The Fourcast May 2021

20 SPORTS Students and families return to watching sports in person with new policies 22 OPINIONS Fourcast staff shares thoughts following AAPI hate crimes

05 NEWS The end of an era: what comes next following the phasing out of boarding 15 FEATURES Students create pen pal program with senior citizens

THE

FOURCAST

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

May 17, 2021

Volume 71, Issue 6

MISOGYNY IN MUSIC a look at the struggles of women in the music industry today, pg. 12-13

Illustration by Maddie Stout

02 May 17, 2021

FOURWARD

Inside

HockaBriefs

the ’Cast

Catch up on the latest campus news Seniors and their parents gathered on the West Lawn for the year-end awards ceremony. Academic, athletic and community awards were presented to the graduating class.

News 03-06

Hockaday’s dancers performed at the Leap and Lunch in the Amphitheater and over livestream to display their talents for the student body.

• 04 Learn more about the recent decision to phase out boarding

Arts & Life 07-11 • 07 A look at how graduation attire has evolved over the decades

What’s happening this month?

Centerspread

1 Summer break

• 12-13 Taylor

Swift, Sza, Doja Cat... how feminism plays a role in the music industry

This school year has been unconventional to say the least, and students are looking forward to the holidays. After summer break, academic classes will resume on Aug. 30, and preseason for fall sports is set to start on Aug. 9.

Features 14-17 21-22 US Student Council

Sports 18-20 • 19

Athletics department unveils new plans

Opinions 21-23

• 22 Guest writer Lily Fu addresses recent violence toward members of the AAPI community

Castoff 24 • 24 See where the Class of 2021 is going to college

Sophomore Tianxin Xie received a Certificate of Excellence from the Mathematical Association of America for her performance in the MAA American Mathematics Competition. She is one of five top-scoring female representatives from Texas. For her To compensate for the COVIDaccomplishment, she related loss of WinFo, Student will receive the Maryam Council planned SpringFo, planned Mizarkhani Certificate a week of activities for all the forms. of Excellence.

Students received T-shirts and gift bags at the end of a week filled with contests and other fun activities.

Just FOUR You

Infocus

• 14 Meet the

The Fourcast

2 Ring day

Form III students donned their white blazers to be officially recognized as the new senior class at the Ring Day ceremony May 14. Ring Day took place on Commencement Terrace.

3 Graduation

The Class of 2021’s last day of classes was May 7 and graduation was May 15.

4 Senior farewell The Class of 2021 gathered to recount memories of their time at Hockaday at the Senior Farewell program on the evening of May 13. Senior Zoe Cote and elected faculty member Jennifer Spradley addressed the senior class during the ceremony and students received their yearbooks afterward.

hockadayfourcast.org

05 Board votes to close

boarding permanently by 2025

NEWS

May 17, 2021

03

06 Hockaday Pride organizes day of silence

Making real-world connections Biology, Impact and the Zoo projects give students authentic experiences

by Ambyr Baker Staff Writer

T

hree years ago, Brandi Finazzo, an Upper School science teacher, and Laura Day, the executive director of Hockaday’s Institute for Social Impact, had a vision to combine the study of biology and community outreach within Hockaday’s curriculum.

Knowing that pairing a fundamental science with social impact would be a challenge, Finazzo expected this class to be an ongoing work in progress.

“Anytime that you try to take on an interesting collaborative project like this, the biggest concern is making sure that students are getting the necessary foundation for progressing into higher level sciences,” Finnazo said.

However, while Genesis Flores-Homuth, a current Form III student, agrees that student outreach can take time away from the classroom, she believes that this aspect was indispensable to her learning.

“Yes, the social impact class did sometimes take away from the amount of biology that we could learn,” Homuth said. “But at the end of the day, these application skills are just as valuable in the real world.”

Opening her eyes to the imperfections within her very own community, this class inspires Homuth to dig deeper into environmental studies.

“I plan to go into AP Environmental Science my senior year after taking this class. It was an amazing experience that I would not change.” Homuth said.

Original curriculum Going in with the objective to eliminate the monotony and uninviting learning atmosphere from a typical biology course, Day and Finazzo’s goal created an original curriculum that encompassed academic content, but also included tangible application.

“For me, it is not that I want you to learn the material and regurgitate what you know, but more importantly, how are you going to translate that learning into your project and the world?”

Finazzo said.

As soon as they started this class, the response they received from students was overwhelmingly positive.

“This class was the first social impact class ever and student feedback is what inspired me to keep going,” Day said. “For the first time, students didn’t worry about grades and they rediscovered their passion for learning. They felt like they were in Lower School again.”

Nonetheless, while the students’ main focus in their Shark Tank project is to pitch their ideas to a judging panel at the end of the year, Finazzo makes sure to also bring

Juniors Claire Cahoon and Scout Johnson present their project to students of the Upper School.

photo by Ambyr Baker

“I think sometimes it is hard to see how a subject can connect to actual things we are doing, but this imaginative curriculum connects these things and shows why they matter.”

Laura Day Director of Social Impact photo by Ambyr Baker

these tactile learning strategies to her classroom biology lessons.

“We do a lot of hands-on learning and group work,” Finazzo says, “We will do an activity in class, and then walk through it together as a class.”

Dallas Zoo connections On the community outreach side, Day is in charge of Hockaday’s connections with the Dallas Zoo, public schools, and the Shark Tank judging panel.

“I brought the design thinking method to the class and I asked Mrs. Finazzo if there was a way we could put them together with biology. Then, I ran into the Zoo and they wanted to partner too,” Day said.

Although the students’ projects are not limited to zoology concepts, Day states that the zoo gives them real experts in that field to work with.

“Mrs. Finazzo and I are not experts in conservation, but they are,” Day said. “In this class, students are literally able to create a project and pitch it to real people on earth.”

Modeling this class after the original series, Shark Tank,

Finazzo helps juniors Abby Ruble, Sarah Roberts, and Olivia Garcia, come up with an idea for a prototype for their project.

Finazzo said that their goal was for it to be primarily student led.

“They pick the passion topic they want to work on, build a prototype of their proposed solution, test it, and they go back and modify based on feedback from their target audience,” Finazzo said.

Shark Tank projects Last year, one of the winning groups partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop their prototype into reality. Creating a barcode scan made to go on the inside of refrigerators, this group’s intention was to inform people on how to correctly recycle refrigerators contributing to a large sum of the environment’s waste.

“This is an example of how unique the projects are of our students and why it is important to get a diverse group of judges for the panel,” Day said. “This year we had Shonn Brown, the vice president at Kimberly Clark, John Donavan, a former CEO at ATT, and Vice President of marketing at the Dallas Zoo.”

Yet, while these judges look for projects with promising potential for making change, Day reveals the secret to how projects become successful in the first place.

“The theme with any winning project is that the students find a project they actually care about and are interested in. If you do it for any other reason, you will not have a fruitful outcome,” Day said.

“I would recommend this class to anyone because the teachers are amazing, you create your own, personal business, and you get lots of community service hours,” Homuth said.

Making it possible for students to connect with the real world from inside the classroom, the shark tank inspires students year after year to try out this class.

“I think the most unique thing about the class is that all of the lessons are woven to connect to the real world,” Day said. “I think sometimes it is hard to see how a subject can connect to actual things we are doing, but this imaginative curriculum connects these things and showing why they matter.”

04 May 17, 2021

NEWS

YOUR WORLD TODAY

The Fourcast

A look back: Biden’s 100 days

Has the president fulfilled the pledges he made to the American public?

“F

by Rachel Jan Staff Writer

Similar bills, like the Paycheck Fairness Act and American Jobs Plan, the latter of which would reverse Trump’s corporation tax cuts, are both under committee consideration in Congress. Biden has yet to deliver on promises of universal paid sick days and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.

or while we have our eyes on the future,” youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman recited at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, “History has its eyes on us.”

Mere hours later, Biden began his first day in office with his eyes on the future and a full agenda: promises to uphold and even more policies to address. Among them were initiatives on immigration, the economy, climate change, equity and civil rights, and healthcare, most notably the coronavirus pandemic. Now, 100 days later, it is time to look back on what the President has accomplished and what he has yet to do.

Climate Change

In January, Biden promised to make the United States an international leader in climate change. To fulfill that promise, the United States formally rejoined the Paris Climate Accord soon after his election.

Biden also has taken steps to conserve U.S. lands and waters, as well as outline the Photo credit Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, Wikipedia federal government’s plan to fight climate Joe Biden takes the oath of office as President in front of the U.S. change. On April 22 and 23, Biden hosted a Capitol Building on January 20.

Coronavirus virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, inviting 40 other world leaders to tackle the crisis. immigration plan — which would create a pathway During his campaign, Biden pledged to give During the summit, many leaders pledged to to citizenship for more than 11 million undocument 100 million vaccine doses before his 100th day in reduce carbon emissions and continue to innovate migrants living in the United States — and created office. Since reaching that milestone on March solutions. a task force to reunite families separated at the 19, the White House updated the goal to 200 Mexican border. He also has overturned Trumpmillion vaccines. With the CDC reporting a pace Equity and Civil Rights era policies including the travel ban on Muslimof 3 million vaccinations a day, vaccinations are majority countries and a proclamation that limited projected to hit the goal a week before Biden’s To address systematic racism, Biden signed legal immigration during Covid-19. deadline or sooner. an executive order shortly after his inauguration However, a bipartisan agreement on Other goals Biden has reached relating to the directing his administration to study racial equity immigration — an early priority for Biden’s pandemic include rejoining the World Health across the federal government. administration — has been complicated after Organization, creating a coronavirus response task Although Biden pledged to create a national an increase in unaccompanied minors at the force and providing free testing for all. police oversight commission during his campaign, border encouraged Republicans to call for more To help the nation move, he has given economic the White House decided to put it on hold after immigration enforcement. relief in the form of stimulus checks under the $1.9 consultation with civil rights organizations and trillion relief bill. In addition, the Occupational police unions. Instead, the administration will be Economy Safety and Health Administration has released focusing on signing the George Floyd Justice in clear guidance on COVID-19; similarly, the Policing Act into law.

In accordance with his campaign goals, Biden Department of Education has provided guidelines A bill on protecting LGBTQ+ rights, the Equality has extended interest-free student loan payments on safely reopening schools.

Act, was reintroduced under Biden’s presidency, Other coronavirus-related executive orders related and released plans to ease student debt. In addition, passed in the House and is awaiting debate in his administration has laid the foundations for a $15 to distributing supplies and issuing mask mandates. the Senate. In March, Biden established a White federal minimum wage with the Executive Order on House Gender Policy Council, which will submit Protecting the Federal Workforce Immigration a government-wide plan for gender equity and Congress recently passed Biden’s American equality within 200 days.

Rescue Plan, which includes temporary forms of the Biden has succeeded in introducing his low-income tax cuts promised during his campaign.

J&J jumps back into use

New vaccine re-released after side-effects investigated

by Hanna Asmerom Staff Writer The new Johnson and Johnson vaccine was paused due to blood-clot related health concerns in February 2021. As of April 23, the production of J&J vaccines have been resumed with a warning for women in the target area of 18 — 59 years old.

The Food and Drug Administration gave an optimistic verification of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine in early 2021. J&J wanted to distribute 100 million vaccines by the end of June, but after only about 7 million vaccinations, the FDA recommended a pause on the production of the vaccine.

For many, its verification was monumental, because it is the first one-shot vaccine to get an Emergency Use Authorization, and it is completely different from any other vaccine on the market.

It is cheaper, it doesn’t need extremely cold temperatures to stay usable, it is less prone to give people serious side effects and the process by which it delivers immunity is very different from Pfizer and Moderna’s. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both use a messenger RNA, to “teach” cells how to make proteins that can trigger an immune response. The J&J vaccine, however, uses a viral vector called Ad26, composed of common illnesses that are genetically altered to prevent infection but still provide partial immunity.

Its convincing 85% efficacy boasts a year of

graphic by Nancy Dedman

hard work and research to bring a miracle vaccine that can be administered to low-income and underprivileged communities. It is also shown to work against various regional variants.

“We believe the Johnson & Johnson singleshot Covid-19 vaccine is a critical tool for fighting this global pandemic, particularly as it shows protection across countries with different variants,” Paul Stoffels, Chief Scientific Officer at Johnson and Johnson said in a statement by J&J. The production and inoculation was running smoothly with 7 million doses in people’s arms, until April 13 when the Center for Disease Control recommended a pause on the production of the vaccine. The vaccine has been linked to 15 cases of a rare blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. J&J paused production so they could undergo an extra round of testing and verify its efficacy.

