking because my staffmates are judging my work. Plus, it does feel extremely rewarding to have my teammates praise my work without knowing it’s me, which pushes me to work even harder!” The staff chooses a theme in September, and they use it throughout

MLK celebration reimagined

the year to help organize and set the tone of the magazine. “The theme does not decide what goes in the book, rather it is just an idea of what kind of experience we want the readers to have when they read it,” senior Doris Zhang, one of three editors-in-chief this year, said. “It informs our choice of colors, designs and layouts.” A unique aspect of Vibrato is the lack of a prerequisite class before being on staff, which means freshmen are able to be in the class. Newspaper and yearbook require Introduction to Journalism before becoming a staff member. “I wish people knew about how special and unique the magazine is to Hockaday’s community,” Mehendale said. “It truly is a showcase of all the special talents that Hockaday students possess, which is absolutely incredible! The sheer number of authors and artists in our community is immense, and I truly wish that the student body had the chance to appreciate this more.” Junior and fellow editor-in-chief Catherine Stidham said being on the staff is rewarding in itself. “It’s a super fun and talented group of people!” Stidham said. “We enjoy collaborating and hearing new ideas to incorporate into our magazine. We are open-minded, creative and are excited to see Vibrato take form.”

Diversity director Wilson plans virtual service day event by Zoe Cote Staff Writer In 2016, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Tresa Wilson introduced Hockaday’s first Martin Luther King Day Celebration, launching the festivities with keynote speakers, student performers, and the upper school choir, even flying in choir specialist Dr. Raymond Wise. This year, Wilson is working to reimagine the event virtually. Taking place in January 2021, the event will include a visiting scholar program in which students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the keynote speaker and discuss events surrounding King’s legacy and racial injustices in the United States today. “It’ll probably be a Zoom session, of course, where you can have an in-depth conversation about the keynote,” Wilson said. In planning this year’s event, Wilson is focused on virtual community-building and maintaining an emotional-visual experience via Zoom. Wilson said she asks herself, “How do I encapsulate the experience virtually? How can I deliver that again? How can I hug my community?’ Wilson and the planning committee of division heads secured a keynote speaker for this year as early as last February. They have begun communicating with the student body about the event through the annual nomination survey where students can nominate themselves and other students as performers to be “talentscouted” by Wilson. Envisioned by former Eugene

McDermott Headmistress Liza Lee, the event was created to incorporate all students and faculty into one celebration of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. Inspired by the Columbus School for Girls in Ohio and Wises’s work in their annual MLK assembly, Lee asked Wilson to coordinate and plan an event unique to Hockaday to include all grade levels. Wilson said she got to work and planned the celebration with King’s legacy of community in mind, threading themes of sisterhood and non-violence throughout the event. She also strove to show a more personal side of Dr. King, intentionally including more images and stories from his life for the audience to relate to him more personally, rather than as a revered Civil Rights champion. “I wanted to share a little more about him in unique ways,” Wilson said. “That’s why you see more pictures of him now living his life, not just the march. We’ve included pictures of him with his children, reading Gandhi, so you really start to see him as a man. My favorite photo is his graduation picture from high school and he’s in a cap and gown.” Wilson enlisted the Hockaday choir and Wise to help her plan the event, aiming to elicit emotional, auditory, and visual reactions from the audience, “hitting all the senses,” as Wilson said. “[Dr. Raymond Wise] taught them 2-3 songs in 30 minutes,” Wilson said. “By the end he was sweating and pulling off his coat and vest. Hearing the choir sing - I’ll never forget it Terry Murray told me he cried.” Senior Shayle Cruz has sung in the

event since 8th grade and said she loves watching it come together each year. “Any performance that would’ve been a big group of people might have to be filmed and coordinated before the assembly since we’re not allowed to sing inside, so maybe Ms. Wilson is planning on doing more individual performances instead” Cruz said. “I honestly have no idea what she has planned, but I’m super excited to see how everything will work out!” In the six years since its conceptualization, the schoolwide celebration has become a staple of student life every January, giving girls a full day to honor MLK and acknowledge his work toward achieving racial equality and peace during the Civil Rights Movement. One of Wilson’s favorite praises from the assembly was a parent who told her how upset her third grade student was because her parent had scheduled a doctor’s appointment during the MLK assembly. In the words of the student, “Mom, this is the day I look forward to every year.” In the event’s fourth year, Dr. Karen Warren Coleman, Eugene McDermott Head of School, suggested combining Hockaday’s Day X, a previously separate OneHockaday event before holiday break in December, and MLK Day into one day of service. Institute for Social Impact Director Laura Day stepped into the picture to begin incorporating service. The intent for MLK Day of Service was to honor King through selfless acts of service, bettering the community in King’s legacy, Day said. “We hoped to have the school come together around things that matter

to us as a school community,” Day said. “The effort was to bring students together to do social impact.” Students from all divisions meet in their OneHockaday groups every year to collaborate on a service project such as painting panels for a Habitat House or folding origami for the NGO Paper for Water. While considering a collaborative project for all ages in the first year, Day came up with the idea of painting the structural wallboards for the Hockaday Habitat House. Students painted more than 30 boards, adding a personal touch for the new homeowners. The following year, the school participated in Paper for Water, a national non-profit founded by two sisters who fold and sell origami to fundraise for wells in Kenya. The school folded more than 2,000 pieces of origami which were sold by Paper for Water and to fund 2020 well construction. “We have done a ton of good,” Day said. “We provided colorful walls for many homes and were able to help raise $5,000 to aid the building of a well in Kenya.” Cruz said her favorite part of the MLK Day of Service is the community building that is reinforced each year. “As cheesy as it is, the most memorable thing I’ve taken from the assemblies is how strong our community is,” Cruz said. “Seeing everyone from all of the divisions come together to make the event happen, and then doing community service after is super rewarding and really shows how close the community is.”

hockadayfourcast.org

09 Kelsey Chen reviews Foxtrot Market cafe

November 13, 2020

ARTS & LIFE

10 Putting old

clothes back on the market

photo provided by Premanshi Argawalla

The New/Gen Club members meet on Zoom for their first club meeting. The club promotes women’s causes through social media campaigns.

Students campaign for change

Agarwalla creates Hockaday chapter of women’s advocacy group by Lacy Green Sports Co-Editor In the current political climate, women’s rights have been a prevalent topic across the country. One way students around the country are involving themselves in these discussions is through a woman’s advocacy organization called New/ Gen, focused on social media. Junior Premanshi Agarwalla recently helped found Hockaday’s chapter. “The first time I heard about New/Gen was when my friend started a chapter at her high school,” Agarwalla said. “I instantly became interested, especially because I had already observed the power of social media activism over the summer and feminism was a topic that I was always interested in, but never had an outlet to express.” The organization has chapters spread across multiple regions of the United States. Each region’s leadership team is composed of graphic designers, journalists, outreach directors, editors, research analysts, social media managers and website managers who come together to run New/Gen Hockaday’s social media accounts. After some initial research, she put together a plan to bring this organization to the Hockaday community. Keeping in mind the main goal of New/Gen, Agarwalla and the club’s leadership team wanted to tailor the club to the

school’s needs. “Our mission is to create a community where Hockaday girls can share their thoughts and opinions regarding women’s rights issues while advocating what they believe in,” Agarwalla said. Other Upper School students have involved themselves with New/

“We’re arguably one of the most active chapters and I definitely see a lot of potential for this organization as its own entity at Hockaday.” Premanshi Argawalla New/Gen Regional Director Gen, including senior Valentina Akhtar, who serves as the treasurer and research analyst for the club. As treasurer, Akhtar manages the club’s funds and donations, helps plan meetings and communicates with Genesis Women’s Shelter to see how New/Gen can be of assistance. As research analyst, she fact checks and reviews all the group’s social media posts, which are created by sophomore Emily Santos. “I got involved in New/Gen because I am a strong proponent of

women’s rights and I believe there is always more to be done to create a more just, equal world,”Akhtar said. Santos serves as the graphic designer for New/Gen Hockaday. In her role, she creates informational graphics to accompany the club’s Instagram posts and website articles. “Before making a graphic, I make sure to research and educate myself about the topic as much as I can by looking at all different views and perspectives,” Santos said. While Agarwalla, Akhtar, and Santos have different roles, they all mesh their ideas and creative talents together, along with the rest of the New/Gen Hockaday

Team, to provide a progressive women’s advocacy club. The club leaders encourage anyone in the community to bring forward issues they feel should be brought to light. Students can stay in the loop by following the Instagram account @newgenhockaday and visiting the website newgen0.org. “Honestly, we’ve really taken the general idea of New/Gen and made it our own at Hockaday,” Agarwalla said. “We’re arguably one of the most active chapters and I definitely see a lot of potential for this organization as its own entity at Hockaday.”