“People will be scared, for sure; people will be so hesitant to take it,” Dr. Michael Zere, Respiratory Therapist at Baylor said. “I have no doubt.”

Rumors are circulating online about the safety of the J&J vaccine, and Zere believes that it will affect the number of people who get it. He said J&J has lost credibility, but many people disagree.

“From what we know about the vaccines right now, COVID-19 is by far the bigger threat to people’s health and more serious than common side effects,” Dr. Barbara Fishel, Dean of Science Studies said.

Students who have received the vaccine share Fishel’s beliefs.

“It’s not something that I’m really concerned about,” junior Lindsay Heusinger, a student who received the J&J vaccine, said. “I’m not too worried about it in regards to my own health.”

Junior Alexis Cuban and senior Sarah Wright agree with this sentiment, especially when the chance of getting a clot is so low, around one case per million, and benefits outweigh consequences.

Despite all of the concerns, getting vaccinated is vital. In December 2020, the average daily infections in Texas was over 21,000. Now, the 7-day average is just over 3,000.

“Even though you hear stories of side effects, I think it’s just so important for people to get vaccinated,” Heusinger said.

hockadayfourcast.org

NEWS

May 17, 2021

Hockaday to end boarding

05

Board of Trustees votes to phase out program by 2025

by Zoya Haq Arts & Life Co-Editor

A

fter a six-month review by an ad hoc committee, the Hockaday Board of Trustees voted on April 14 to phase out the school’s historic boarding program by 2025.

Over the next four years, Hockaday will cease to admit new boarding students, but will allow those already enrolled to finish their Upper School career and graduate.

“Following Hockaday’s recent decision [to phase out boarding], what has been top of mind for us is supporting our currently enrolled boarding students and making sure that they feel loved and valued and cared about,” Eugene Mc Dermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman said.

This decision has sparked a range of emotions across campus and the Hockaday community at large.

“The boarding department is such a special part of our school and is so special to my family,” Tiffany Schmitz Ward, ‘04, said. “It’s so upsetting to see a new administration trying to end a program with such a long legacy, a long history.”

Ward found out about the conversations surrounding boarding closure in October and tried to become involved in the process.

“When myself, my sisters and my mother found out about the impending future of the program, we reached out to be a part of the ad hoc committee,” Ward said. “And the conversations were just not productive.”

Another source of backlash from alumnae and current families was the administration’s announcement that Hockaday would not re-open its residence halls for the 2021-2022 school year, which came a month before the decision to phase out the boarding program altogether.

“From a Covid-19 standpoint, closing boarding for the 2021-2022 school year was not a wellinformed decision,” former Hockaday boarder Omeluyi Adesanya said. “Every other top-tier boarding school has found a way to re-open.”

Adesanya, a public health specialist and epidemiologist in Dallas, said she had qualms with Hockaday’s Medical Advisory Group, who advised the 2021-2022 residence hall closure. Hockaday’s Medical Advisory Group is composed of Dr. Coleman; Kathryn Walker Francis ‘94, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Karen Halsell, M.D., Hockaday’s pediatric physician since 2010; Erika Herridge, R.N., who meets biweekly with the Dallas County Health Department; Neelesh Mehendale, M.D., Secretary of the Board and a Frisco-based Ear, Nose and Throat specialist; and Nicole Small, ‘91, incoming Hockaday Board Chair.

“There was not a single person on the medical advisory board with a public health degree. It just wasn’t strategic,” Adesanya said.

Boarders enrolled for the upcoming school year are trying to find ways to preserve their learning experience in response to this continued closure. While Hockaday has vowed that current boarders are a priority, Nancy Chen, ‘23, feels administration is not looking out for boarders’ best interests.

“The three options they gave us were do distance learning from across the ocean, become a day student and find a family to live with or just leave, transfer to somewhere else,” Chen said.

Chen added that finding accommodations within Dallas was a challenge on its own.

“They don’t even help you to find a host family,” Chen said. “And to make it worse, they announced [the closure of the residence hall] in late December, leaving us only a few weeks to apply to other schools before January deadlines if we wanted to transfer.”

While the announcement of this historic decision came in the midst of the Covid pandemic, conversations surrounding the future of the boarding program actually began far before last March.

“Small boarding programs like ours have been challenged over the last several years,” Coleman said. “For over 20 years, the school has been

“We want to make this incredible Hockaday education available to more and more girls and young women from across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States in terms of diversity.”

Dr. Karen Warren Coleman Eugene McDermott Head of School

phots provided by the Hockaday website

The boarding department has been around since the founding of Hockaday and has changed immensly throughout the years.

unable to admit enough admissible boarding students to fill all of the [dormitory] beds. That has put a greater financial burden on our school, which prevents us from investing in other areas that could benefit all students.”

Dr. Coleman said that in the coming years, Hockaday administration hopes to reallocate the finances associated with boarding to recruitment efforts within new areas of the DFW metroplex.

“Our alumnae and current families feel very strongly that Hockaday can and should be more socioeconomically diverse, and one way of doing

that is making sure that we are able to distribute as much financial aid as possible,” Coleman said. “We want to make this incredible Hockaday education available to more and more girls and young women from across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States in terms of diversity.”

For more information on Hockaday’s boarding decision, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit the “Boarding” page on Hockaday’s website.

06 May 17, 2021

NEWS

The Fourcast

Hockaday Pride hosts day of silence Upper School students join the movement

by Caroline Bush Staff Writer

M

embers of Hockaday Pride gathered in Metzger Plaza on a cold Friday morning with stickers in hand and mouths shut. On April 23 the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network led their annual Day of Silence.

The Day of Silence is a nationwide student-led demonstration when members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies take a day-long vow of silence to represent the silence of marginalized voices every day.

Hockaday Pride invited Upper School students to join them in the movement. Members of the club handed out stickers before school and during conference period.

“We want people to participate

to their comfort here at Hockaday,” levels,” club leader Kronbach said. junior Sidney Freshman Elena Kronbach said.

Zeballos joined in “Really, it’s just the to show support thought to her LGBTQ+ that counts.” friends and to let Kronbach said them know that she was excited she is always a to see positive safe space. reactions among “I found how her peers and much I use my that she noticed voice every day, their care for and having that the LGBTQ+ taken away from community at me really put Hockaday. everything into “I think that a lot photo by Charlie Runyan perspective,” of people, especially Hockaday Pride handed out 258 Zeballos said. people who haven’t of the 300 stickers they started Hallways with, which is 62 percent of upper normally filled with had as much time school student on campus. to explore their students’ chatter identity, can see fell quiet on the that there is a large support system Day of Silence. Some teachers altered

their class agendas to accommodate students holding their vows.

Senior Leah Segal said they hope with the Day of Silence, queer students will be able to show Hockaday how important they are to the community, and, without queerness, Hockaday would not be the same.

“There are lot of limitations on how queer people present themselves and are allowed to within the rules at Hockaday,” Segal said.

Hockaday Pride said the goal of the Day of Silence is to give younger students a chance to see that change is possible and necessary and that they can be a big part of this change.

“Rules are necessary to establish boundaries, especially when it comes to teaching,” Segal said. “But when a rule no longer suits the people around you or betters the community, it must be broken.”

Public reacts to Chauvin conviction

Ex-officer faces up to 75 years in prison for murder of George Floyd

by Katherine Grace Estess Jade Editor Cheers erupted in a gathered crowd outside of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, after news broke that ex-Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin had been convicted for the murder of George Floyd. Tears were shed in Minneapolis and nationwide as word spread that Chauvin was convicted on all three proposed charges.

The murder of George Floyd on May 25 caused nationwide outrage and swept across social media. This day, ex-officers Chauvin, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were present at the intersection in Minneapolis at 38th and Chicago St. in response to a call unrelated to Floyd. At the scene, they arrested Floyd, a 46 year old black man, on the charge of attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd for nine minutes and 29 seconds. He was pronounced dead at the Hennepin County Medical Center at 9:25 p.m. that night.

Nearly one year after Floyd’s death, the trial of The People vs.

Derek Chauvin began. The defendant was charged with second-degree unintentional murder, thirddegree murder and second-degree manslaughter, and found guilty on all counts by April 20.

Following jury selection in early March, the trial began with an hourlong opening statement by special prosecutor Jerry Blackwell in which he addressed the jurors and told the story of Floyd’s murder.

“You will learn that on May 25, 2020, Mr. Derek Chauvin betrayed this badge when he used excessive and unreasonable force upon the body of Mr. George Floyd,” Blackwell said. “He put his knee upon his neck and his back, grinding and crushing him until the very breath, no ladies and gentlemen, until the very life was squeezed out of him,” On the opening day of the trial, the prosecution called

photo by Fibonacci Blue/Creative Commons Licensing

A make-shift memorial fills the intersection near the site where George Floyd died in Minneapolis. Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder after kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes.

three witnesses: Jena Scurry, a 911 dispatcher who answered the call that resulted in Chauvin and the other officers arriving at the intersection where George Floyd was present, and two other civilians who witnessed Floyd’s arrest.

The prosecution called key witnesses in an effort to reveal Chauvin’s guilt to the jury. Darnella Frazier, a teenager at the time of the murder, was on the scene and recorded a near full video of the crime. This video was not only a central piece of evidence to the prosecution, but one of the paramount factors in holding Derek Chauvin accountable in front of the world for murder. Without her, it is probable that a trial would not have taken place.

In 2020 following the news of Floyd’s death, some news outlets attributed his passing not to Chauvin’s actions, but to Floyd’s medical conditions such as a previous infection with COVID-19 and false claims Floyd had “an enlarged heart” that both led to lung problems.

Claims were also made that his cause of death could be credited to issues involving drug addiction.

These claims were later refuted by an autopsy performed by Andrew Baker, the chief medical examiner for Hennepin County Hospital. Floyd’s girlfriend of three years, Courteney

Ross, testified about the couple’s struggles with opioid addiction.

Dr. Bradford Langenfeld, a physician at the ER where Floyd was taken via ambulance, testified that he believed Floyd’s cardiac arrest was due to asphyxiation.

The defense, led by attorney Eric Nelson, made the case that Chauvin was merely acting on his training and doing what he was taught. Nelson also excused Chauvin’s actions in his case as he claimed Floyd had become violent and hostile during the arrest, which warranted Chauvin’s violent restraint. To refute this, witness Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo placed the blame of Floyd’s murder on Chauvin.

He walked the jurors through department policy that instructs police officers about de-escalation tactics during violent arrests.

“Once Mr. Floyd had stopped resisting - and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalize that - that should have stopped,” Arradondo said.

Furthermore, the Minneapolis Police Department Inspector, Katie Blackwell, who headed training for the department when Floyd was killed, testified that, according to training and department policy, a subject of arrest should be put “in the side recovery position or an upright position...as soon as possible...or run

the risk of asphyxiation.”

After both the prosecution and defense rested their cases, the jurors were sent to deliberate the verdict.

After less than 24 hours, they reached the decision that Chauvin was guilty of the charges, and the murder of George Perry Floyd Jr., as announced by Judge Peter Cahill. Chauvin, expressionless, was promptly handcuffed and taken into custody where he awaits sentencing, which should happen this June, said Judge Cahill.

The aforementioned three other ex-officers who aided in Floyd’s arrest, Kueng, Lane and Thao, are scheduled to be tried on Aug. 23 for their roles in the crime.

Outside of the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, after news broke that Chauvin had been convicted, cheers erupted in a gathered crowd. Tears were shed in Minneapolis and nationwide as word spread that Chauvin was convicted on all three proposed charges.

In his closing statements, prosecuting attorney Jerry Blackwell said, “You are told, for example, that Mr. Floyd died, that Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big. You heard that testimony, and now having seen all the evidence and having heard the evidence, you know the truth, and the truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr. Chauvin’s heart was too small.”

hockadayfourcast.org

08 Check out some COVID friendly summer activities

ARTS & LIFE

May 17, 2021

09 Editor-in-Chief

07

Maddie Stout reviews CornDog with No Name

photo provided by the Hockaday Archives

Graduates from the Class of 1957 pose in their white dresses and hats with their bouquets. Even though styles have changed over the years, the tradition has held on since the first class of graduates in 1916.