08 November 13, 2020

ARTS AND LIFE

The Fourcast

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Malakoff’s ceramics win awards by Julia Donovan Castoff Editor

eeks of working with clay and glaze paid off for Isabel Malakoff in the form of blue ribbons from the Texas State Fair. Winning three prominent awards on Sept. 25, Malakoff won first place for both the decorated ceramics and textured glaze category and second place for the controlled glaze category. “My parents encouraged me to participate because they love what I’ve done in ceramics and thought it would be a cool experience,” Malakoff said. “I love those pieces. I was so surprised and proud of how they turned out that when I saw there was an opportunity to see what others thought of them I thought, ‘why not?’ and submitted them.” Kevin Brady, Malakoff’s ceramics teacher, views the contest as an opportunity to share art and be recognized on a statewide scale. Every year the Texas State Fair has a large crafts and fine arts competition for all age groups to participate for a possible award. “It is a really big deal, as it is open to all of Texas,” Brady said. “It is too bad that we could not attend the fair this year and see her work on exhibit.” Inspired by natural elements around her, Malakoff chose to enter

into the glazed clay and decorated ceramics categories. Even though she had a general plan for how to create her pieces, Malakoff experimented and changed her mind throughout the process. Malakoff won a first place ribbon in the decorated ceramics category with her mountain platter. The piece was built of clay coils that attached to the bottom of a platter. Then on top of the platter, she sculpted a multitude of clay mountains which took hours to individually attach to the platter. The piece took her the longest, a total of three months. “The mountain platter was my play on the connection between the altitude of the mountains versus the depths of the ground,” Malakoff said. “The platter part is glazed in a dark green and blue to symbolize the land and ocean. The mountains are elevated and on the sides of the platter, and I did not glaze them. I wanted to highlight the natural beauty of elevation.” Her second first place award in the textured glaze category was a sculpted tray which took her a month and a half to create. The tray was carved into with different tools to create “L” shapes. “The tray I created was inspired by dirt,” Malakoff said. “There are all these different consistencies and treasures inside dirt, yet people always disregard dirt as gross. I used these black and white lines to

photo provided by Elizabeth Malakoff

Isabel Malakoff and ceramics teacher Kevin Brady display Malakoff’s ceramics pieces and the ribbons she won in the Texas State Fair contest.

represent the wonders that can be found within the natural world.” Finally, Malakoff’s bowl, which took her a month to make, won second place in the controlled glaze category. “The bowl I created was honestly my first attempt at using wax resist,” Malakoff said. “Wax resist is what I use when I want to keep the clay in its natural state and not use any glaze on it at all. I was inspired by the richness of my favorite glaze called root beer. I wanted to pair the root beer glaze and no glaze together because I love the way they contrast each other.” Malakoff decided to submit her projects this summer. She filed paperwork and turned all her pieces into the State Fair of Texas on Sept.

9. From there, a panel of judges reviewed her three pieces. Malakoff said her mom, Elizabeth, has always supported her artistic abilities and dedication to her work. “Isabel has enjoyed ceramics classes at Hockaday since freshman year, and finds her time in the studio a great opportunity to disconnect from screens and schoolwork and work with her hands,” Elizabeth said. “She has sculpted many beautiful pieces and I think she is quite talented at using glaze to create texture, color contrast and depth in her work. I am very proud of her for entering the Creative Arts competition and having her ceramics pieces judged by other artists in the community.”

Kicking off the drill season

Team changes practice routine with health guidelines in mind

by Melody Hu Staff Writer Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, 28 girls spread out across the tennis courts outside Penson. They are the Hockaday Drill Team. Started by senior Elizabeth Roosevelt and juniors Anne Rubi and Elise Little, the team’s goal is to boost school spirit while giving girls a chance to enjoy dance. “We wanted to create an opportunity for girls to dance at Hockaday in a team-like setting,” Little said. Roosevelt, Rubi and Little started the team last year when they noticed that most schools around Hockaday had drill teams. Many of their friends from their dance studio were a part of these teams at their schools, so they were inspired to start one at Hockaday. “It opens up a new type of dance that hasn’t been ever offered at Hockaday,” Rubi said. Within the team, there are sister groups, usually consisting of one member from each grade. The sister groups form a tighter bond within the team. The leadership team also has expanded past the three captains. This year, the social media chair is senior Aasha Ardilla, the merchandise chair is junior Claire Cahoon, the secretary is junior

photo by Annie Herring

The drill team practices on the tennis courts in the morning, spread out to maintain social distancing.

Abigail Willingham and the social chair is senior Anna Connolly. To start the team, the three founders worked out the logistics with teachers and administration. This year, the captains met with members of the Hockaday community to plan how they would approach the season with COVID-19 in mind. They met with performing arts teachers for advice on how to run their auditions. This year, the team held auditions virtually over the summer. Students were asked to learn and record a short dance and send in a video of turns and kicks. The captains also brought in a dance

teacher from their studio to help with auditions. In addition, they first worked with Dr. Tiffani Kocsis, Assistant Head of Upper School, and Deb Surgi, Director of Athletics, to discuss how the team would function this year. The team then made adjustments to their dance routines, practices, and performance. One of the defining factors of drill teams are the kicklines. Dancers link up with each other, shoulder to shoulder, and kick in unison. This year, all of the kicklines were taken out of the dances, and more jazz choreography that did not require physical contact was added in.

Practices and performances will also be different this year. To social distance more effectively, the practices have been moved from the Beth Wortley Dance Studio to the tennis courts. “During typical practices, we usually start by stretching as a team, individually, or in our sister groups. Then, we go over what we learned last practice and start learning more.” Roosevelt said. All of the performances will be pre-recorded for events. The distance learners will be edited into these videos. The team plans on recording videos for different pep rallies and senior nights. The team released their first performance for a Move it Monday on Nov. 2.

Scan to see the performance.

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REVIEWS

A disenchanting rendition ‘Witches’ remake fails to cast spell on viewers by Zoya Haq Staff Writer

If you have watched Anjelica Huston’s infamous rendition of Roald Dahl’s “The Witches” and are looking forward to the 2020 version recreating the same terrifying thrills and gruesome gags, let me tell you ahead of time: don’t get your hopes up. “The Witches”, streaming on HBO Max after a forced transition from the box office to the small screen, came out on Oct. 22 with a stellar cast including Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Kristin Chenoweth. The movie, based on Dahl’s best selling children’s novel of the same name, attempts to revisit the chilling cinematic experience of Anjelica Huston’s 1990 film, but falls short in a number of ways. Despite its multimillion dollar budget, “The Witches” lacks a certain factor that cemented its earlier rendition in young viewer’s minds: memorability. Sure, it’s enjoyable enough - if you’re looking for a fun weekend excuse to pop some popcorn, go right ahead - but if what you’re seeking is a meaningful ode to one of Roald Dahl’s most lasting novels, then this is not your movie. Right off the bat, director Robert Zemeckis (“Back to the Future,” “Forrest Gump”) takes some creative liberties in his retelling of the story. Rather than being set in 1980s England, the movie takes place in 1960s Alabama, with a young AfricanAmerican boy as its protagonist. This

transition in time and place doesn’t really detract from the essence of the story - that job instead lies in the hands of the lackluster script and disappointing world-building. Zemeckis’ refurbished story details the life of an unnamed protagonist, dubbed simply The Boy, struggling in the aftermath of his parents’ passing under a backdrop of the 1960s South. The Boy moves in with his warm grandmother, who tells him a story about “the witches” — creatures disguised as women who despise children and want to turn them into mice. As the fragmented storyline progresses, The Boy and his grandmother move to a fancy hotel, where they encounter a coven of these witches, led by the Grand High Witch (Hathaway). Magical visuals and chilling animation abound as The Boy struggles to escape the clutches of the fearsome women. Rather than holding true to the underlying vein of horror that courses through Dahl’s stories, Zemeckis’ retelling attempts to butter up young fans, losing its uniquely terrifying flair in the process. I finished the movie feeling like something was off. Dahl’s distinctive charm, a reminder of childhood yore, was gapingly missing; not even the dramaticized CGI or blockbuster cast could fill the hole that it left behind. However, to completely denounce the movie would be to overlook the bewitching performances of Hathaway and Spencer. Stepping into

photo by Kelsey Chen

What made this sandwich stellar was the turmeric aioli. Its earthy flavor elevated the turkey, bringing bold flavors to an otherwise lackluster stack of meat. When I got home, I heated the sandwich in the oven, and the sourdough was perfectly crispy. The crunchiness paired well with the creaminess of the avocado and goat cheese, creating a new layer of textures. I’m also a big fan of avocado, so I loved how Foxtrot was very generous with it. Every bite had a bit of that smoothness, making the Roasted Turkey No. 1 a great choice for avocado-lovers. The to-go service was also amazing; it was super fast even though I didn’t order in advance. Although it was during the lunch rush on a Friday, I was able to order and checkout in five minutes. So if you’re on the go, I would definitely recommend grabbing the pre-made meals from Foxtrot.

ON THE

RECORD by Katherine Grace Estess Assistant News Editor

photo provided by Empireonline.com

the role of the unnamed protagonist’s loving grandmother, Spencer fully commits to the performance, tapping into her telltale eccentric flair to bring her character to new heights. Meanwhile, Hathaway definitely ups the fear factor as she plays The Grand High Witch, baring her jagged teeth with a chilling smile in one of the most memorable scenes of the movie. Overall, “The Witches” is a fun family movie to get into the Halloween spirit. Despite the lack of balance between traditional horror elements and kid-friendly standards, “The Witches” is definitely not boring, and under the influence of a fallscented candle and mug of hot cocoa, you’ll certainly be spellbound.

Snider Plaza combines cafe and convenience store into one

Don’t be fooled by the label “convenience store.” While Foxtrot Market does sell ice cream, snacks and baguettes, the store also features coffee, pastries, superfood smoothies and meals. For to-go, I grabbed the Roasted Turkey No. 1, one of their signature premade sandwiches. Initially, I didn’t have high hopes because I’m not a fan of cold sandwiches, but since this was their most popular, I had to try it. And WOW! Foxtrot’s Roasted Turkey No. 1 is my new favorite sandwich. The sandwich was the perfect balance between novel and traditional. It brought new flavor profiles with the goat cheese and pea shoots, but also stayed true to the classic turkey sandwich with tomato, avocado and of course, turkey.