Past and present of graduation attire

What graduates wear on big day has changed significantly over the years

by Campbell Harris News Editor This past Saturday, the Class of 2021 walked across Commencement Terrace for the last time as students, wearing the traditional long white dresses and sun hats decorated with flowers. Hockaday Graduation is an affair to remember.

But how did commencement come to be Hockaday’s biggest tradition? Let’s take a look at the history behind the dresses, hats, flowers, and everything that makes graduation so significant.

A tradition started by Ela Hockaday, one of the most special aspects of graduation is the dress. An exception for this year’s graduation was that two graduates each wore a white cap and gown to align with their preferences.

“Hockaday’s first class of graduates was the Class of 1916, and Hockaday graduates have been wearing white dresses and hats since that first graduation ceremony,” Director of Alumnae Relations Amy Spence said.

The white dress has changed immensely over the years, modernizing with the trends and styles of the year, but each dress is unique to the class and is still a staple every year at graduation.

The senior dress moms start talking to vendors as early as June, and then the seniors see several dress options in the fall and rounds of voting take place to choose the perfect dress.

“Choosing the dresses was a little stressful because our grade was split between two choices, but in the end I think it turned out great,” senior Margaret Bracken said.

To start the voting process, the seniors gather in Clements in the fall for a dress fashion show. Wedding shops bring in bridesmaids dresses

“Hockaday’s first class of graduates was the Class of 1916, and Hockaday graduates have been wearing white dresses and hats since that first graduation ceremony.”

Amy Spence Director of Alumnae Relations

for the girls to see.

“When choosing a dress, you have to make sure that it would look good on everyone in your class, and not just yourself,” Director of Activities Vickey Thumlert said.

Another key element of the graduation look is the large sun hat each graduate personalizes. The hats are a way to honor relatives who attended Hockaday and their legacies.

A 2010 graduate walks down Commencement Terrace.

“Seniors who have had a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, or other relative who graduated from Hockaday may choose to wear that alumna’s hat,” Spence said.

In the past, all graduates wore colored hats. However, for many years everyone wore a white hat with the exception of legacy graduates, who would wear colored hats. Finally, in 2014, hats in a variety of colors were brought back for everyone to wear.

“Everyone can now choose if they want a colored hat, so color wouldn’t indicate if they were a legacy,” From IV Dean Rebekah Calhoun said.

Graduates express their

A student from the Class of 1937 poses for a photo in her stylish dress and hat.

individuality through the flowers they choose to display on their hats.

Just as the dresses have changed over the years, the process of choosing flowers has as well. Years ago, graduates had to choose from a slim variety of flowers, but now the girls have a wide variety to choose from, picking out any flower style and color imagined.

“The girls have many choices and can absolutely choose the flowers that go on their hats,” Calhoun said.

This year’s dress remained a secret until the big day, but still proved to uphold Hockaday’s traditional graduation attire.

08 May 17, 2021

ARTS & LIFE

The Fourcast

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Sigurdsson lends talents to Zoo class

by Elisa Carroll Web Editor Stella Sigurdsson has always enjoyed picking up paints or pens and creating art from the ideas in her head. A Form III student, Sigurdsson has changed from using her talent as an artist strictly during free time and Studio Art to making use of it in the classroom of her Biology, Impact, and the Zoo class.

As a class requirement, students work in groups over the year to develop a solution to real-world environmental issues. Sigurdsson, however, was given a different assignment. Her job was to create a visual representation of all nine groups’ projects and connect them all together.

“I wanted everyone’s group to be recognized and show how everything, one way or another, affects the world, and that all of these problems are interconnected,” Sigurdsson said.

Sigurdsson deliberately made the turtle the focal point of the piece, since turtles often embody issues with the environment and have become a symbol in the fight against climate change. Her concept was for the turtle to be swimming through trash.

“I put small details in it, like the map of the world on the cow, CO2 tires and the tags on the shirt,” Sigurdsson said. “It is your choice to pay attention to these details, just how it is your choice to care about these problems, your choice to make a difference.”

Sigurdsson first discovered her love for art in doodling. For most of her life, Sigurdsson has found herself prone to getting distracted. As a child, she noticed drawing allowed her to focus for long periods and she quickly fell in love with it.

“Whenever I do art and drawing I can sit down and do it for hours,” Sigurdsson said. “It really was something that helped me focus, and then it became more of a bigger interest and passion.”

Her process begins with an idea.

As soon as one pops into her head, Sigurdssson writes it down to return to later. Next, she takes out her sketch

photos provided by Stella Sigurdsson

Stella included small details that could be easily overlooked to represent unnoticed problems in the world and our choice to recognize them.

Stella chose to paint herself at a time she was feeling selfconscious as a way of accepting and celebrating her insecurities.

book and does a rough drawing just to get a sense of where she wants to go with the idea. Sigurdsson then likes to consult with others.

“Oftentimes I will consult with my mom when I’m having a hard time deciding between different directions I could go with my pieces,” Sigurdsson said. “I find it helps to include other minds because it allows me to get a basic idea on it, and then I will get a canvas and just draw it.”

One area Sigurdsson struggles with is the details.

“I tend to be so technical and such a perfectionist, so I try to have fun with it and experiment and let myself make mistakes,” Sigurdsson said. “It comes out better when I don’t really think too hard on it.”

Sigurdsson also enjoys the use of colors in her art and the process of mixing different shades to achieve the one she needs. In determining colors, Sigurdsson draws inspiration from her feelings, making them the driving factor in most of her pieces.

“If I’m feeling confusion, I might

This piece portrays the concept of fantasy vs. reality while using colors associated with daydreaming and a lack of color at the top of the head to represent mindlessness.

want to paint something with certain colors because I associate certain colors with certain feelings,” Sigurdsson said. “Sometimes I will listen to music because I have found that it helps me visualize colors too.”

In the future, Sigurdsson said she hopes to create more pieces like the one she made for her Zoo class that

Stella portrayed the societal pressure put on women and their actions, as well as the judgement and stereotypes that follow.

center around social movements.

She has found these topics have also been a driving force in her feelings and therefore inspiration for possible pieces in the future.

“I feel very strongly about representation issues like sexism, racism, and homophobia,” Sigurdsson said. “I want to try and make more pieces that deal with those issues.”

COVID friendly summer activities Don’t make your summer a bummer

by Lea Whitley Social Media Editor

Become one with nature at the Texas Discovery Gardens

Hit up the horse trails at Stables in Fort Worth

Eat fresh at the open-air Dallas Farmers Market

Safari with friends at Fossil Rim

3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas, TX 75210

10001 Benbrook Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76126

920 South Hardwood St, Dallas, TX 75201

2299 CO Rd 2008, Glen Rose, TX 76043

photo provided by Texas Discovery Gardens

With 7.5 acres of botanical gardens, a butterfly releasing house and a snake shack, you are sure to have a great day immersed in nature at the Texas Discovery Gardens. Located in Fair Park, the Discovery Gardens are open Wednesdays-Sundays.

Get off your couch and enjoy this urban oasis with friends and family.

photo provided by Benbrook Stables

Want to get back to your Texas roots this summer? Go on a scenic horse ride at Benbrook Stables in Fort Worth. Hourly guided trail rides or arena rides are available seven days a week.

Can I get a “yeehaw?”

photo provided by Dallas Farmers Market

photo provided by Fossil Rim

If you are a fan of insanely fresh foods, check out the Dallas Farmers Market at The Shed, an open-air pavilion where regional vendors sell their homegrown foods. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, the Shed is the best place to support local farmers while also getting the freshest ingredients in all of Dallas.

With species ranging from emus to giraffes, Fossil Rim is sure to offer you a day of excitement.

Open daily, rain or shine, Fossil Rim offers self-guided, Covid-19 safe driving tours as well as group tours. While it is a 1.5 hour drive from Dallas Fort Worth, Fossil Rim’s many furry faces make sure that time is worth your while. Anyway, who doesn’t want to feed a giraffe out of the sunroof of their car?

hockadayfourcast.org

ARTS & LIFE

09

May 17, 2021

REVIEWS

Spoilers: Superheroes are for everyone Marvel’s “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” plans for MCU

by Bennett Trubey Staff Writer Marvel Entertainment, a worldrenowned entertainment company owned by the Walt Disney Company, has attracted a large audience since it first began publishing comic books in 1939.

Now, Marvel Studios has created some of the most popular and highest-grossing superhero movies in the industry.

More than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, entertainment companies have had to adapt to the closure of theaters across the globe and smaller crowds to release films. Marvel Studios has quickly adapted by investing in streaming services and TV shows with the recent release of two live-action series: “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+.

Both series, considered part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4, pave the path for the studio’s future movies and shows and continue from where 2019’s blockbuster film “Avengers: Endgame” left off.

Disney released the first episode of “WandaVision” on Jan. 15, with one episode airing each Friday for eight weeks. The series focuses on Wanda Maximoff (played by Elizabeth Olsen), a powerful, magic-wielding Avenger first introduced in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015). It takes place after the death of her lover, Vision (Paul Bettany), an android created by Tony Stark as a physical extension of his AI assistant, in “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018).

The series starts with Wanda and her now-alive and now-husband, Vision, who live in a sitcom that travels into the next decade each episode. The first episode seemed to be filmed in the 1950s and follows the newlyweds as they attempt to conceal their powers and fit

photo provided by Disney+

Marvel’s Studios’ “WandaVision,” is designed to appear as a sitcom based in different decades and filmed in front of a live studio audience.

photo provided by Disney+

Marvel’s Studios’ “WandaVision,” is designed to appear as a sitcom based in different decades and filmed in front of a live studio audience.

in. However, viewers soon learn the true nature of the strange, time-traveling town and sitcom Maximoff finds herself in as the series progresses.

“WandaVision” also introduces Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hann), a powerful witch, who joins the ranks of incredible female villains, and was very well-received by fans.

Overall, I enjoyed the originality and cleverness of “WandaVision”’s wellwritten plot and found myself anxiously awaiting each episode, especially after an unexpected plot twist in episode 4.

The second series released on Disney+, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), aka the Falcon, as he struggles with carrying the mantle of Captain America and the iconic shield, passed down to him by Steve Rogers in “Avengers: Endgame.” Wilson and his partner, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), aka the Winter Soldier, team up to put down the powerful anti-nationalist

No Name, No Game

group, the “Flag Smashers,” led by Karli Morgenthau (Erin Kellyman).

Many obstacles, such as the shocking introduction of another Captain America (Wyatt Russel), present themselves, but the plot is so well-written that it doesn’t seem too complicated.

The six-episode series premiered March 19. I was again invested in this series and the characters. I appreciated the representation and discussions about racism and the under-representation in the world of superheroes seen throughout the episodes. With the introduction of Sam Wilson as the new Captain America by the end of the series, I found myself excited for Marvel’s future and the new path they seem to be paving for equal representation in the entertainment industry.

Along with these new series, Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, announced the upcoming series and movies for Phase 4.

The trailer for one of these upcoming

movies was released recently, introducing a new character, ShangChi (Simu Liu). “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is set to release in theaters on Sept. 3. The film will highlight the story of the son of the Marvel comic books’ villainous martial arts master, Fu Manchu, and the obstacles he encounters in trying to discover his father’s intentions. The movie boasts an AAPI dominated cast, starring Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh and many more, signifying an important step towards equal representation in the film industry.

Additionally, one of Marvel Studios’ most highly anticipated movies will finally be released on July 9 this year.

“Black Widow,” starring Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, will premiere on Disney+ (with an additional fee) and select theaters during the summer. Directed by Cate Shortland, “Black Widow’’ is the second femaleactress-led solo film in the franchise, the first being “Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson, in 2019. Natasha Romanoff, an iconic and empowering character, was first introduced in “Iron Man 2” (2010).

Having been on and off in the works since 2004, “Black Widow’’ will finally shine a light on the female Avenger who has empowered so many women and young girls alike.

Seeing as many more Phase 4 movies and series are scheduled for release in 2021, my hope for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that they continue the same inclusivity and representation shown in “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” and in the plans for new series and films such as “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Black Widow,” throughout the rest of the franchise’s work. Superheroes can empower all fans, young and old, and it is essential that studios, such as Marvel, understand that and do their best to show equal representation in their films and series.

CornDog with No Name 10220 Technology Blvd E #102, Dallas, TX 75220

Fletcher family branches out

by Maddie Stout Editor-in-Chief Fletcher’s Corny Dogs — a staple of the Texas State Fair. The company has provided fried, battery goodness to fair visitors for nearly 80 years. Now, though, Dallas residents can feast on “fine stick food” year-round at corndog heiresses’ Vic and Jace Fletcher’s CornDog With No Name.