‘Love Goes’ by Sam Smith

Trotting to Foxtrot Market by Kelsey Chen Jade Editor

November 13, 2020

The Full Fox sandwich, on the other hand, fell flat in comparison to the Roasted Turkey, which was surprising considering it was a fresh-made sandwich. The bacon was a bit too salty for me, and coupled with the cheddar, it overpowered the sandwich. Since the sandwich was a fresh-made meal, it took about 20 minutes before it came out, so I would not recommend getting this sandwich if you’re in a rush. The Full Fox is also a heavier meal, especially with the hash brown, so I would only get this if you’re feeling extra hungry. However, I was a big fan of the zhoug, a spicy herb sauce that paired well with the baked eggs and helped balance the flavor of the bacon. Additionally, I liked how the chewy texture of the kale complemented the fluffy brioche. Foxtrot’s Snider Plaza location is also a great place to study. The natural light coming in the 10-foot tall windows, accompanied by the hanging plants, created a relaxed ambiance. There were outlets at almost every table, and the noise level was perfect; there was just enough chatter so you didn’t feel alone, but it wasn’t so loud that you couldn’t get any work done. Foxtrot Market is so much more than an upscale convenience store. Beyond the mini aisles near the checkout line, Foxtrot is a study spot, a cafe and most of all, a great restaurant.

Pop sensation Sam Smith’s new album “Love Goes” proves aggressively mediocre. Released Oct. 30, this is Smith’s third studio album. They had been writing and recording this work for the past two years. While Smith has been famous throughout their career for weaving in themes of loss of love and the love of others, this album, emerging post-breakup, plays with the discovery and love of self. Although Smith seems to mature and explore new philosophical motifs, they stay true to the silky soulful characteristics of their voice that have brought them fame.

photo provided by Wikipedia

In the opening track, “Young,” Smith introduces the album with an upbeat song about wanting to shed their responsibilities and be wild and free. With multiple featured artists on the album like Calvin Harris, Demi Lovato and Labrinth, there are a myriad of tempos and beats ranging from upbeat and bouncy on the bonus track “Promises (feat. Calvin Harris)” to mellow ballads like “Love Goes (feat. Labrinth).” Another thread subtly woven through the album follows Smith’s struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. Speaking out about their mental health battle has been of paramount importance to Smith. They credit their fame for giving them a platform to spread awareness and help erase the stigmas around mental health. The album is successful overall without being a smashing triumph like some of their hits previous in their career. While I thought some of their songs were playlist worthy, most of the tracks were more of a miss than a hit considering how phenomenal some of their previous works have been. Die-hard Smith fans would probably enjoy this album and most of its songs, but mid-level enthusiasts should probably stick to the classics.

10 November 13 , 2020

ARTS & LIFE

The Fourcast

Not leaving old clothes in the closet Upper School students make money while getting rid of castoffs by Lea Whitley Social Media and Video Editor Junior Abigail Willingham digs through the bottom of her dresser drawers, pulling out old T-shirts, running shorts, sweaters and jeans. Laying the items neatly on her bed, she takes photos of them and posts the photos to a variety of online selling apps. Then she waits for the notifications to roll in. Online selling apps like Poshmark, Depop and Facebook Marketplace provide spaces for anyone to sell new or gently used items to buyers around the world. They advertise as user-friendly, but is making money on them truly that easy? Riley Carter sells workout clothes, jewelry, shoes and jeans on the app Poshmark. “I sell to make quick money and get rid of clothes I don’t use as much to buy new ones,” Carter said. “It really helps me save money.” Carter gets the most business selling Lululemon brand workout clothes, and she notes that selling

‘You can sell anything really. There is always someone on the app looking for what you’re selling.’ Viviana Armendariz Sophomore

items from less popular brands can become complicated since they often do not show up on a buyers’ feed. “Sometimes the market is very unreliable and there aren’t buyers at the time,” Carter said. “It can be really inconsistent but normally the clothes all end up selling, it can just take a little while.” Sophomore Viviana Armendariz began selling clothes on Depop after hearing about her friends’ success on the app. Armendariz was especially attracted by the idea of making extra money on the side to feel less guilty about buying new clothes. “You can sell anything really. There is always someone on the app looking for what you’re selling,” Armendariz said. “I think usually photo by Viviana Armendariz shirts sell better, but I’ve never sold Viviana Armendariz packages items for a lucky buyer. two of the same item.” Armendariz sends packages “I really like using Facebook through USPS and said her only Marketplace to sell my old Ivivva issue has been getting to the post workout clothes and other clothes office during the school week for I’ve grown out of,” Willingham said. the fastest shipping to ensure “I feel like people don’t know about customer satisfaction. it and definitely should!” Overall, Armendariz Willingham specifically likes recommends Depop despite a few using Facebook because the app cons. groups sellers with buyers looking “Paypal and Depop take their for the specific items they sell. own portion of my sales which is Willingham notes that this makes frustrating, but it’s a really easy clothes easier to sell quickly. buying and selling process that can “I was definitely overwhelmed ship to anyone,” Armendariz said. when I started selling clothes “The convenience factor definitely online,” Willingham said. “Once you makes it worth it.” find the right app for what you are Willingham sells her old clothes photo by Riley Carter selling though, it becomes a super using Facebook Marketplace, where Riley Carter delivers packages to be easy way to make money without you can buy or sell new and used shipped to buyers too much work.” items locally or from businesses.

Out with the old, in with the shoes by Kate Clark Managing Editor

Saddle oxfords have left the building. Stylish kicks are strolling in. Next time you are walking the hallway, look down and see all the comfort and fashion your classmates are sporting this year. In a back-to-school email in July, Upper School head Lisa Culbertson said athletic shoes are not only encouraged but “should be worn.” This is to limit the number of bags brought to school andw to minimize the need to use locker rooms for P.E. or sports practices.

‘My shoes provide a lot ‘It shows a lot about of support through a my personality, and, thin carbon plating in ‘I like to wear funky not to mention, it shoes because our shoes the sole. Additionally, helps my back more my favorite color is are one of the only parts than the saddle red, so I really love my of our uniform that oxfords.’ sneakers.’ we can use to express ourselves.’ Sara Mangelsdorf Senior

Minje Kwun Junior

Graydon Paul Senior

‘Since I have a knee injury, the saddle oxfords made the pain worse. So wearing these shoes helps.’ Eva Balogun Senior

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ARTS & LIFE

Scenes from

Fine art, other influences inspire unique self-portraits

November 13, 2020

Photography

by Lea Whitley Social Media and Video Editor

dvanced Photography students were assigned to create self-portraits, either basing their photos on a famous photograph or using their own inspiration. “I love how everyone’s photos turned out so different,” sophomore Alexandra Weinmister said. Junior Katanu Ndambuki used her tripod to recreate the paintings Two Women at a Window by Bartolomé Murillo and Sistine Madonna by Raphael. “Since I was in both pictures I had to create a steady set-up that had the right focus, the right shutter speed and the right amount of lighting,” Ndambuki said. Her goal was to give the pictures a dark vibe while editing in Photoshop. “Overall, I am very happy with my final results and how my pictures turned out,” she said.

Lauren Roach ‘23 took her first photo by placing her mirror on the ground in her backyard and the second by setting up a tripod in her bathroom. Although she took subtle inspiration from various photos shown in class, she added unique twists of her own while editing in Photoshop. Roach said she was happy with her work, but felt she could have made her photos better with more time.

Alexandra Weinmister ‘23 was inspired by her photography teacher, Janet Yoshii, to create her self-portraits. She focused the camera on herself while using a tripod. “I had to change the lighting scheme many times to get it right,” Weinmister said. She edited the black-and-white effects with Photoshop and said she was proud of how the portraits turned out.

In senior Sophia Foster’s two photos, she wanted to recreate a modern depiction of the Renaissance painting Girl With a Pearl Earring and a Vogue cover of Madonna. For the painting recreation, Foster used a tripod and a window for natural light. To recreate the Madonna cover, she took a selfie with a skin softener effect and added words through Photoshop. “I think that considering Madonna and I look nothing alike, I did my best,” she said.

12 November 13, 2020

IN FOCUS

The Fourcast

CRACKING THE

Obstacles women face

omen make up 50.8 percent Crow of teh YOung Republicans. “You often of the U.S. population, yet see women politicians trying to portray they hold only 127 of the 535 themselves as really strong, as if they have to seats of Congress—26 in the make up for something.” Senate and 101 in the House The idea that women have to prove of Representatives. themselves stems from the stereotype that These numbers from the U.S. Census do not women are intrinsically kind and overly ref lect those elected in the 2020 election but emotional, while men are assertive and not yet sworn in. ambitious. As well as sexist, this stereotype Female representation is not a new issue; is largely hypocritical. While women are men have dominated the U.S. government condemned for not having the necessary and presidency since its establishment. And “masculine traits” to lead, they are labeled as while the success of female candidates in the rude or unlikable when they do display those 2020 elections marks significant progress, characteristics. representation remains relevant. Even In a 2018 leadership study by Pew Social today, though the United States Congress Trends, a quarter of the assessed adults said has a historically high number of female being assertive and ambitious mostly hurts a representatives, it still fails to meet the global woman’s chance of getting ahead in politics average of a 24.1 percent female Parliament, and business, while 70 percent said the same according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. traits would mostly help a man’s chances. America’s history has set a precedent for American author Rebecca Traister today’s malecommented dominated these “You often see women politicians on government. discrepancies. Club leaders trying to portray themselves as “It’s worth from the women’s asking to what really strong, as if they have to rights advocacy degree charisma, group New/Gen make up for something.” as we have Hockaday, the defined it, is a —Sarah Crow Young Democrats masculine trait,” affinity club, Traister wrote. and the Young Republicans affinity club “Can a woman appeal to the country in the considered the impact America’s political same way we are used to men doing it?” history has had on today’s political Looking beyond America’s history and atmosphere. voters’ internalized sexism, legislation also “I think the root of the issue is our history,” factors into the lack of female politicians. said Premanshi Agarwalla of New/Gen. “In Over half the world has established a the history of many nations across the world, gender quota in their governing bodies, the role of women has been more about being according to the International Institute at home and less in positions of power in for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. society.” These quotas are designed to recruit women Centuries of a male-led political scene have into politics and make sure women are key normalized the stereotype that women belong elements in political life, whether through in the home and men belong in government. a critical minority or reserved seats. The “It’s just sort of this image of a man as a United States, on the other hand, lacks any leader versus a woman as a follower and how sort of legislation to directly address underwomen have taken a back seat over the past representation of women in politics. 250 years of American politics,” said Annie Despite these obstacles — a lack of Herring of the Young Democrats. supportive legislation, misogyny, America’s These stereotypes present a number of political history — women are still managing obstacles for female candidates. They impede to work their way onto the ballot. That said, women from getting on the ballot in the first only by acknowledging and addressing place and demand female politicians keep a the obstacles female politicians face will heightened awareness of their composure and Americans see comprehensive change in public persona. female representation. “Women politicians have to focus more “It is up to us to change how and by who on how they portray themselves,” said Sarah our governments are run,” Agarwalla said.