Founded in 2019 after the death of Fletcher’s founder Neil Fletcher, the “concept foodery” gets its name from the dramatic, publicized lawsuit over the family name and legacy that ended last year. The settlement specified that the granddaughters of Neil Fletcher cannot use his name or back story in connection with their business. A combination catering company and restaurant, the business’ most recent endeavor is the opening of a second store in Preston Center.

Both the restaurant and menu veer sharply from the homey, casual Fletcher’s I know and love. While classics like the original corny dog and funnel cake are certainly offered, the space caters towards Instagram photographs and those seeking unique flavors. Standouts from the menu include plant-based dogs, hotdogs

wrapped in 24k gold (served with champagne by request) and the option to infuse any corn dog with CBD oil.

During my visit, I decided on a safer option, choosing to sample the taster trio of the classic, spice and beef corn dogs and, of course, to snack on a funnel cake. Despite my conservative order, my eyes bulged at the $22 price tag that came along with it (exacerbated by the Fiji water that served as the least expensive beverage on the menu).

While I waited for my food, I observed children and adults alike lounging on the couch inside and playing the games scattered around the restaurant. With cleverly labeled art like “Grandpa With No Name” (a picture of Neil Fletcher and a reference to the trademark battle), I could certainly appreciate the upscale yet playful atmosphere.

A short while later, my food arrived, and I was instantly transported to a warm day at the State Fair. While I don’t usually love corn dogs, I make an exception for Fletcher’s (and now the Fletcher’s-adjacent CornDog With No Name), and all three of my miniature corn dogs were delicious. I loved my funnel cake and tried the superb fried

photo by Maddie Stout

photo by Maddie Stout

The funnel cake, while expensive, proved to be a tasty dessert option.

Oreos, too, but next time I may have to opt for the more exciting Bonfire Cake, a s’mores-inspired cake with a real flame on top.

On the other hand, my stomach was not nearly as fond of my meal. Although I knew what I was getting myself into before walking into the store, consuming an entire lunch of fried foods is not advisable. For that reason (and the hefty price tag that comes along with it), I think I’d have to stick

to picking either a corn dog or dessert at CornDog with No Name and going somewhere else for the rest of my meal.

I’d recommend coming for a late night snack, but at the moment the store is only open until 5 p.m.

Promising a taste of fair food yearround, CornDog with No Name is the perfect place to go for the Fletcher’s fanatic. However, for a regular person like me, I think I’ll stick to the rare visit to taste-test the strange flavors (and definitely splitting with a friend).

10 May 17, 2021

ARTS & LIFE

Prom in a pandemic

The Fourcast

Seniors celebrate ‘night under the stars’

by Olivia Garcia Business Manager

O

n May 1, Form IV was able to have their “night under the stars” at the Hilton Anatole. Despite the loss and uncertainty of several senior traditions, Form IV had a COVID-19 safe prom with masks, social distancing, dancing and a live DJ. “Prom was amazing,” senior Caroline Collins said. “It was so nice to be able to have an event where COVID-19 wasn’t a constant source of worry.”

However, prom was not all smooth sailing. Though originally meant to be outdoors in the Hilton Anatole gardens, the possibility of rain forced the event to be moved indoors at the last minute. Thankfully, the prom moms and senior prom committee prepared tirelessly all year for any and all prom changes.

Kathy Crow and Amy Ware volunteered and were ultimately selected by Senior Mom Dawne Tribolet to serve as prom moms and spearhead the event.

“This was super special as Arabella and Sarah are our youngest and this

is the last chance we will have to plan a fun school dance for them,” Ware said.

Though prom was this spring, the prom moms Kathy Crow and Amy Ware actually began the planning process last spring. Before COVID-19 hit in March, the prom moms visited the Virgin Hotel and were working to book it as the venue.

“I would say the most important step is finding the venue,” Crow said.

“It’s what sets the mood and theme for the evening.”

With the Virgin Hotel set as the venue, the prom moms planned for an indoor/outdoor prom on the garden floor. However, due to COVID-19, the planning process came to a halt.

This pause in the planning process and the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic made it hard to determine what the class of 2021’s prom would look like.

“For me, the most important step seemed to be remaining flexible,” Ware said. “With COVID-19 we were constantly pivoting to accommodate the changing nature of what was going to be possible.”

In August, the planning began to pick up again; the prom moms met

with Form IV Dean Rebekah Calhoun to start thinking about themes and the video. Around this same time, Form IV selected their prom committee.

During orientation week, Form IV students who wanted to serve on the prom committee gave a nomination speech. After hearing from all the candidates, Form IV voted on their prom committee via a poll sent by Calhoun.

The 2020-21 prom committee consisted of Burkeleigh Boyd, Zoe Cote, Lena Hicks, Emma Simons, and Sarah Wright. Barbara Lou, president of Upper School, also had a hand in the planning process. The prom committee worked with the prom moms throughout the year to make prom a reality.

“I liked getting to have an insight into the planning process and as a student I felt very involved,” Cote said.

Their first meeting focused on the theme and invitations. While the prom committee polled their grade about potential themes, the prom moms worked on the specific invitation details like printing. Together they organized cookies and necklaces to be delivered with each invitation.

Seniors Julia Donovan, Isabel Malakoff, Kate Wills, Claire Tate, Lauren Bailey, and Kate Clark gather to take group photos before going to the Hilton Anatole.

Another major step in the planning process was the theme announcement video. Cote, along with the other prom committee members, planned and filmed the video in March. In the video, the girls traveled from class to class until eventually making their way to the planetarium where they announced the theme: night under the stars. The committee showed the video to their classmates on April 1.

Aside from the announcement video, Cote’s favorite part of the process was meeting with the Hilton Anatole, the new venue for prom, to discuss decorations, food, and protocols with the venue.

Though COVID-19 caused this year’s prom to look different from previous years, the event was still a memorable night for the class of 2021.

COVID companions

How animals raised during pandemic are doing now

by Remy Finn Sports Editor

Now

Start of pandemic Payton Thurman (parakeet, Kiwi): “During quarantine, we all got a bit bored, so when our family friend FaceTimed us on June 30 asking if we would take care of his pet bird, we immediately said yes.

Kiwi is a Monk Parakeet who has become one of our favorite pets and is so incredibly smart. He can talk, understand conversations and often gets to fly around without a leash because he is so well-trained.”

Lindsay Heusinger (dog, Pumpkin): “We got my dog Pumpkin in October (on Halloween.) We had thought about getting a dog for a while but didn’t plan on it until my whole family was quarantined together.

We decided it was a good time to get him because we knew we could give a puppy lots of love.”

My cat (cat, Tiny): “Katherine Grace actually reached out to me last April because she rescued three stray kittens and she needed help, so I chose to keep the runt, who we named Tiny.

Victoria Gonzalez offered to take the other two kittens, so Tiny’s siblings actually aren’t too far away. She is officially a year old now.”

Grace Hoverman (dog, Frankie): This is my second dog, Frankie. She was born in late April and we got to take her home in late June in the middle of quarantine. She is a miniature beagle, and when we first got her she weighed three pounds. She likes to play with my older, and much bigger, dog Lucy (who is a Rhodesian ridgeback mutt) and sometimes pees on the floor.

Zoe Cote (dog, Stitch): We adopted my dad’s dog, Stitch, on July 5 from the Dallas SPCA. Named after Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, her nicknames include Stick, Skippy, and varying profanities. To know Stitch is to tolerate her, and anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes with her will tell you that. She is the cutest menace with a heart of gold. photo by Elisa Carroll

ARTS & LIFE

hockadayfourcast.org

by Melody Hu Arts and Life Co-Editor

May 2021 May 17,14, 2021

11

pet friendly pat

ios in dallas

Grab a bite to eat at these patios that you and your pets can enjoy

HG Sply Co.

Henderson Restaurant

HG Sply Co. is the perfect place for a date with your furry friend. The patio overlooks Lower Greenville, and the food is amazing. They even provide water bowls for your pets.

Paradiso

Henderson is known for its pizzas and rustic outdoor patio.

Located on Knox and Henderson, the patio is the perfect place for you and your pets to lounge. This restaurant is great for a hot summer day because of their outdoor fans, so you and your pet can stay cool in the heat.

La La Land Kind Cafe

Paradiso is known for its beautiful outdoor patio with several seating options and beautiful lush greenery. Their SouthernEuropean cuisine includes a variety of pizzas and pastas to choose from. This restaurant is a great spot for you and your pet. to lounge.

La La Land Kind Cafe is the perfect place to grab coffee and pastries with your pet, with several outdoor seating options. La La Land also offers a small dog park to the side of the shop for your dogs to make new friends and run around. photos by Erin Parolisi

‘

12 May 17, 2021

IN FOCUS

The Fourcast

Overcoming Gender Inequali

By Juliana Blazek and Caroline Petrikas Illustration by Molly McPhail

Taylor Swift vs. male dominated field

A

s a beloved singer, songwriter, and inspiration to not only girls but many different people, Taylor Swift continuously creates masterpieces in her songs that have the ability to connect emotionally to her listeners.

At the age of 10, she began singing at local events in her hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, and then began writing her own songs and learning how to play the guitar. After a performance at a Nashville cafe landed her a contract with Scott Borchetta’s recording company Big Machine Records at the age of 15, Swift released her first song “Tim McGraw” in 2006.

Following her first hit “Tim McGraw,” Swift produced her first album “Taylor Swift” which sold more than 5 million copies. Since the album “Taylor Swift,” she has come out with 9 more albums, her most recent, “Evermore,” released just last December.

Despite the abundance of success following Swift throughout her life, she has faced some jealousy and setbacks by fellow prominent male figures in the music industry.

In 2009, Swift had already won multiple awards for her second album “Fearless” and was receiving Best Female Video for her music video of the song “You Belong With Me” at the MTV Music Video Awards. However, before she got the chance to give her acceptance speech, rapper, Kanye West, grabbed the microphone from her and claimed that Beyonce should have won instead. Although West later apologized privately and publicly to Swift, it left her shocked at still the young age of 19.

In February 2016, West continued publicly humiliating and shocking Swift by the lyrics and music video of his song “Famous”. When West released his song with lyrics “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b*tch famous...I made that b*tch famous…”, Swift claimed she was not asked permission nor made aware of these lyrics. West and his now ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, released a snippet of a phone call where Swift allegedly allowed her name to be mentioned in the song. However, her team claims the snippet wrongfully portrays the situation in which she was never told the lyrics referencing her contained “I made that b*tch famous”, but instead

asked to promote the song, which she declined due to its misogynistic message.

Continuing the feud, when West’s “Famous” music video was released on June 25, 2016, it contained naked wax figures of several well-known celebrities, including Swift, laying on a bed next to him.

However, Swift’s experiences in the maledominated music industry did not end there.

When Swift’s contract with Big Machine Label Group expired in November of 2018, they tried to manipulate her and only offered her opportunities to reclaim her master recordings with the condition of her signing and relinquishing future albums. After she refused their deal, she switched record companies and signed a contract with Universal Music Group’s Republic Record. Starting with her August 2019 album “Lover”, her new contract allowed Swift to retain control of her future master recordings.

In June of 2019, Scooter Braun and his company Ithaca Holdings purchased the Big Machine Label Group and with it, Swift’s master recordings from her 2006 debut album “Taylor Swift” to 2017’s “Reputation” for just over $300 million. This deal was reportedly completed without notifying Taylor Swift, which further frayed the strings of this already delicate relationship with the Big Machine Label Group.

Because Swift does not own the master recordings to her first six albums, Scooter Braun and the Ithaca Company profit from sales and stream of her songs and albums, not her.

Swift’s experiences with discrimination in the music industry continued In 2013, at Swift’s concert meet and greet, former Denver country radio DJ David Mueller allegedly lifted her skirt and groped her. After Swift quietly reported the charge and Mueller was fired, two years later, in 2015, Mueller filed a defamation lawsuit for 3 million dollars.

Two years later, in 2015, Mueller sued her for getting him fired. Swift counter-sued for assault and battery, winning a symbolic $1, proving to other women out there that they, too, could seek justice.

Through this trial, Swift yet again highlighted sexism in the music industry, but refused to let it halt her or her career and continued her trend of female empowerment.

Taylor Swift through the years

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

IN FOCUS

hockadayfourcast.org

May 17, 2021

13

ity in the Music Industry Swift fans reflect on her journey As a role model that many people have grown up looking up to, Taylor Swift and her music play a large role of inspiration and hope in many people’s lives.