Recently elected Kamala Harris (D)—Harris is the Vice President-elect for the United States. She will become the first ever female Vice President in addition to being the first Black and Indian-American to hold that office.

Kay Granger (R) — Granger was reelected to the U.S. House to represent Texas’ 12th Congressional District. She is the only Republican woman from Texas in Congress.

Graphic is based on current Congression

Sarah McBride (D) — McBride is the first out transgender State Senator elected in the U.S.; she was elected to Delaware’s State Senate, representing their 1st Congresssional District.

Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) — Johnson was re-elected to represent Texas’ 30th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was first elected to the serve in the Texas State House in 1972 and ws the first Black woman to win electoral office in Dallas.

IN FOCUS

hockadayfourcast.org

GLASS CEILING

November 13, 2020

By Anna Gum and Elisa Carroll

What women contribute

nal representation and omits 2020 election results

emale representation is crucial to the most basic aspect of a democratic-republic: reflecting the voices of the people, women’s advocates say. Without female politicians, a government cannot fully represent its population. “You need a diverse representative government in order to fully represent the population of females in the United States of America,” Young Democrat senior Maya Raghunathan said. “We’re over 50 percent female, but that is obviously not really represented.” As women, female politicians inherently have different experiences and perspectives than their male colleagues. The more women there are in the government, the more those unique viewpoints are represented and, therefore, acknowledged. Female politicians provide crucial perspectives on legislation that largely or solely impacts women. Without female voices in Congress and in the White House, decisions on women’s health and equal pay are left to a room full of men. “We need women’s voices to be there to say this is wrong, it’s wrong for us not to be paid equally, it’s wrong for us not to get paid maternity leave and whatnot,” Herring said. Aside from representation and decisionmaking, statistics show that female-run nations have had more effective COVID-19 responses. Countries such as New Zealand, Germany, Finland and Taiwan are all led by women and have lower pandemic-related death rates than any of the surrounding male-led countries. German Chancellor Merkel’s administration looked at a multitude of different sources, including epidemiological modeling as well as epidemic experts, when developing its coronavirus policy. This approach led to a lower COVID-19 death rate than the majority of European countries. In contrast, Britain and Sweden, both governed by men, relied primarily on epidemiological modeling. As a result, both nations exhibited much higher death rates than Germany. “There are observable trends between women in politics and the prosperity of a nation,” New/Gen leader Premanshi Agarwalla said. “At the most basic level, women need to hold positions of power to provide a perspective that only a woman can provide.”

That’s what he said “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president? I mean, she’s a woman, and I’m not supposed to say bad things, but really folks, come on. Are we serious?” Donald Trump Carly Fiorina “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Mitch McConnell

Elizabeth Warren

Why are there so few women in politics?

Miranda Jefferds Form II

“Generally, the political climate is just very dominated by men and it has been for so long and there’s still a lot of sexist things in society. Women don’t have lots of equality even just in regular jobs, so it’s hard for them to get in more power in the political climate. Even when they don’t want to be politicians, they can’t have equal opportunities.”

Angela Yuan Form III

“I think this is the way it has always been, so people are used to seeing male politicians. From the female perspective, I think fewer females are willing to run for those positions, and even if they run, they might have a harder job gaining campaign funds and support. From the voter perspective, they are more used to seeing males in positions of power, so they will most likely vote for the male.”

Hannah Wahl Form IV

“Getting involved in politics can be very intimidating, and the fear of being seen as stupid or dumb can often prevent women from getting more involved and learning more about it.”

14 November 13, 2020 16 Find out which masks passed the Candle Test

FEATURES

The Fourcast

17 Emily McShane wins virtual art contest

Alumna returns to inspire students Maddie Bradshaw ’14 meets with entrepreneurship class by Maddie Stout Arts and Life Co-Editor

y the time Maddie Bradshaw ‘14 was 10 years old, she had come up with a million-dollar business idea: Snap Caps, pendants made of bottle caps to go on necklaces and swap with friends. By 16, she was leaving sports practices early and doing homework during lunch to run her business in the afternoons, managing a company with 30 employees all older than she was. On Sept. 17, Bradshaw returned to Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Economics and Social Entrepreneurship classes for the second year in a row to share her story. Following her graduation from Hockaday six years ago, Bradshaw has worked with Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit run by the creators of Sesame Street and taught STEM to students K-5. She also recently started another business, EdTech Classroom, aimed at helping teachers figure out ways to embed technology in their curriculum, which was inspired by the rapid shift into distance learning in March. Kristen Blevins, Upper School history teacher, said Bradshaw’s background in entrepreneurship made her presentation a fitting start to the year. “Maddie’s story gave an overview of what we want students to accomplish in our class this semester,” Blevins said. “She discussed business plans, making a social impact using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a guide, as well as sharing her personal story and path to her current business, EdTech Classroom.” The Economics and Social Entrepreneurship semester class, run by Blevins and the Director of the Institute for Social Impact Laura Day, uses the school’s alumnae network to provide a real-world perspective. The curriculum centers around preparing students for economic and entrepreneurial success beyond the classroom. This is Bradshaw’s first time talking to students about EdTech Classroom, which she created in April. Bradshaw said she enjoys returning to Hockaday as an alumna speaker and finds the experiences

photo by Tiffany Rubi

Bradshaw, who started a lucrative business at age 10, meets with entrepreneurship students.

extremely gratifying. She also appreciates the opportunities Hockaday provided her that she believes led her to success. “When I was a student at Hockaday there were always alumnae who came to speak in classes and assemblies and I remember thinking that it would be so cool to do something like that one day,” Bradshaw said. “Hockaday has given me more opportunities than anything in my life has, so I feel very grateful as somebody who’s passionate about education to have had such a high-quality education.” For seniors in the class, Bradshaw’s visit showed

The 11-mile ride

them that starting a successful business at a young age is achievable, especially since Bradshaw was once in the exact same position as an upper schooler at Hockaday. Senior Honor Wood said the visit was extremely motivating and appreciated getting to hear from somebody she remembered from Lower School. “Maddie set a great example of social entrepreneurship and taught us how to start our businesses strongly and with a purpose,” Wood said. “I think that her lesson definitely set us up for success and I hope she comes back to speak again soon!”

Junior Haley Coleman chooses alternative transportation to school

by Hanna Zhang Arts and Life Co-Editor From White Rock Lake to White Rock Creek to Northaven to Welch Road, 11 miles in total. This is the path junior Haley Coleman bikes two days a week from her house to school. “I tend to wake up early anyway so it’s not that big of a problem,” Coleman said. “And coming home from school, I look forward to it so it’s not something that I feel I have to plan around or motivate myself to do.” Coleman bikes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on the other days of the week she drives her sister, freshman Maggie Coleman, to school. “I was against her decision because she took me to school every morning,” Maggie said. “I didn’t want my parents to take time out of their day to drive me to school. I liked that she could get exercise and save gas, I just wish she hadn’t chosen to bike to school every other day.” The trip usually takes around 40 to 50 minutes. After parking her bike next to the Lower School gates, she changes in the LLARC then heads to class. Junior Cate Goglia, one of Coleman’s advisory members, said although the double ride does

not seem practical, she thinks it’s good that not seem practical, she thinks it’s good that Coleman gets energy from exercising. “I know she really likes biking and she’s wanted to do this for a long time so we’re supporting the goal, supporting the mission,” Goglia said. Something Coleman has had to adjust in her biking routine is her backpack size. “The first time I came here, I had a full backpack, and it was a struggle,” Coleman said. Now, instead of packing binders she uses folders, and only carries one notebook for all her classes. In place of textbooks, Coleman takes pictures of the pages on her phone. “I genuinely just like biking places because it’s kind of like doing a sport after school - like decompressing - and you also feel accomplished, get to stay fit, that kind of stuff,” Coleman said. “I think it’s an awesome way to get off your phone and think and to get a lot of energy in the morning.” Coleman prepares in the morning before starting her 11-mile bike ride to school. She rides her bike to school and back on Tuesdays and Thursdays. photo courtesy of Kimberly Coleman

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FEATURES

November 13, 2020

Roosevelt and her mother collect donations from the JDRF Dallas office to create “Bags of Hope”to distribute to Type 1 diabetes patients at Paris hospitals. With her grandmother and mother, Roosevelt attends a JDRF luncheon. Diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 5, Roosevelt works to further awareness and to benefit others living with the disease.