Swift’s ability to connect and bring about emotion in her music really helps her listeners going through similar situations or emotional states.

“I think her songs have the ability to tell a story like no other and sometimes it’s from her own perspective and sometimes from the perspectives of others.” Inez Johnson, Co-President of the Taylor Swift Club said.

“I can always find a way to make the lyrics fit into my life and I think her ability to do that is really unmatched.”

Emilia Callahan, Co-President of the Taylor Swift Club, agreed, “She writes fiction and fantastical stories that kind of whisk you away in the moment which provides an escape from ordinary life into this happy place she has created for all of her listeners.”

Swift doesn’t just tell stories and raise awareness through her music. Whether injustices or inequalities, Swift uses her platform to highlight flaws and issues within society and to demand change, empowering others to find their voices.

Although silent on her political stance at first, Swift’s voice has developed with her popularity and experience.

“She has had this really incredible journey of being a pretty passive person in the music

industry whereas now she is speaking about injustices and inequalities and advocating for musicians’ rights and female empowerment within the music industry.”

Johnson added.

“Taylor inspires me because she always stands up for what she believes in. We see this clearly in the Miss Americana documentary when she talks about stalking laws and getting involved for the first time taking a political stance.”

Continuing to empower young women everywhere, Swift publicly shared her fight against gender inequality in the music industry through her journey to reclaim her master records.

“I think it is a big moment because it has drawn a lot of attention to the importance of artists owning their own work and how young musicians in the music industry especially women can get taken advantage of.”

Johnson continued. “As women we’re so often wanting to be agreeable and thankful that we’re even allowed to be at the table instead of asking for what we want.

Being afraid to ask for what we want, what we deserve, because we’re afraid that it will all be taken away in the first place.

Young women everywhere look to Swift as a role model and blueprint for navigating gender inequalities.

“I think that Taylor swift is an amazing example of women empowerment and I think that everyone who can should follow her lead and speak out against matters that are important to them.” Callahan said.

Vocalists’ view on the industry:

“I feel like the greatest gender inequality in the music industry is how artists of different genders are perceived. When a male artist pursues his career at all costs, making sacrifices for his own prerogatives, the media applauds him as “ingenious” and “motivated.” When a female artist does the exact same, the media attacks her as “cutthroat,” “manipulative,” and/or “aggressive.””

-Eleanor Lockhart

2017

2019

2020

“I do think that there is gender inequality in the music industry, especially the way female musicians are viewed. Many female instrumentalists are seen to be less talented and skilled than their male counterparts. It’s the comments like, “Oh, you’re a girl who plays guitar?” “You must be the singer,” etc. that I’ve heard and most female musicians have. It’s also the way beauty is valued as much and even over talent in the pop industry.”

-Elizabeth Echt

“I definitely think there is gender inequality in the music industry, although many may not notice it.

The main issue I can think of is the different levels of support for male and female singers. To fix these problems, we need to normalize listening to artists regardless of both our gender and theirs, and we also need to hold male celebrities accountable for their actions so that women are no longer the only villains portrayed in the media.”

-Sienna Ellis

2020

2021

14

May 17, 2021

16 Model UN adapats to a virtual setting

FEATURES

The Fourcast

17 Look at the events

that shaped the 2020-21 school year

Meet new STUCO members

Student council officers, board chairs inducted for 2021-22 school year

by Hanna Zhang Copy Editor

President: Remy Finn

Vice President: Cassie Liu

“I am so excited for the opportunities that next year will bring and I believe that our Student Council will create not just an incredible senior year for the class of 2022, but also a year of rebuilding for the rest of Upper School.”

“My role is to work closely with Remy and the rest of the council, lead executive committee meetings and coordinate the club system. I hope to improve the club application process and expand club fair. I also hope to give the student body more of a say in activities usually exclusively decided by student council.”

Academic Council: Kyulee Kim

Activities Comittee: “I will organize academi- Lili Beck cally helpful events, such as JRP panel and Hockatalks, as well as stress relieving activities, such as movie screenings and small treat bags during stressful season of the year. I will strive to collaborate with other council boards for fun activities (like rock painting or tea party!) to make our academic life a little less stressful. Get excited for the transformation of our bulletin board next year!”

Honor Council: Julia Weisman

“My goal is to be the ultimate party planner for our student body! Specifically, I plan to work with other mixer and board committees at both St. Mark’s and Hockaday to plan fun events — ensuring that we have awesome DJ’s, great venues, and great merch!

I also have a lot of creative and fresh ideas to help relieve student’s stress during the week and brighten moods.”

“I am here to be a voice and offer support/encouragement to our Hockaday boarders. I would like to create events that help reinforce the positive legacy of boarding to Hockaday. In addition, I want to create an environment of inclusivity to ensure that these last years are special for boarding, day and distance learners alike.”

Athletic Board: Minje Kwun “I promise to increase school spirit and support student athletes. I will plan exciting pep rallies with fun themes, host zoom panels with Hockaday alums who play college sports, and design a Hockaday Daisy Mascot Costume to cheer at games.

It is my hope to also provide letterman jackets for Hockaday athletes. Go Hockaday, and Protect the Meadow!”

Student Diversity Board: Hannah Philip

“I want to create a welcoming environment for students to discuss topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion. My biggest goal for this year is to select discussion topics that are familiar to the student body but also result in exposure to new perspectives.”

Financial Officer and Parliamentarian: Princess Ogiemonyi “I will look over the budget and make sure everything’s in order, and during interviews I will keep order and make sure we’re on task. My plans are to have fundraisers so we can allocate more funds for activities and mixers.”

Convocations Board: Laura Taten “I help to plan assemblies and choose speakers. I am so excited to use technology like Zoom made popular during the pandemic to introduce speakers that in a normal year we wouldn’t get to hear from. I hope this coming year we can create assemblies that reflect the values and interests of students.”

Technology Board: Riya Guttigoli

“I hope to be able to give Tech Board a bigger role in Stuco by introducing advancing technology into the upper school. A few things I have in mind are using learning analytics for teachers and students, using VR for immersive learning, and maybe even drones for campus use (if a license permits).”

Secretary: Sophia Fowler “I will be taking notes over meetings and making sure everybody understands what we talked about and that they get everything they need to done by the next meeting. I definitely want to continue Courageous Roundtable because I think it’s a really important idea, and include other Form sport activities.”

Fine Arts Board: Melissa Dodson

Honor Council: Anna Gum

“My job is mainly to plan and organize coffeehouses/other arts events and make sure they are as fun as possible! Next year I want to have as many art events as we can, and I’m hoping to work with the St. Marks fine arts board to collaborate on having special events.”

“I will work to support Upper School students as we continue learning to integrate honor into every assignment we turn in and every conversation we have with our teachers and peers.”

Student Relations: Sarah Roberts

“I get to organize Big-Sis Little Sis events, which is really exciting because I was really close with my big sis freshman year. I’m also looking forward to arranging Hocka-Houses and hopefully creating a tradition that lasts long after our class graduates. I love SRB because it really speaks to the environment of sisterhood at Hockaday and how important that is to the Hockaday experience.”

Social Impact Board: Leena Mehendale

“I will encourage school wide participation in community service and work with other boards to coordinate a variety of service activities. Next year, I want to implement a program offering service-learning opportunities for all divisions of the school (lower, middle, and upper) that bridges the gap between these sections of the school while also encouraging greater social impact participation! “

FEATURES

hockadayfourcast.org

May 17, 2021

15

Sharma sisters bring joy to nursing homes Sister duo forms club to initiate intergenerational connections

by Ambyr Baker Staff Writer

R

ecognizing isolation’s negative impact on their grandfather, Ananya and Anisha Sharma made the Senior Pen Pals Club to repair the disconnection between nursing homes and younger age groups.

“At Senior Pen Pals, we aim to foster intergenerational connections between seniors and our generation,” Ananya said.

“While this disconnect had already been very apparent, COVID-19 has exacerbated it tremendously.”

Through heartfelt letters and artwork, their goal is to keep seniors consistently engaged because COVID-19 limitations prevent them from getting mental stimulation otherwise.

“I personally have seen the joy on a senior’s face when they get to interact with a younger kid,” Ananya said.

Because they have had a similar experience with their own family, Ananya and Anisha know the impact their club can have on others.

“Our grandpa was our biggest inspiration for us to start this club. He went into a hospital and got depressed from the loneliness there,” Ananya said. “We don’t

want the same thing that happened to our grandfather to happen to anyone else.”

While there have been similar initiatives from schools in the area, Senior Pen Pals is unique because of the reliability of their website.

“We always make sure to respond to the letters,” Anisha said, “Because of our website, we are able to store extra ‘in the back.’

We value how important it is for these seniors to have constant stimulation for warding off more diseases or mental health issues.”

The website plays a large role in the seamless communication.

COVID-19 guidelines do not allow people to hand deliver letters.

Alexia Rhiner, a staff member from Pleasant Valley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, said that the website makes this process smooth and effortless.

“So far there have been absolutely no hiccups,” Rhiner said, “The residents were overjoyed when they heard about it.”

From her perspective, Rhiner said that she can see how happy the seniors are whenever they receive personal letters and artwork.

“From my scope, this work makes the residents feel cared for beyond their own family members

Ananya and Anisha Sharma, founders of the Senior Pen Pals Club, have expended their influence to three states.

and staff,” Rhiner said. “There is a definite shift in a senior’s mood whenever they open a personalized letter.”

Senior Pen Pals plans to grow nationwide to help seniors just like the ones at Pleasant Valley.

“Right now, this club is partnered with seven nursing homes across three states in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana,” Anisha said. “Currently, we are helping about 750 seniors, and we are looking to expand into other states if possible.”

Ananya and Anisha also want to establish their club locally among

their peers.

“Our ultimate goal is to make this club available for sign-ups at Hockaday,” Ananya said. “We want to let the Upper School know what we are doing and make them aware of an easy way to get community service hours.”

Throughout their partnership, Rhiner has directly witnessed the abundant joy this club provides.

“As soon as they open their letter, you can immediately see the light in a senior’s eyes,” Rhiner said. “This program has brought so much light and happiness into Pleasant Valley in such a short amount of time.”

Long-time faculty members retire Teachers, staff members leave after years of service to community

by Melody Hu Arts & Life Co-Editor

Mrs. Linda Kramer Kramer has been teaching at Hockaday for 36 years. In her first 17 years at Hockaday, she taught English, and in her last 19 years, she has been the Head of Middle School.

Ms. Rebekah Calhoun Calhoun started teaching at Hockaday in 1996. In her 25 years of teaching, she taught various health and PE courses and has been the Form IV dean.

Dr. Beverly Lawson Dr. Lawson has been teaching at Hockaday since 1986. During her 35 years of teaching, she mainly taught Chemistry and AP Chemistry. One of her favorite memories is when she received the Honorary Alum award.

Barbara Allen Allen has been the head librarian for lower and middle school for 34 years. She also served as a seventh grade advisor for 30 years. She looks forward to returning to Hockaday for special events.

Ms. Janet Yoshii-Buenger Yoshii started teaching at Hockaday in 2001. She has taught photography and been the co-sponsor of Vibrato. Some of her favorite memories at Hockaday include her students winning awards, spending time getting to know her students, and when her seniors made a goodbye video for her.

Ms. Beth Wortley Wortley first started teaching at Hockaday in 1989. In her 32 years of teaching, she has taught all levels of dance classes and choreographed pieces for the annual musicals. From her time at Hockaday, she said she will miss her students and closest colleagues.

Mr. Kevin Brady Brady started teaching at Hockaday in 1984. In his 37 years at Hockaday, he has taught AP Art, Ceramics and Sculpture, and Film. When he leaves, he said he will miss getting to come to school every day and teach such amazing students.

Diane Glaser Glazer has taught English in Middle School for 37 years.

She has also served as English coordinator for Lower an Middle School. She said she hopes to return as a substitute or tutor.

Barbara Miller Miller has taught Lower School social studies for 13 years. She has three daughters who are Hockaday alumnae, including Mackenzie Miller, who teaches seventh and eighth grade science at Hockaday.

Trish Cobb Cobb served as office assistant for the Lower School for 19 years. She retired in fall 2020 and looks forward to traveling, returning for student performances and visiting her friends in Lower School.