Tackling Type 1 diabetes

photos courtesy of Elizabeth Roosevelt

Roosevelt dedicated to advocating for cause internationally, at home

by Charlotte Rogers Features Editor t the age of 5, senior Elizabeth Roosevelt received a life-changing diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes. Since then, she has used her condition as an opportunity to advocate, raise awareness and educate people about diabetes. Roosevelt began raising awareness for Type 1 diabetes in 2009, and has since become invested in two organizations: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and T1International. Both organizations are nonprofits and focus specifically on Type 1 diabetes. “I am so passionate about [diabetes], but to actually put that feeling into action is awesome,” Roosevelt said. JDRF fights Type 1 diabetes by funding research and advocating for policies that accelerate access to new therapies. The foundation provides a support network for millions of people around the world. “With T1International, I got involved because the insulin prices in the United States are becoming more and more of a big deal,” Roosevelt said. “I keep hearing these awful stories about people who cannot afford insulin and are crossing the border to Canada to be able to pay for it. Even people I know, my friends, are struggling to afford it, so it became a personal thing. I really wanted to get involved.” A non-profit led by people with Type 1 diabetes, T1International advocates and supports local communities to stand up for their rights to access insulin and diabetes supplies. “Our vision is that we believe in a world where everyone with Type 1 diabetes — no matter where they live — has everything they need to survive and achieve their dreams,” Beth Edwards, administrative assistant of T1International, said.

To achieve their goals and complete their mission, T1International offers communities the emotional, mental and physical tools they need to stand up for their rights so that access to insulin and diabetes supplies becomes a reality for all. More than 40 million people in the world have Type 1 diabetes, and many of these people live in

“I am so passionate about [diabetes], but to actually put that feeling into action is awesome” Elizabeth Roosevelt Senior countries with poor healthcare that lack access to necessary life-altering medicines and resources. Edwards explained that living with Type 1 diabetes is like living with a full-time job that you didn’t sign up for, that you have to work hard at and yet you don’t ever get paid or vacation days for it. “Living with Type 1 diabetes has made me more resilient because, with this condition, you never have a break, not on your birthday or on Christmas,” Roosevelt said. “It is such a constant thing.” Roosevelt explained Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person’s pancreas can no longer create insulin or only creates a very limited amount. Insulin is a hormone that allows blood sugar to create energy when it enters one’s cells. Without it, sugar builds up in the

bloodstream, unable to flow into the cells, inducing a dangerously high blood sugar level. “I was showing the major symptoms of Type 1 diabetes before I was diagnosed - losing weight quickly, using the restroom often, drinking a lot of water - and once we found out, the doctors realized that my organs were just shutting down,” Roosevelt said. Hockaday Nurse Katie Barnes said some people may not recognize the seriousness of the disease. “I think some people, and perhaps even society, do not understand how serious of an illness Type 1 diabetes is and that it is constantly managed, day-today, hour-to-hour, which is vital for the people who live with this condition,” Barnes said. At the time of Roosevelt’s diagnosis, technology wasn’t nearly as developed as it is today which led to many immediate changes in her day-to-day life. And, with her young age, Roosevelt’s parents had to constantly monitor her condition. “I got on an insulin pump pretty soon after we found out, but it was really new and scary for all of us,” Roosevelt said. “For a long time, my mom had to wake up about seven times a night in order to manually prick my finger to check my blood sugar level.” As she grew older and technology advanced, Roosevelt took charge of observing her own blood sugar level with the help of her Tandem Insulin Pump and glucose monitor that connects to both her phone and Apple Watch. Even though these devices make things easier, diabetes is still in the back of Roosevelt’s mind all day, every day. “[Having diabetes] has made me a lot more responsible because it is vital to my health,” Roosevelt said. “Just knowing that I can tackle this every single day; that if I give myself too much insulin, I can end up in the hospital at the end of the day.”

16 November 13, 2020

FEATURES

The Fourcast

Which masks passed the test? The Fourcast Staff tested four masks; here are the results

What was the test? The Candle Test involved standing one foot away from a candle flame and trying to blow out the candle while wearing a mask. If the candle goes out, the mask is not effective.

Mask Test #1

Mask Test #2

Mask Test #3

Mask Test #4

Source: Hockaday Material: Cotton Comfort: 4/10 Test results: Passed. The flame wavered, however, which hints the mask is not totally effective.

Source: Hockaday Material: Cotton Comfort: 6/10 Test results: Passed

From where: homemade Material: Cotton Comfort: 8/10 Test results: Passed

From where: Amazon Material: Cotton Comfort: 10/10 Test results: Failed

Checking in with Jennifer Spradley Meet Jennifer Spradley of the Upper School English faculty and Writing Center by Zoya Haq Staff Writer What brought you to Hockaday, and what is your favorite part about being here so far? I retired after 30 years of teaching, and I took a year off to travel, which sounds so glamorous. But after a few months of my not incredibly glamorous (although fun) traveling experience, I decided that I was losing my mind. After painting every wall in my house and making about 18 pairs of curtains, I decided I really needed to go back to the classroom. I saw that the job was available at Hockaday, so I applied (and I got it!) and I was super excited. What I love most about Hockaday is the students. You guys are amazing and wonderful and every day that I am on campus, it’s a fantastic day, because of you. I’m not sure you all understand how incredibly remarkable you are, but you’re pretty special. Many students know you from the Writing Center. What would you say is the most enjoyable part about working with students on their papers outside of the classroom? I love talking with students about their papers because everyone has really interesting ideas that they want to express, and a lot of times, that’s all we do in the Writing Center – we just have a conversation. I ask a few questions, like “tell me more about that,” and in the process of people

telling me more about whatever it is, they realize, “Oh! I need to put that in my paper!” Really, my job in the Writing Center is super easy, because all I really have to do is hang out with amazing students who are talking about really fascinating ideas, and I just ask a couple of questions. People think I’ve done something miraculous, when all I’ve done is just ask a question! I love it. It’s like I’ve won the lottery of jobs. I get to be in both the classroom and the Writing Center – it’s awesome. What is one tidbit of advice that you wish you had given to yourself while you were in school, that you can now give to your students? You guys don’t have rankings. Not publicly, anyway, so I think that takes a lot of pressure off. I slipped from Valedictorian to Salutatorian because of Calculus, and that made me feel very ashamed of myself, and I felt like I had disappointed not just me, but my family, but now I know that doesn’t matter. Now that I’m older… it doesn’t matter. It’s important to do exactly what you guys are doing, which is to enjoy your learning experience, and to put the emphasis on that rather than on what your grade is or what your ranking is. And that to me was a do-or-die situation. It took me a long time to deal with that, with getting a lower rank than what I wanted. I mean, to be really honest, I was really

hooked into thinking that was the most important thing. And it’s not. It really is about just enjoying learning and taking those academic and intellectual chances. That’s the most important thing. What new things did you pick up over quarantine? Oh lordy! Eating. I did a lot of eating. I have also taught myself how to draw, and to paint, and to knit, and I have purchased even more power tools because I enjoy woodworking, which is really nerdy. It’s fun. I enjoy it. It makes a big noise, which is exciting. I also picked up yoga; I did a 30day yoga challenge, and I’m really tremendously horrible at yoga, but I really enjoyed it. No one sees me except my dogs, and they don’t really care. If you could choose to meet one fictional character, who would it be and why? That’s an excellent question. That’s like picking a favorite child. I’m not sure I’m completely happy with this answer, but I think I would want to meet Jane Eyre. I want to know why she marries Rochester because that doesn’t seem to be what I thought Jane would do. If you could time travel to any era in history, what would it be and why? Haha! Easy! I’m going to 1600 to see

some Shakespeare plays at the Globe Theater! And I’m not leaving. Ever. I don’t care about the plague. That doesn’t bother me. I’m good with that, because I’m going to be in the Globe Theater watching Shakespeare. I’ll bring hand sanitizer with me, so it’ll be cool. If you could choose a theme song to your life what would it be? “Born To Be Bad!” It’s a great driving song, and I’m always getting into trouble. Always. I’ve just learned to embrace the fact that you don’t have to be perfect. And I really tried hard for a long time to be perfect, and that doesn’t get you anything. Just have fun and occasionally break the rules and enjoy it. Just a little bit. I shouldn’t have said that! Don’t publish that. Don’t break the rules. That’s bad.

hockadayfourcast.org

FEATURES

Using art to inspire change

November 13, 2020

Eighth grader Emily McShane wins virtual social justice art contest by Olivia Garcia Assistant Features Editor

ighth grader Emily McShane’s passion for art started when she was a toddler. Recently, this passion has served as an outlet for her experiences surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. During the summer, McShane attended protests sparked when a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes during an arrest. However, attending these protests did not satisfy her desire to demand justice. McShane felt she needed to do more.

“While I felt going to the protests was important, I didn’t feel it was enough,” McShane said. Knowing Emily’s passion for art and social justice, Teresa McShane informed her daughter of an art contest relating to the Black Lives Matter movement. “She recognized that there were a lot of tensions this summer, and she wanted to do something about it,” Teresa said. The Students Unite organization of the Brooklyn Friends School partnered with Youth Speak Justice and the 2:23 Foundation for a worldwide youth art contest. This collaboration was called to action to raise awareness, inspire change and honor Ahmaud Arbery’s memory. Arbery was shot and killed while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia. This contest ended up serving as a way for Emily to “do more” in relation to Black Lives Matter. “Emily has always been in tune with current events, and she wanted an outlet to be able to express her feelings,” Teresa said. “We encouraged her to channel her efforts into art as a way that she could express herself.” The contest called for artwork expressing the artist’s feelings and experiences during the Black Lives Matter movement. Artists could use any medium such as creative writing, photography or music. McShane chose to use Procreate, a digital illustration app available for iPad, and her Apple pencil to create her artwork. McShane drew out several different sketches before deciding on a final submission. One of the first sketches was a group of protestors. Another sketch was of

The artwork Emily submitted to the virtual art contest.

a single girl standing with a Black Lives Matter sign. In the end, McShane’s winning submission illustrated a girl with bruises on her face and body, holding up her arm. The drawing is purposely cut off so that the viewer cannot see whether the girl is holding up a fist or a Black Lives Matter sign; McShane wanted to leave it up to the viewer’s interpretation. The girl is wearing a yellow mask which pops against the dark background. At the bottom of the drawing, the powerful message “Black lives still matter” is written. “When I painted this it was the after height of the protests, and the “trend” was dying down,” Emily said. “I painted it as a reminder that Black Lives Still Matter and just

“We encouraged her to channel her efforts into art as a way that she could express herself.” Teresa McShane Emily’s mom because it isn’t trending anymore doesn’t mean it’s not going on or important anymore.” Teresa said her daughter’s participation in this contest was completely in character.

photo courtesy of Emily McShane

“She has always had empathy for anyone who is sad or hurting,” Teresa said. Emily’s passion for art can be traced way back. She loved doodling and drawing ever since she was a toddler. “We used to have to hide reams of printer paper from her because she loved drawing so much,” Teresa said. Her passion has inspired friends and fellow aspiring artists. “Emily has shown an interest in art for as long as I’ve known her, and because I draw as well, I really look up to her art,” fellow eighth grader Lindsey Hicks said. Next year in high school, McShane hopes to further her passion for art by taking the studio art class.

18 November 13, 2020 20 Fans remain faithful to professional and college sports

SPORTS

The Fourcast

21 Coach Gass wins 100th volleyball game

Sports teams overcome lack of fans

Altered fall competition season brings new challenges and opportunites by Laine Betanzos Copy Editor

he athletic department began an adjusted fall competition schedule on Oct. 13, compliant with COVID-19 safety procedures. The change allows the field hockey, volleyball and cross country teams to compete with other Dallas area schools in a safe manner without live spectators. Director of Athletics Deb Surgi said in an Oct. 2 email that safety procedures require all athletes and coaches both from Hockaday and other schools to complete Hockaday’s daily health screening, including a temperature check, to be let on campus. Guidelines also prohibit spectators at games on Hockaday’s campus, except faculty and staff members. The athletic department’s decision involved numerous factors including transportation, disinfecting and sanitizing, mask requirements, inside vs. outside events, game protocols, handsfree water distribution, cohort management and Dallas County Health and Human Services Guidelines. “At Hockaday we all work closely with our Director of Health Services, Erika Herridge, our Chief Operations officer, Joan Guzman, and our Assistant Head of School, Dr. Laura Leathers, to create a workable and successful return to competition,” Surgi said. Senior Meg Dillon, varsity volleyball player, said prohibiting outside spectators was the right decision. “I think it was a pretty smart move … because other schools we planned on playing allowed parents and were not requiring masks, and now their whole athletic department is not having games because COVID-19 was spread,” Dillon said. “I think Hockaday made the right decision to prevent anyone from getting COVID-19.” However, the lack of spectators did force players to adjust. Senior Emilia Callahan, varsity field hockey player, said the team made changes after playing without fans in the first game. “Because we figured out how to hype ourselves up, we did better,” Callahan said. “It’s just something that we had to learn, because it’s so different.” Dillon said the same was true for the volleyball team. “We had to cheer a lot more for ourselves and focus a lot on the bench being very active and cheering after every point since there wasn’t any other noise in the entire gym,” Dillon said. Head varsity volleyball coach

photo by Ava Berger

Stands are full, not with people, but with FatHeads of players’ parents.

"We are excited about the addition of livestreaming which brings our events to our fans worldwide ." Deb Surgi Director of Athletics Andy Gass, however, said much remains the same in this altered season. “We are always pushing ourselves and the team to have best matches whether there are hundreds of screaming fans or fans watching us through livestream in a silent gym,” Gass said. “We push ourselves to always play hard for each other and The Hockaday School no matter the surroundings.” Because of the guidelines for spectators, the athletic department has implemented ways to support athletes during competitions, like livestreaming each game for remote audiences. Access to these livestreams can be found on the athletics section of the school website, Surgi said. “We are excited about the addition of livestreaming which brings our events to our fans worldwide,” Surgi said. “This is an addition that we were investigating prior to COVID-19 and became

Empty bleachers at home field hockey match.

essential once we recognized that spectators would be limited to faculty and staff.” Livestreaming makes viewing the competitions far more accessible to fans of all kinds, Callahan said. “It’s cool because I can send it to my family members that don’t live in Texas, who couldn’t watch my games before,” she said. “I’ve heard that it’s good quality!” Aside from livestreaming, the athletic department has increased spirit in physical ways. “Athletics and our bookstore have made available the purchase of Fat Heads, which we will be placing out at the next Field Hockey and Volleyball games,” Surgi said. “They will serve as a physical reminder that families and fans are supporting the teams virtually, and it will be fun to see the almost lifesized pictures of fans.”

photo by Ava Berger

Though the adjustments have caused some challenges, players and faculty alike remain optimistic. “Although the season is going to be shorter, our team is going to be much closer because we’re all going through this together,” Dillon said. Surgi said she looks forward to the winter season with hope despite new challenges, and thanks the collaborators who allowed this solution to be realized. “I want to say how proud I am of our community; parents, faculty, staff, and students,” Surgi said. “Our community and the world are being tested like never before, and I can say I am proud to be a part of Hockaday’s response to a worldwide pandemic.” Through all of these challenges and changes, one motto remains the same: #ProtectTheMeadow.

SPORTS

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one

TO WATCH

Captains reflect on season

Fall sports captains share their favorite moments

“

Varsity Field Hockey

“My favorite part of the season was the team dinner drive-by. It was an amazing way to connect with the team while staying distanced!”

photo courtesy of Gracie Little

Gracie Little '24 Learn what Gracie Little thinks about cross country by Sasha Schwimmer News Editor

1 2 3 4

“I like running because it is very simple—it’s just one foot in front of the other. You can always push yourself.”

“My personal record from last year, I ran 3,200 meters in 12:53.78, which averages out to about a 6:27 minute mile.”

“The hardest part about long-distance running is the middle: the feeling where you aren’t close to the start, but still have a long way to go until the end.” “I didn’t really get into it until quarantine this March. I would wake up, have a little bite to eat, then head out for my run. I usually went for about half an hour.”

November 13, 2020

Maddy Charest, Varsity Field Hockey Co-Captain

“

*as of November 9th*

”

Statistics Oct. 13 vs. Trinity Valley 1-1 Oct. 15 vs. Greenhill 2-1 Oct. 27 vs. ESD 2-1 Nov. 3 vs. Trinity Valley 2-0 Nov. 5 vs. Fort Worth Country Day 5-0 Athletes of the Week: Kate Clark ‘21 and Emilia Callahan ‘21

Varsity and Novice Crew *as of November 9th*

Besides getting to be back in person with the team, my favorite part of this season has been our Bachman scrimmage which gave us a chance to show spirit and get excited about racing again.”

Events: “Head of the Bachman” 3,000 meter intersquad scrimmage Athletes of the Week: Varsity: Laine Betanzos ‘21 and Annie Herring ‘21 Novice: Angela Fan ‘24 and Erin Antes ‘24

Sophia Foster, Co-Varsity Crew Captain

“

Varsity Cross Country *as of Nov. 9*

Events: Oct. 17 at Greenhill Oct. 24 at Athletic Performance Ranch Oct. 31 at Athletic Performance Ranch

My favorite part of the season has been working so hard with the team and bonding despite the pandemic!”

Athletes of the Week: Margaret Thompson ‘24 and Lola Isom ‘23

“

My favorite part of the season was after we won our game against ESD and Coach Gass got his 100th win at Hockaday because I was so grateful to play volleyball with my favorite people and win at the same time.”

Alex Stalcup, Varsity Volleyball Co-Captain

Inez Johnson, Varsity Cross Country Co-Captain

Varsity Volleyball *as of November 9th*

Statistics Oct. 13 vs. Trinity Valley 3-0 Oct. 15 vs. Greenhill 3-2 Oct. 27 vs. ESD 3-0 Nov. 3 vs. Trinity Valley 3-0 Nov. 5 vs. Fort Worth Country Day 3-0 Athletes of the Week: Avery Jackson ‘24 and Sydney Eyestone ‘22

Angelina Wu, Co-Varsity Fencing Captain Varsity Fencing *as of Nov. 9*

Athletes of the Week: Katelyn Nguyen ‘23 and Cassie Diaz ‘22

“My favorite part of the fencing season would probably be just being able to interact with the team. I’m on distance learning, so I only come to school for practice. I really enjoy the friendly competition and camaraderie.

Upcoming winter sports games photo courtesy of Gracie Little

Little competes in a two-mile run at first meet at Greenhill on Oct. 17.