16 May 17, 2021

FEATURES

The Fourcast

Model diplomacy in a virtual world Members of Model UN attend online conferences during COVID-19

by Kailey Bergstedt Staff Writer

T

he clock on the computer reads 4:55 p.m., junior Juliana Lu reads over her position paper for what feels like the hundredth time as the bright computer screen casts a glow onto her black-rimmed glasses.

After making sure every assertion is sound and every argument is supported, she clicks the join button on her Zoom screen.

This is how Model United Nations conferences begin for Lu in the wake of the pandemic. This year, all conferences are taking place online, a stark contrast from previous conferences that date back to 1927.

There are no last-minute taking of notes, packing, traveling and the many bonding moment with other members of Hockaday Model UN. Attending these online conferences, delegates are tasked not only with solving nuclear waste disposal issues, but also with having to deal with technical difficulties and Wi-Fi issues. Additionally, Zoom fatigue is a real thing.

“It can be hard to sit for long periods of time and remain focused while staring at a screen the whole

time,” Lu said.

The new conference experience also feels less formal than in previous years. It is no longer held in an official setting and the dress code is much more lenient.

Delegates can now participate in Model UN on their bed and in their pajamas rather than on a college campus in business dress.

The flow of the conference is changed from past years, due to the reliance on technology even without the inevitable computer glitch or Zoom malfunction.

“Parliamentary procedure is slower,” junior Ananya Sharma said, “which then slows debate flow.”

Delegates are already adapting to the changes in conference formatting. Instead of passing notes across the conference room or huddling together over a desk to write a resolution, they are making group chats and seamlessly collaborating on Google Docs.

There are some positives to come out of this new way of doing things.

For one, the weeks leading up to the conference are less stressful for most delegates. In previous years, no technology was allowed into the rooms where conferences were being

held so any and all notes, research or position papers had to be printed out beforehand.

“I would print out any piece of research I could find that might even remotely have to do with my argument and put it in this huge, color-coded binder that I would take to conference,” Kayla Hubbard, a junior at the Bronx School of Science, said.

Now, delegates have continuous access to technology, which gives them a feeling of security, knowing they are only a simple Google search away from any information or statistics needed.

Hosting these conferences on Zoom opens the door to a world of possibilities. Delegates can now attend conferences hosted all over the world. In previous years, Hubbard, who lives in New York, and Lu, who lives in Texas, would have never attended the same conference let alone debated each other. Hubbard was also able to attend a conference with students from Singapore and that gave her a greater insight.

“It is really interesting to see how parliamentary-procedure and the format of the conferences change in different countries,” she said.

Junior Anunya Sharma takes notes from the WMHSMUN Conference where she got an honorable mention in the Ad-Hoc coitee which is the hardest and most elite commitee

As of now, the future of Model UN conferences remains unknown.

“There’s a certain element of unity in doing these conferences now,” Hubbard said. “Yes, we’re all facing a global pandemic, but we are facing it together.”

Informational Instagram accounts

Students create special interest groups to spread awareness of issues

by Harper Harris Staff Writer Juniors Premanshi Agarwalla and Juliana Lu started Instagram accounts over the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021 that focus on activism: NewGen Hockaday and Qun (pronouced ‘choon’).

They started these accounts because of the heavy online response to the events of the happened over the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2021: George Floyd’s murder, Breonna Taylor’s murder and the dozens of hate crimes against the AAPI community. When COVID-19 restricted and discouraged people from attending in-person rallies and marches, activism moved online.

NewGen Hockaday, Agarwalla’s club, started posting on Instagram in the summer of 2020.

Additionally, the Hockaday sector of NewGen has a club at school, which was started in October 2020.

“NewGen Hockaday is a completely student-led women’s rights organization,” Agarwalla said.

“The account all started when all activism went online because no one had an in-person place to go and express their political opinions.”

Agarwalla created a Hockaday sector of NewGen to give students an informal yet organized place to express their opinions.

“When I saw NewGen on Instagram that summer I thought it was so interesting, but we don’t have anything like this at Hockaday, even though so many girls have opinions

that they want to share,” Agarwalla said. “We already have these conversations on a daily basis, there is just not an organized place to have and express them… so I thought it was a perfect fit.”

The NewGen Hockaday Instagram account focuses on women’s rights.

The graphic designers in the club create the posts.

Savannah Frederiksen, a graphic designer for NewGen, described how she creates all of her posts.

“I use Canva, which has lots of templates, colors and fonts,” Frederiksen said. “The club chooses one color for the month and we base all of our posts around that color.

Other than that, [graphic designers] have free design in our graphics.”

Starting her account in March 2021, Lu the created the Instagram account Qun. The account aims to educate others about Asian Americans and their stories of struggle and triumph.

“My goal with [the account] is to bring more awareness to certain issues, especially since there have been so many hate crimes against the Asian American community,” Lu said. “I wanted to educate and spread more word about this, but also talk about really cool things that happened in the [AAPI] community that have not been talked about in history classes or in society.”

Along with founding an Instagram account, Lu also created a website and a bimonthly newsletter. There are four sections of her newsletter: Spotlight, History, Ongoing and Culture.

Ultimately, Lu hopes people will gain awareness and empathy for the AAPI community through Qun. “My main goal for people who read [the newsletter] is to get a better idea of these things that are happening,” Lu said. “I think it’s also about empathy, but my biggest goals are awareness and education.”

Although they both manage accounts based around online activism, Agarwalla and Lu view Instagram activism differently.

Agarwalla believes that COVID-19 made activism online more useful, and she does not think that it would be as important as in-person activism if COVID-19 did not exist.

“I think Instagram activism became important after Covid-19 because we lost so many in-person forms of activism,” Agarwalla said. “All of a sudden, posting on Instagram wasn’t just performative activism.”

Agarwalla explained her stance on online activism and credits New/ Gen Hockaday’s success to the increased use of the internet as an outlet for people.

“Online activism developed as a way to garner support for movements that extended beyond just raising awareness. New/Gen Hockaday was successful because so many people were looking to Instagram and social media in general for ways to have an impact on current movements. Online activism didn’t just complement in-person activism, it replaced it to some degree.”

Lu, however, thinks that online activism has always been significant because it can reach a large number of people from a variety of places around the world.

“I think that activism on social media is really important,” Lu said. “I chose Instagram because I know a lot of my friends and a lot of people around the world use it.”

Instagram activism started to gain popularity when accounts like @impact and @feminist started to gain lots of followers. These accounts focus on activism and conversations about change.

These accounts started a wave of thousands of activism accounts taking over Instagram.

NewGen Hockaday and Qun are very similar to these big activism accounts because they all have the same main goal, to start conversations and spark change.

hockadayfourcast.org

Year in review

FEATURES

May 17, 2021

17

A glimpse of the events that filled the 2020-21 school year

by Josie Agnew Staff Artist

Club introduces alumnae mentorship program Alumnae in STEM fields work with HockaDocs Club to advise, mentor students

by Jane Clark Opinions Editor Juniors Shree Allada and Margot Meyer had an idea about getting alumnae to mentor students interested in medical careers. They launched a mentorship program, pairing about 20 students with Hockaday alumnae in the field of interest this spring.

The HockaDocs club’s main initiative is to bring speakers and information to the club members to expose them to a different side of medicine, even conducting dissections.

“One of our specific programs is the mentorship program, in which we pair a Hockaday alum who is in the STEM field, specifically medicine, with a club member,” Allada said.

The pairs are based on specific interests, so that the mentor and mentee can discuss the particular field of study and dig deeper into what that means for the student in the near future.

Allada and Meyer started the program to further allow medicallyinclined students to gain advice about working in the medical field.

“We started planning the beginning of this school year, and this was one of our objectives for the year,” Meyer said.

To match the students with a mentor, Allada and Meyer sent out a survey with questions for the

mentees about what medical fields they were interested in. The girls have connections with an alum who sent out a survey to her network of STEM alumnae. By February, they had enough information to begin making the pairs.

After the student and alumnae are paired, the club gives them the freedom to do what they want with this mentorship as they please.

“The pairs have the liberty to do what they want, so that it’s not as though the club is imposing certain rules or restrictions and things on them,” Allada said. “It allows each pair to get what they want out of the experience.”

COVID-19 restrictions and the fact that most of the mentors live across the country or internationally forces the mentoring process to take place primarily over the phone.

“I think that in a more virtual setting it is challenging to take part in research or shadowing experiences,” Allada said. “We think this program is still important so the students have this established network and connection and just to learn more about the field as a whole.”

Through forming connections with these alumnae, the students are able to get advice from them about what they should do about college

HockaDocs Medical Club brings in doctor who gives them advice about taking a medical path through highschool and college.

and outside experience that can lead them on their pre-med track.

“They can talk about the admissions process in the path that the mentor would advise for college,” Meyer said.

Sophomore Olivia Park has talked on the phone with her mentor, Anase, a biology major who is taking a gap year before her fourth year of medical school to research gene mutations.

“The experience has been really good so far, even though I thought it was going to be awkward at first,” Park said. “We talked on the phone and she told me a little bit about what she is doing right now and gave me some advice based on what I hope

to do in the future based on her own experience, and because I am interested in the research as well, I believe she is a good mentor for me.”

Park said she hopes to get advice from her mentor about navigating the pre-medical plan because she does not know much about how it could look for her during the next few years.

“My parents are immigrants and are not doctors, so I was pretty lost regarding what it looks like to take the pre-med track,” Park said. “My mentor turned out to be very helpful helping me navigate what that looks like, and she even helped me draft some emails for summer internships.”

18 May 17, 2021

19 Land use plan progress detailed

SPORTS

The Fourcast

20 Seniors’ signing day and

supporters back on the sidelines

Checking in with spring sports Team captains reflect on the end of their seasons

by Kailey Bergstedt Staff Writer

Lacrosse Varsity lacrosse went undefeated during regular season games with a record of 9 – 0. “The season is going incredibly well so far,” senior co-captain Maddie Charest said.

Although there were a few inevitable bumps that come at the beginning of every season, such as figuring out the team dynamics, the team has since worked those out. Throughout this season there have been many memorable moments, team members said. “My favorite moment from this season would have to be when we beat Flower Mound,” senior co-captain Ava Berger said. “It was so rewarding to see the team come together for this huge victory.” Typically Flower Mound and ESD are the biggest competition, but this year the lacrosse team beat them 13 – 9 and 9 – 8, respectively. They lost to St. John’s in the SPC championship on April 30 but defeated Southlake 14 – 11 in the State Championship on May 9.

Golf Across the meadow, varsity golf is swinging for success. On April 19, they hosted an invitational tournament at Brookhaven and were the Girls’ Division Champions. HVG has won four out of the five tournaments they have attended, including the SPC North Zone Championship. “Senior Night was one of the first times almost the whole team could be together and feel somewhat normal,” Wright said.

“It was my favorite moment of this season.” Varsity golf was able to have one of its first Hockaday – hosted Senior Nights at a tournament this year. “What I will miss the most about Hockaday athletics are my teammates and the amazing friendships I have made,” senior caption Doris Zhang said. The team finished the season with the SPC Championship against St. John’s on May 9 where they played strongly in the first nine holes but fell behind on the back nine.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

The entire varsity lacrosse team celebrates their win in the State Championship on May 9. Repeating history from the last time they won state, they pulled ahead to win from a spot as the wild card team.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

Varsity track, including captains Kate Clark and Alyssa Taylor, celebrates a successful season with coach Laboris Bean.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

Varsity golf won the SPC North Zone tournament at Bear Creek, also placing five golfers in the top ten. After last weekend’s SPC championship was cancelled due to rain, the team competed against St. John’s at Brookhaven Country Club.

Track and Field Track and field is also undefeated in their meets, protecting the meadow with a record of 8–0. “Track and field’s motto for this season has been ‘finish what we started,’ and it’s been so fun to pick up where we left off last year,” senior captain Kate Clark said. Due to COVID-19, however, the meets have been smaller with fewer teams competing at each. This has not impeded track and field’s competitive nature or desire to win, as they are currently ranked first for the girls division in SPC. “The team has been very successful this season,” senior captain Alyssa Taylor said. Taylor, who has been on the team all four seasons of Upper School, said her favorite memory of this season would be the 4x4 relay at the Senior Night Meet. “We did four relays to make sure all of the seniors participated, and everyone had a great time,” Taylor said. Track and Field won the SPC North Zone Championship on May 1 and placed third in the SPC Championship Meet on May 8.