”

Dec. 1 Junior varsity soccer vs. Nolan Christian 5:30 p.m. home Dec. 3 Varsity basketball vs. Parish Episcopal 6:30 p.m. away Dec. 7 Varsity soccer vs. ESD 5 p.m. home

20 November 13, 2020

Faithful fans

SPORTS

The Fourcast

Professional, college sports keep their following in a pandemic by Sasha Schwimmer News Editor

ports fans are not letting the pandemic impede any further on their lifestyle. Fans are motivated to attend sporting events despite the pandemic to show support to their team. Senior and varsity cheerleader Kate Wills attended the Red River Showdown, the Oklahoma—Texas football rivalry game played annually at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park. “Football games are an important part of American life,” Wills said. “We can’t let COVID control our life.” Wills says the TV cannot capture the atmosphere of a sports game. “Nothing can compare to the feeling when your team makes an amazing play and you, along with the other fans in the stadium, jump up and chant together,” Wills said. “It gives me a personal connection to the game, the players, and all the other fans. Junior Hayden Parteli cheered on the Dallas Cowboys in their game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. “Cheering in person allows people to connect with other fans,” Partelli said. “It is important to have fans in the stadium because it encourages the players. When Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott got hurt at the game, the whole crowd started cheering ‘we love Dak’ to show our support for him during the difficult time.” Going to games, however, involves a list of precautionary measures. One measure is limiting the stadium to about 25 percent capacity. Fans are spread throughout the stadium, from the first row to the nosebleed seats. “I felt completely comfortable in the stadium because the closest

photo by Hayden Parteli

A socially distanced crowd attends a Dallas Cowboys game on Oct. 11.

people to me were five rows away,” Wills said, “The stadium was basically empty, and there was hand sanitizer everywhere.” At Hockaday, spectators are not allowed at sports events due to COVID-19. The games are limited to players and coaches. The administration is taking these precautions for the safety of the Hockaday community, but some players disagree with this decision. “I want fans, specifically the parents, to be allowed to watch our games because they are our biggest supporters and without them there it feels like a part of the team is missing,” senior and varsity volleyball captain Alex Stalcup said.

Hockaday students who cheer for St. Mark’s are allowed to attend games, but as of now, games are limited to the coaches, the football team and the cheer squad. “I wish Hockaday and St. Mark’s would consider what professional sports stadiums and other schools are doing to allow fans at the games,” Wills said. “For example, some schools are allowing socially distanced student sections for seniors only. It is really disappointing because we have spent a lot of time outside of school working on our routine, only for no one — not even parents — to be able to see it.”

"Nothing can compare to the feeling when your team makes an amazing play and you, along with the other fans in the stadium, jump up and chant together." Kate Wills Senior

Gass wins 100 games Volleyball coach reaches milestone with Hockaday varsity team by Ava Berger Editor-in-Chief After defeating ESD in three sets, the varsity volleyball team got one more surprise: Head Coach Andy Gass’s 100th win at Hockaday. “It was very exciting for me and the entire team to be part of him earning 100 wins at Hockaday,” Audrey Gass, Gass’s daughter and player on the Varsity Volleyball team said. “The team did not know we were playing for his 100th Hockaday win, so it was a really great surprise for everyone!” Gass comments that he normally doesn’t “toot [his] own horn” and completely forgot about the 100th win. “I just completely forgot so I was kind of taking off guard when it happened,” Gass said. “I thought

I was going “We just to get it last celebrate year but we Gass by ended at 97 playing our wins.” best every However, single time Deb Surgi, we go out Director of onto the Athletics, court and and Alison giving it our Camp, all,” Stalcup Varsity said. “Not Volleyball only for photo by Deb Surgi Assistant Gass but Camp hands Gass a basket of cookies. Coach, did for all of our not let the event go unnoticed. teammates, we play for each other. So Gass was presented with a variety just having that consistent mindset of of daisy shaped cookies displaying his always trying to play better than you name and with the words “100 wins.” did before is how we give back to him.” Senior and Varsity Volleyball Gass started at Hockaday in 2016 captain Alex Stalcup said the team and under his command the team has celebrated Gass through their effort excelled. on the volleyball court. “We’ve had about 20-25 wins a year

and if we had a full season this year it would be way over that,” Gass said. “My first year we had 14 wins and since then we’ve been over 20 a year. Our best year we were 33-8 and we’ve been North Zone Champs two times.” Gass said he’s looking to the future and an even bigger title. “The next goal is I would love to win SPC [Southwest Preparatory Conference]. That’s definitely the endgame,” Gass said. The volleyball team appreciates Gass’s focus on statistics and drive to win. Stalcup points out one of her favorite traits of Gass. “I love his little quotes, he always says the same thing. Whenever a ball drops on the ground, he says, ‘that’s got to come up,’” Stalcup said. “He’s very quirky like that and I’m very proud of him, he definitely deserves it more than anybody.”

hockadayfourcast.org

22 Why everyone should consider a gap year

OPINIONS

November 13, 2020

23 The changing

environment dur COVID-19

Breathable paper masks Wearing surgical masks at school makes it easier to breathe

t’s 3:45 on a Tuesday afternoon, and I’ve never been more excited to leave school. I’ve spent the past seven hours in a cloth mask, and I’m starting to get tired of it, like everyone else, I’m sure. It feels heavy on my face and it’s difficult to breathe in, but it’s only been a few days of in-person school, and I’m already antsy to take it off. How am I going to be able to do this for the rest of the year? That night, I go home and I call up my best friend, Google. I plug in a few key terms to the search bar: “medical mask vs. cloth mask,” “CDC recommendations for masks,” and a couple other things that sound exactly like the strangely apocalyptic world we all live in right now. I’m pretty shocked with what I find, to be honest: the CDC tells me that cloth masks are actually generally less effective than medical masks, and they recommend only using them as a last resort. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, cloth masks only protect others by reducing the amount of droplets expelled by the wearer while surgical masks protect both the wearer and whoever they come into contact with by creating a barrier between the two.

At first, this information “I’ve grown to seems backwards to prefer the medical me. Shouldn’t mask, feeling much the heavier, seemingly less more safe in it than transparent the cloth one after cloth masks be better at reading the CDC’s keeping away continual reports.” dangerous particles? In Maddie Stout my mind, a Arts & Life Co-Editor medical mask seems f limsy by comparison. Nevertheless, I decided to heed the CDC’s

advice, laying out the pale blue mask with my uniform for the next day. As I arrive to class the next morning in my medical mask, I’m immediately struck by the dramatic changes. I can breathe! My classmates can hear me more clearly! It’s so much easier to work out that afternoon! The medical

mask has become my new best friend. It’s easy to wear it for the entire school day, and is even becoming a bit comfortable. As an added benefit, I’m longer getting headaches from the cloth mask’s straps against my ears, and I’m not worried about having to wash them often enough or running out. Instead, I have an

abundance of them, setting a few in my backpack, a few in my car, and wherever else I think I would need one. I continue to wear it to school, and over time I’ve grown to prefer the medical mask, feeling much more safe in it than the cloth one after reading the CDC’s reports. I have encountered a few problems, though: as I throw away

MADDIE STOUT Arts & Life Co-Editor more and more paper masks, I have become increasingly concerned about the effect they have on the environment and plastic pollution, which is only going up. On a smaller, less important note, they are not nearly as fashionable as a cloth mask that I can match with my outfit, the blue standing out against most colors. However, despite these faults I will continue to wear my medical mask to school and whenever I go out. After testing both options and researching how to properly use a disposable mask for the best environmental impact (making sure to immediately place them in the trash and keeping from recycling them), I’ve come to the conclusion that paper masks are the best, most effective option to keep myself and others safe.

Comfortable cloth masks Cloth masks are stylish and comfy with a twinge of creativity

have an unpopular opinion: I like wearing masks. Right before I jump in the car to go to school, I stop at the perfectly located drawer full of cloth masks, pick my personal statement of the day, and off I go. At school, I walk through the hallways, admiring the colorful patterns and unique options my classmates have chosen: a tiedye mask here and a camouf lage mask there. In all my six years at Hockaday, I have never seen personal style expressed other than the three free dress days a year. Now, although our faces may be covered, I can see people’s personality through their mask. So, why fit back in by wearing a blue surgical mask? We go to school with uniforms: we dress the same, with plaid skirts, white shirts, and jackets that require a name written in the tag or they will be lost forever. But masks are unique. So, I choose cloth masks to style up the green and white. Cloth masks also are more comfortable than the disposable version. I would rather have a soft

cloth against my face than the feeling of rough paper. Besides, it’s getting colder and the cloth is keeping my face nice and bundled, especially against the cold wind on the walk up from the parking lot. Adding to the bonuses, cloth masks are much more

where it will pile up and lay wasted in a dumpster, I simply wash and re-wear the mask. Stylish, comfortable, environmentally friendly and unique, my masks also are keeping me safe. Cloth masks, according to the CDC, are essential to fight COVID-19. But there are some requirements to ensure the

“Although our faces may be covered, I can see people’s personality through their mask. So, why fit back in by wearing a blue surgical mask” Kate Clark Managing Editor

environmentally friendly than surgical masks. Instead of throwing the mask into the trash

effectiveness of the cloth masks: they must have two or more layers, be made of breathable, washable

KATE CLARK Managing Editor fabric and cover the nose and mouth. My masks check those boxes. Check to make sure yours does, too. Also, my cloth masks are helping our health heroes. The light blue masks are surgical masks, and they are in short supply. The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks instead of N95 respirators or surgical masks, so those can be reserved for the health care providers. If we want this pandemic to end, we need to wear these masks like our life depends on it– because it does. So, express your personality and style, help our health care providers and wear a cloth mask!

22 November 13, 2020

OPINION

The Fourcast

Taking a breather

Gap year lets you find yourself before heading off to college

have always known I wanted more than the typical American college experience. I crave the excitement of not having a predestined future as well as the ambiguity of taking a gap year and/or attending a university overseas. Usually, when I tell people this, they reply dryly with “Wow, that’s cool, but not for me.” Well, why not? Most of the time I find people are too set on an intended path to consider straying from the norm. Throughout my years at Hockaday, particularly during the college application process, I have observed that most students pursue calculated and planned futures. Though there is nothing wrong with this approach, it can be disheartening to someone like me to see the majority of my classmates approach college with a completely different mindset. Hockaday tends to be a very fastpaced environment. Students work hastily through course requirements, focus intently on deadlines and check off application boxes as they would a list of chores. But this is a dichotomy I have never quite fallen into. My life and goals have a much different pace. I spend much of

ARABELLA WARE Guest Writer

Graphic by Kylee Hong

my time wandering, exploring, and curiously searching for new ideas. Because of this, I believe I am uniquely positioned to benefit from a gap year. I am not interested in achieving the next milestone as soon as possible so that I can become closer to some final life goal or achievement. Rather I am more comfortable figuring my life out as I go and having a good time in the process. I do not view my college applications as another task to be completed but a ticket out of the mundane toward a lifetime of adventures. This is what I have to

look forward to in a gap year and an education abroad. If I were to take a gap year, I would like to spend several months working overseas, ideally in Florence, learning a new language and culture in the process. I would then use that money to travel wherever I feel. Perhaps I would fulfill my lifelong dream of studying Zen Buddhism in the Himalayas or visiting rural Sri Lanka. I would also love to visit Eastern Europe and live among strangers until I got too cold. Another dream of mine is to drive up the West Coast of the

United States from Terlingua, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, pausing wherever I see fit. I would then like to attend university somewhere in the UK, a place that has always inspired my creativity and writer brain. I want to study English, history, art, philosophy, law and never stop learning. I want to be educated by experience and be a citizen of the world. Today we are in an era where we can essentially customize our college experience. A gap year is just an extension of higher education. Take advantage of this. Find joy in the adventurous, exciting nature of college applications! You’ll end up where you need to go.

Profit over people Reliance on College Board in admissions process favors the wealthy

y hate for College Board began sophomore year. I had just learned that the SAT was not administered by the colleges themselves, but that it was run by a huge for-profit organization. I was shocked to find out that a company was monetizing our attempts to have a brighter future. Why should a profit-making organization decide millions of students’ academic futures? At this point, College Board is unavoidable if one wants to get into a competitive, or even decent college, which is unfortunate because College Board is an unfair and unethical organization, which exacerbates the wealth gap in education and exploits their students for money. I have just begun my junior year of high schoo, yet my mother has already spent at least $600 on SAT prep books, the PSAT, AP classes and exams and tutors. The U.S. median weekly wage for full-time wage and salary workers in 2020 is $1,002. Even though what I pay in relation to College Board is close to two-thirds of that wage, it is nothing compared to what others spend. Some families hire professional tutors for the SAT, which can cost up to $400 an hour, and send their children to SAT prep camps, like the Le Rosey month-long SAT camp in Switzerland which costs

around $20,000. This camp costs can afford to retake the test until they close to what the poorest families in achieve their desired score. America make in a year, just to put it The next problem I have with into perspective. College Board is their label: College And while professional tutors and Board gives the impression it is a summer camps are not necessarily not-for-profit organization, while required or endorsed by College the company made about $1.5 billion Board, these examples prove how dollars in revenue just last year. If wealthier people College Board have an advantage were not-forin prepping for and profit, then “I was shocked reaching a higher why, given their to find out that score on the SAT. already-high Thus, the SAT tests revenues, why a company was for wealth more would they sell monetizing our than knowledge. their students’ I concede that attempts to have a information? College Board does Why would they offer some financial continue to raise brighter future.” assistance on the their test prices? Courtenay Sands fee of the SAT Short answer — and the AP exams, they wouldn’t. Guest Writer and that there The prices of are free courses the AP exams rose online to study for the SAT. However, from $83 in 2007 to $94 in 2019, and the playing field between the rich this is without inflation factored in. and poor is still not even, because Considering inflation, the prices have people from higher socio-economic actually risen even more. Raising statuses achieve higher scores the prices of the AP tests proves that through expensive prep — which College Board is willing to ignore is significantly more thorough and their consequences on the poor if it personalized than the free online means bringing in more money. Next, courses—and through the difference in a 2019 lawsuit against College in the number of times people take Board, it was revealed that College the test, as College Board will only Board is using the Student Search give enough financial aid to help Survey program, a program meant compensate for one test. Again, this to connect students to colleges, to sets apart poor from the wealthy, who collect and sell students’ information

COURTENAY SANDS Guest Writer to third parties for around 47 cents per name. By deceptively collecting and selling this information, College Board proves it cares more about profit than it does the privacy of its students. And yet, we still rely on College Board to get into college. Even though College Board exploits us, we still take the SAT, we still take the AP courses. We do this because we feel we have no other choice. By monetizing access to education, College Board is defying the principles of the American Dream and is favoring wealth over wellbeing. They are solidifying a world where the rich succeed and the poor fail. A world where a person’s merit is based on money. A world where profit matters more than people. It’s time for colleges to abandon College Board and determine their applicants’ worthiness in some other way.

OPINION

hockadayfourcast.org

THE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ava Berger MANAGING EDITOR Kate Clark WEB EDITOR Erin Parolisi ASSISTANT WEB AND PHOTO EDITOR Elisa Carroll COPY EDITOR Laine Betanzos MAGAZINE EDITOR Kelsey Chen NEWS EDITOR Sasha Schwimmer ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Katherine Grace Estes FEATURES EDITOR Charlotte Rogers ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Olivia Garcia ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS Maddie Stout and Hanna Zhang SPORTS CO-EDITORS Remy Finn and Lacy Green OPINIONS EDITOR Anna Gum ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR Campbell Harris CASTOFF EDITOR Julia Donovan PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Libby Hill SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIDEOS EDITOR Lea Whitley STAFF WRITERS Juliana Blazek, Jane Clark, Zoe Cote, Zoya Haq, Melody Hu, Rachel Jan, Caroline Petrikas STAFF ARTISTS Kylee Hong, Louisa Benedict, Maddie Fisher, Nancy Dedman, Kemper Lowry FACULTY ADVISER Julia Copeland

EDITORIAL POLICY The Fourcast is written primarily for students of the Hockaday Upper School, its faculty and staff. The Fourcast has a press run of 1,500 and is printed by Greater Dallas Press. It is distributed free of charge to the Hockaday community. 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. The newspaper is subject to prior review by Hockaday administration and some stories may be changed or omitted in accordance with the administration’s requirements. 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 Editor-in-Chief Ava Berger at aberger21@ hockaday.org.

November 13, 2020

COVID-19 vs. the Earth Sage, administration, students all have roles to play

STAFF STANCE

ith COVID-19 and its restrictions, Hockaday has implemented new protocols to create a safer and healthier atmosphere. The school is making its best effort to accommodate COVID restrictions while still trying to stay an environmentally friendly place, but students need to be aware of how they are affecting the environment on a daily basis. Some of the things Hockaday has done to help the environment with COVID happening include the decrease of waste in classrooms and after lunch time. In the classrooms, the addition of students learning on Zoom as well as in person has caused many teachers to move all of their assignments and work to online platforms, such as OnCampus. This accommodates for the distance learners and ensures that students and teachers are not touching the same paper. With almost entirely online assignments, Hockaday has greatly decreased paper use, reducing overall waste. A change during lunches has also helped. At the beginning of the school year, with the new lunch system, students were required to use paper bags when grabbing their lunch items. Once they finished lunch, students disposed of the contents as well as the bag. This caused an increase in waste because students only got one use out of the bag. After a couple of weeks, Hockaday, aware of the issue, switched to reusable bags for every student. With this change, less paper has been wasted on campus each day. In another attempt to help, students have tried to recycle the plastic food containers. However, some containers were thrown into

photo by Juliana Blazek

Packaged lunches stay safe from germs but increase plastic waste.

non-lined recycling bins and still had pieces of food left in them, causing mold to grow in these recycling bins. Hockaday later sent out an email encouraging students to recycle the

“To keep up Hockaday’s approach to environmental responsibility, everyone has to do their part each day.” containers, but only after cleaning them and removing remnants of food before putting them in a recycling

bin. Otherwise, the dirty containers must be thrown into the garbage. Students play a large role in keeping Hockaday environmentally sound. It is their responsibility to know how they are affecting the environment and how to make choices each day to remedy waste issues. The amount of plastic thrown out at lunch from plastic water bottles can be easily avoided if everyone refills their reusable water bottles at the water bottle filler instead of grabbing a plastic one. Furthermore, students need to be careful in choosing how much food to eat, making sure they are not pointlessly wasting food and plastic containers. To keep up Hockaday’s approach to environmental responsibility, everyone has to do their part each day. If that means only grabbing a couple of containers at lunch and bringing their own water bottle, the students and faculty have the ability to help the environment even under COVID-19.

What do you think?

“

Karen Huang ‘21 During lunch especially since they switched from paper bags to plastic bags, I think that was definitely a step in the right direction and shows that they want to improve their sustainability efforts.”

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Elise Little ‘22 I’m in the All Green Club and something we’re working on right now is getting all the plastic recycled but it’s hard because Hockaday doesn’t have enough platforms to put a new bin.”

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Ambyr Baker ‘23 I think we’re doing a really good job because the teachers make it a priority to tell students to make sure they recycle in the right place and that they don’t throw extra food in the wrong bins.”

THE

Fourcast

The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

November 13, 2020

Scenes from Oct. 30 dress-up day

The Fourcast

CASTOFF

Costumes by

Upper School

Sherry Long, Isabel Bhasin &Savannah Frederiksen Annie Herring, Izzy Page, & Mia Savoldelli

Kate Borson & Airu Weng

Claire Tate

by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor by Julia Donovan • Castoff Editor

E O

Mr. Worldwide

Lauren Roach & Bella Heintges

E Riya Guttigoli

Phineas

The Fourcast November 2020

Articles inside

FEATURES