Rowing The varsity rowing team has attended two scrimmage regattas this season and one official regatta, the US Rowing Central Youth Championships. At this official regatta, the team qualified two boats for Nationals, a varsity double and the Under 17 quad. “I would describe this season as being bittersweet,” junior co-captain Sophie Podeszswa said. “We are able to row but it hasn’t been as competitive.” Although they have also faced several other setbacks this season, such as only being able to row in singles for the first few weeks, the team and especially the captains said they are grateful to be out there rowing. “At our first regatta in Oklahoma City it was so great to be back on the water and racing,” senior co-captain Hannah Wahl said. The varsity rowing team will compete in the Stotesbury Regatta in Philadelphia on May 15 and the Youth Nationals in June.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

Varsity rowing raced at USRowing’s Central Youth Championships as one of only two scholastic teams in the women’s events.

SPORTS

hockadayfourcast.org

May 17, 2021

Land use plan moves ahead

19

First steps focus on infrastructure improvements, utility work

T

by Anna Gum Co-Editor-In-Chief he Hockaday Athletic Department has made visible progress since releasing a Request for Proposal to work on a Land Use plan in December 2018.

After selecting HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, as the design partner for the plan, Athletic Director Deb Surgi worked with a number of people within the Hockaday community to progress the plan.

The Athletics and Wellness team, Hockaday Chief Operations Officer Joan Guzman, Chief Financial Officer JT Coats, Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Karen Warren Coleman and Assistant Director to Athletics Jen Johnson are a few of the numerous people involved in the project.

In the last three years they have

surveyed alumnae, toured campus, consulted with parents, students, department chairs, faculty and staff and Board Members at stakeholder meetings with HOK and in ongoing weekly Core Team Meetings. In Coach Surgi’s words, the process has been largely collaborative.

While much of their plan has yet to take form, the early phases of the land use plan were initiated in fall 2018.

Aimed toward utility infrastructure improvements, the early steps will be followed with utility work in the late spring to early summer to divert storm water from campus to Bachman Creek. Once these preliminary steps see completion, the more visible, perhaps more exciting, work will begin — as early as Fall 2021.

As approved by the Hockaday Board of Trustees in March 2020, the Land Use Plan includes plans to

Architect’s rendering of the land use plan.

reorganize existing athletic fields in a North-South configuration and the addition of a Track and Field venue — complete with four synthetic turf fields, two new grass fields and two new softball skinned diamonds — a plaza with a concession stand, a locker room that includes a lounge area, a storage unit and outdoor classrooms,

gathering spaces and a crosscountry path. The plan also notes the possibility of a future natatorium, new parking, improved fitness and wellness facilities and spectatorfriendly event access.

The updates aim to further promote Hockaday athletics and student well-being.

Checking in Continued from page 18 Tennis Varsity tennis won its last four counter games, with an overall record of 4–2. Although there were a few bumps along the way, the team ended the season on a winning streak. “I think the one word to describe this season is resilience,” senior captain Rosemary Sands said. Although there was no SPC tournament for tennis this year, the varsity team will be ranked in third place for the overall season. Even without the SPC tournament, team members cited highlights of the season such as the team trip to Oklahoma City to play against Casady. Senior Kelsey Chen, Sands’ co-captain, said her favorite match this season was against Trinity Valley. “We beat Trinity Valley in a counter match even though we had lost to them during a practice match earlier in the season,” Chen said.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

In the last match of the season, varsity tennis defeated Fort Worth Country Day School 4-1.

Softball Varsity softball ended its season on a six-game winning streak.

“The most memorable game of the season was against Trinity Valley,” sophomore co-captain Maia Hartley said. “It was really exciting winning against a good team.” Between COVID-19 and the weather, many games were cancelled or rescheduled.

“The season has exceeded my expectations,” senior co-captain Avery Antes said. Softball did have a degree of normalcy with spectators being allowed, but there will be no SPC tournament this year. “A good word for this season would be perseverance,” Antes said.

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

Varsity Softball closed the season with a win over Prestonwood Christian, after celebrating senior night on April 28.

20 May 17, 2021

SPORTS

The Fourcast

Reviving Daisy spirit

Supporters return to the sidelines for end-of-season competitions

by Lacy Green Staff Writer

T

eams have played their games throughout this year without in-person supporters, but with fans watching online for COVID safety. However, the recent decision to allow two senior parents or guardians at the varsity and junior varsity spring games has been a step toward returning to some sense of normalcy.

The varsity lacrosse team has benefitted the most from this decision because of its participation in the SPC Championship and state tournament. As they wrapped up their season, they competed for the SPC title game, hosted by Hockaday.

Not only were the athletes’ parents allowed to attend, but the junior and senior classes were also invited to cheer on their peers. While the Daisies may not have won the hardfought game, they went on to win the state tournament, and there is no doubt that co-captain Maddy Charest and the rest of the team felt the spirit from the sidelines.

“Although I know we were already being cheered on through the livestreams, having their support on the sidelines makes the games so much more fun and energetic,”

Charest said.

Not only are parents now allowed back on campus for Upper School athletics, but there have been more changes to the spring season sports.

Upper School athletes are now only required to wear masks on the bench, but not during play.

As COVID-19 protocols and precautions have changed rapidly

and unexpectedly, Coach Deb Surgi, director of athletics, has worked closely alongside the school’s Medical Advisory Committee, as well as with the other Dallas SPC schools to make changes to the policies as the circumstances progressed.

“We assess COVID-19 protocols weekly, sometimes daily, given the changing landscape, and the

photo courtesy of Deb Surgi

Varsity Co-Captain senior Maddy Charest fights to score on Southlake in a harrowing game. The varsity lacrosse team had to wear masks during practice and on the sidelines, but not on the field, and parents were allowed to attend games late in the season.

spectator policy was reviewed in all seasons,” Surgi said.

While fall and winter athletes such as Ryenne Reiter, varsity basketball player, said they wish they could have had parents or supporters at their games, they believe the decision is fair based on the current COVID-19 regulations and are happy for their fellow athletes.

“I feel that Hockaday made a good decision pertaining to COVID-19, as I was very thankful that parents were allowed back on campus for spring sports, especially for the sake of the seniors,” Reiter said.

Prior to the spectator policy update, all varsity and JV games were livestreamed for fans to watch live and for teams to rewatch game film. Games will continue to be livestreamed, but not all games will be included.

Teams of all seasons have competed for the year no matter who was or was not watching from the sidelines. Bringing back fans to the games has only added to the Daisy spirit.

“Our teams represent our school and our fans, and they are essential to building and nurturing the entire Hockaday community,” Surgi said.

Signing Day for senior athletes Recruited athletes make college choices official at ceremony

by Melody Tian Staff Writer

S

un shining upon the Graduation Terrace and emotions high, 11 student athletes sat socially distanced as they signed with their committed schools on April 21.

During the event, the athletes gave short speeches, capturing their athletic experience during their high school life. The head coaches of their sports acknowledged their achievements as well.

Alyssa Taylor, a senior committed to Tulane University for track and field, said signing day celebrates athletes who will continue their sport in college. For most schools, the athletes will receive an official document to sign that represents their commitment to attend and play.

In past years, signing day has been an event for everyone to watch in person. However, this year, only the faculty and the signee’s parents were allowed to attend the event.

Emilia Callahan, a senior who committed to Dartmouth College for field hockey, said she appreciated the opportunity for supporters to attend.

“I’m really excited that they have been able to invite our families, because my parents got to come, and so does my little sister,” Callahan said.

Callahan attends practice for field hockey twice a week and said she is thrilled to be going to Dartmouth

next year. She said she is also happy that, as a freshman in a totally new environment, she will have a team around her to support her through all the challenges she may encounter.

Minje Kwun, a junior who committed to the admissions process at Dartmouth College for lacrosse, watched the signing event.

“It’s so amazing seeing some girls in the grade above me signing into their dream colleges for the sports they’ve been working so hard on for their whole lives,” Kwun said.

From top left: Lauren Stallings, Sewanee: The University of the South for Lacrosse; Alyssa Taylor, Tulane University for Track and Field; Erin Hughes, Rollins College for Rowing; Estelle Fisher, Washington and Lee University for Swimming; Sophia Foster, LeHigh University for Rowing; Annie Herring, Brown University for Rowing; Diana Piovanetti, Cornell University for Fencing, Kate Clark, Boston College for Track and Field; Emilia Callahan, Dartmouth College for Field Hockey; Maddy Charest, Tufts University for Lacrosse; Laine Betanzos, Colgate University for Rowing.

hockadayfourcast.org

22 Pro and Con for late school start

OPINIONS

May 17, 2021

23 AStrong action

21

necessary to stop AAPI hate crimes

Return of international travel With vaccines in hand, what does the near future look like?

I

f you’ve been fully vaccinated, your world is opening up.

The CDC states that travel inside the United States is permissible without a COVID test or any quarantine time for those who are fully vaccinated, and only testing is required for international travel. Internationally, countries that are currently allowing U.S. travelers are limited, and most have strict testing and/or quarantine guidelines upon arrival. U.S. News has reported that the countries that are easiest to enter this spring are Carribean countries, like Aruba, the Bahamas, St. Barts and St. Lucia.

The number of people that are traveling via planes has risen dramatically through these new changes and greater vaccine access.

For example, according to the TSA, on April 21, approximately 1,572,383 passengers went through airport security in the United States.

Understandably, these numbers are significantly higher than on April 18, 2020, when 105,382 passengers went through checkpoints, but this year’s levels are still barely 50 percent of the 2,356,802 passengers in 2019, pre-COVID. International travel and domestic travel are expected to reach similar levels, over the summer as people

return to normal life. What’s harder to predict is what precautions and quarantine procedures will look like for students in the fall at Hockaday.

The majority of Hockaday students are younger than 16, so they are not yet eligible to receive a vaccine. For them, the CDC’s guidelines include quarantines and testing, along with significantly more risk than if they were

Nurse Erika Herridge spoke about what impact the vaccine has on life at Hockaday, especially as more students are eligible and begin to receive the vaccine.

“I’d like to start with the benefits of having a vaccine that can be given to people ages 16 and up. This is a huge medical achievement and honestly one I really didn’t think we would be able to achieve within

“Things like homecoming, mixers, parties, football games and eating in restaurants with friends are starting to seem closer on the horizon as things that are safe to return to.”

Libby Hill Managing Editor completely vaccinated.

However, for students who are older and have received a vaccine, life is returning closer to normal. A year has been lost, but the vaccine comes with a new level of freedoms this summer and going into next fall.

Things like homecoming, mixers, parties, football games and eating in restaurants with friends are starting to seem closer on the horizon as things that are safe to return to.

a year.”

“The benefits of having vaccinated people on campus is; it lowers infection in the community therefore limiting the potential spread of infection and the need to quarantine those who have not been vaccinated or are not yet eligible to receive it.”

This spring, the availability and rollout for vaccines for the general population has risen rapidly across the United States. In Texas, as of April 22, over 24 percent of the population

Libby Hill Managing Editor had been fully vaccinated, and 37 percent had received at least one dose.

Dallas County is second to only Harris County, which contains Houston, in the levels of citizens who have received a dose. Additionally, on March 29, the state opened vaccine eligibility to the general population as long as they were over the age of 16.

Nurse Herridge recommended that Hockaday families take every situation on a case-by-case basis and follow CDC guidelines.

“Hockaday has not made any decisions related to the COVID-19 vaccine for students, nor for faculty and staff, at this time. The available vaccines have only emergency use authorization from the FDA and have not been fully tested in children.”

Facing AAPI hate Asian xenophobia escalates during time of COVID-19

Lily Fu Guest Writer Eight people were killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta March 16. Six of those victims were Asian women, and the shootings took place in three Asian-owned businesses. According to the New York Times, the victims included a single mother of two young boys, a woman who was one day shy of turning 50 and another mother of two teenage children.

Although this attack was clearly aimed toward the Asian American community, when Capt. Jay Baker, an officer from Cherokee County, Georgia, was interviewed about the incident, he claimed the shooter

was just having a “bad day,” and didn’t address the problem as what it really is: a hate crime.

Additionally, according to USA Today, about a year ago, Baker posted a xenophobic picture of a shirt that said, “COVID-19 imported virus from Chy-na,” and encouraged his followers to buy his shirts.

Because of people like Baker and our former president Donald Trump, who repeatedly called the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and “Kung f lu,” Time magazine found that hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased by 1,900 percent in New York and 150 percent across our nation.

In the past year, NBC News has reported over 3,800 cases of antiAsian hate crimes, mostly against Asian American women. Despite these alarming statistics, Asian hate still continues today, ranging from microaggressions to literal mass shootings.

Although many people have probably heard about the Atlanta shooting, news about smaller, but equally important, incidents don’t seem to make the cut for

mainstream media.

According to NBC News DFW a few weeks ago, in Keller, just over an hour drive from Dallas, a 58-year-old Chinese immigrant named Feng Zhou was killed in a hit and run. The victim and his wife were walking on the sidewalk during an evening stroll when a large SUV veered off the road, hit Feng, and quickly sped away.

Unfortunately, Feng died, and his wife suffered from injuries.

Feng’s story is one of many that aren’t talked about as much as they should be.

Another example of a hate crime that needs more attention is the killing of Vicha Ratanapakdee. CNN News reported that Vicha, a Thai American man, died after being forcefully pushed to the ground in January of this year. This kind of attack happened again on Jan. 31, when a white man violently shoved a 91-year-old Asian man, a 60-yearold Asian man, and a 55-yearold Asian woman in Oakland, California, according to ABC News.

People, the media, and society have all been quiet about Asian

hate for far too long, and it’s time for some real change to happen. Luckily, unlike President Trump, President Biden has announced specific courses of action the government will take to respond to Anti-Asian violence and xenophobia.

WhiteHouse.Gov reported that Biden plans to appoint a permanent director to lead the AAPI initiative in coordination of policies across the federal government. Additionally, Biden plans to provide funding for the AAPI survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as well as establish a COVID-19 Equity Task Force committee on addressing and ending xenophobia against Asian Americans. Finally, Biden will ensure that funds go to critical research for preventing racial biases and prejudices toward the AAPI community.

Although these are necessary steps in the right direction toward racial equality, this country still has a lot of room for progress when it comes to justice for minority groups.

22 May 17, 2021

OPINION

The Fourcast

Pro: Late start An extra 30 minutes really matters in the mornings

T

here is always that one question on personality surveys: are you a morning person or night owl? Now, you may be the former and do well in the mornings; however, every time I see this question, my mouse immediately clicks on the “night owl” option, as I am 100 percent a night person.

Of course, I’m not going to say waking up to see the dawn is not a great feeling. There is something special about getting off the bus at a cross country meet over an hour away from Dallas and seeing the sun rise over the horizon. But if I have a choice? I will be happily sleeping in.

Thus, when I heard that school was going to start at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. I was elated. Ecstatic, even. It was an extra 30 minutes of sleep — how could I not be excited!

And technically speaking, school now ends at 4:15 p.m instead of 4 p.m. which means our school day is now 15 minutes shorter than previous years.

If that’s not enough to convince you to appreciate the extra 30 minutes, I don’t know what is.

Some may think: why don’t you just go to bed 30 minutes earlier? It would be basically the same thing as those extra 30 minutes in the morning. But the thing is, it’s not. It’s so easy to procrastinate your bedtime thanks to recently developed technologies, like the mobile cellphone. Before I go

to bed, I’ll scroll through Instagram just to catch up on posts and stories, and before I know it 20 minutes have passed - 20 minutes past my planned bedtime. It’s more effective, at least for me, to be able to sleep in rather than go to bed earlier.

Also, in the case that you are a morning person, you now have an extra 30 minutes in the morning to get that English paragraph written for next class or grab some Chicken Minis for the road.

The possibilities are endless with those extra minutes in the morning. You even have time to walk or bike to school if you wish, without having to wake up at atrocious hours in the morning to do so; and considering daylight savings times, thanks to those extra 30 minutes you won’t have to walk or bike when it’s dark. Especially if you live far away, getting to leave your house a bit later helps you avoid the traffic jams that occur in the morning. Even though I live close to Hockaday, I’ve heard from friends that they

are able to leave the house 50 minutes later this year than they were last year, just because the time on the road has been reduced.

Considering my terrible sleeping habits, even if I try to go to bed earlier, it still takes me a while to actually fall asleep. Therefore, my time would be much better spent toiling away during the daytime and evening so that I can easily fall asleep around midnight — because I will be able to sleep in. In

Hanna Zhang Copy Editor the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “A well-spent day brings happy sleep,” and I couldn’t agree more.

Illustration by Tess Benedict

Con: Late start

Time proves more productive in the evenings Getting to school 30 minutes later every day; what a cool addition to the changes made to this unusual school year, right? Wrong. The 8:30 a.m. start was optimal for anyone with a busy after-school schedule or procrastination issues — and I’d say that makes up the majority of the Upper School.

I get it: when school starts at 9 a.m., we get 30 minutes back in the mornings, and that seems pretty nice until you break down what that really means. The only real benefit I see from the 9 a.m. start is that I get about 15 more minutes of sleep in the morning. But when you think about it, those 900 seconds of sleep don’t do much in the long run.

Starting at 9 a.m. comes with many things, but one of my main dislikes is getting out at 4:15 p.m. I recognize that it’s only 15 minutes later, but as someone who has to commute 30 minutes to and from Southlake every day, traffic picks up quickly within that time frame. Whether it be a 30-minute drive down 635 and 114 or a 10 minute drive down Forest, traffic gets heavier the later it gets.

Getting home a little earlier allows

me more time to spend as I wish. I can my learning style, but having time to decompress and just relax before I be productive while my brain is fully have to jump into my tutoring or drive awake and active would be so helpful! back toward Dallas for soccer practice Not only do I want to see the three nights a week. Those 15 minutes return of my precious after-school that I spend in school, counting down free time, but my wallet also needs a the clock, break. Even could be 15 though I’d like minutes spent “All in all, late starts can be to sleep in, grabbing an beneficial for a few extra oftentimes I after-school end up getting minutes of sleep, but when snack or even up, leaving it comes to most other just scrolling for school at through things, I’d much rather go my normal TikTok. time and back to beginning school at And while having plenty after school of time to 8:30 a.m.” snacks and spare before I mindlessly have to be in Lacy Green browsing class, which I Staff Writer social media usually spend sounds fun, I getting food. could get a lot I’ve of things done developed a with 15 or 30 pretty strong minutes tacked on to my afternoons. rotation now: Starbucks, Chick Fil-A, If I got that time back later in the day, Smoothie King, Einstein Bagels.

I would also have the opportunity Whatever I’m feeling, I have the to be productive. I rarely wake up time to get it. This past week I got early in the mornings to study before breakfast somewhere every single day school because it is not effective for (with Chick Fil-A repeated Tuesday

Lacy Green Staff Writer and Friday). Granted, this may be a self-control issue, but the late start doesn’t help. And while I love to eat, the money is definitely stacking up to the point where my parents said they would no longer fund my morning breakfast runs since we have plenty of (healthy) options at home.

Finally, my Chloe Ting Ab Workouts are being reversed in the mornings. Not only have I had to use the money I’ve earned from my part time job (which I barely work due to my busy schedule), but I have also been struggling to see progress in my “Summer Shred” program. I am trying to get in better shape for summer, and when I used her program last year I saw almost instant results, but with me now eating out most mornings, my results are being hindered.

All in all, late starts can be beneficial for a few extra minutes of sleep, but when it comes to most other things, I’d much rather go back to beginning school at 8:30 a.m.

OPINION

hockadayfourcast.org

THE

F

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Anna Gum and Maddie Stout MANAGING EDITOR Libby Hill WEB EDITOR Elisa Carrol COPY EDITOR Hanna Zhang MAGAZINE EDITOR Katherine Grace Estess NEWS EDITOR Campbell Harris FEATURES EDITOR Juliana Blazek ARTS & LIFE CO-EDITORS Zoya Haq and Melody Hu SPORTS EDITOR Remy Finn OPINIONS EDITOR Jane Clark CASTOFF EDITOR Lea Whitley PHOTO & GRAPHICS EDITOR Caroline Petrikas SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Lea Whitley STAFF WRITERS Hanna Asmerom, Ambyr Baker, Kailey Bergstedt, Caroline Bush, Lacy Green, Harper Harris, Aadya Kuruvali, Melody Tian, Bennett Trubey STAFF ARTISTS Josie Agnew, Louisa Benedict, Molly McPhail

May 17, 2021

23

Anti-Asian violence unacceptable Administration, student body must serve as allies

T

STAFF STANCE he Atlanta spa shootings on March 16 sent a message loud and clear about the rampant racism throughout the country. From the Black Lives Matter movement after the death of George Floyd to the shooting of eight women in Asian-owned spas in Georgia, six of Asian descent, minorities around the nation are suffering from hate crimes.

After the Atlanta shootings, we appreciate the amount of time and care faculty took into addressing the emotions of members of the Asian Student Organization. We are grateful for the thoughts of Head of Upper School Lisa Culbertson, Assistant Head of Upper School Tiffani Kocsis, and Form III Dean and ASA Sponsor Jessica Chu, who reached out to members of the Asian community through emails expressing support.

However, there has been a distinction in the way the administration treated this event compared to the Black Lives Matter movement. The BLM movement does deserve the level of attention it has received from the Hockaday administration, but so does the Stop AAPI Hate movement. We are disappointed that the Stop AAPI Hate movement was not treated with the same level of urgency.

Compared to the BLM movement with an address from Eugene McDermott Head of School Karen Warren Coleman about creating a more equitable community at Hockaday to

advocate for the Asian community.

This begins by helping to dispel the “model minority” myth: that Asians don’t experience struggle or racial discrimination. Instituting programs or speakers that address and recognize the Asian reality would help dispel this stereotype of Asians being one of the most successful minority groups. In reality, according to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans actually experience the largest incomeinequality gap as an ethnic and racial group in the United States.

Additionally, the student body can do more. Although ASA is paving the way, starting with their fundraiser where all pastries and drinks came from local small businesses and all proceeds went to local and national organizations, others in the Illustration courtesy of ASA community step up and can show fight Black racism, the only notice support whether through Stop AAPI the Upper School received about Hate stickers or spreading the word Stop AAPI Hate was an email from through social media platforms.

After former President Donald Culbertson and Chu who, we must Trump labeled the pandemic “the note, are both members of the Asian China virus” Asians, especially the community; and an email from elderly, have been attacked daily on the Culbertson and Dr. Kocsis. Besides streets, and their attackers walk away Dr. Kocsis, no other faculty member as if they had done nothing wrong. of a different ethnicity reached out to From an 84-year-old Thai man dying the Asian community. While we are after being thrown into a garage to a glad that Asians are showing support 21-year-old woman having acid thrown for one another during these turbulent into her face, possibly never to see times, we wish more members of again, these incidents prove it is time to administration had reached out. support the Asian community. Whether As the Asian hate crime rate through small acts of kindness or large has insurmountably risen due to donations to Asian organizations, the the public blame of Asians for the Asian community needs help to get COVID-19 pandemic, the time has through these trying times. never been more right to be an

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 or will appear in the opinions 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 Editors-in-Chief Anna Gum agum22@ hockaday.org and Maddie Stout mstout22@ hockaday.org.

“The sudden increase in AAPI hate crimes has really hit close to home, and it hurts to see such cruel racism still occurring.

I hope that people realize the magnitudeof this issue and do what they can to advocate for awareness.”

Jojo Ma Form II

“The rise in AAPI hate crimes makes me both incredibly angry and worried for the future of America. In a time where we should have supported each other through a global pandemic, many instead expressed their fear and worries through violence and racism.”

Olivia Park Form II

“I think that it is good that AAPI is a big deal now because people are paying attention to the Asian hate crimes and where there is a problem, there is means to a solution.”

Nancy Chen Form II

THE

Fourcast

The Hockaday School 11600 Welch Road Dallas, Texas 75229

CASTOFF

May 17, 2021

The Fourcast

Tr

in

d ao Zh nie ell An Corn

Ge Vic or tor ge ia Un Wa Se ive sh ga rs ing l ity to n

oo rW no VA U

Ho

By Lea Whitley - Castoff Editor

Cl a Te ire xa Ta s A te &M

Ar ity abe Co lla lle W ge a of re Du La bl Cl in uren ar Em Se Sta is wa llin sa m ne Gr gs R To a Dori e U o s Zh ay Tu Sim uc s M P e a e ng Sy m UChi Un ia Vi don lane on dney ar nn hst cago Si lla S o i y s W v o Miam ne a no Pa ut ers lve i Uni tson Annab UT San u h v r i a l versi ds Ca ty Sa ty Was el Sym Ka rah rol of Elain hing te ing Wi ton t e Wr ina & L on l Bro Wan U l R s T ee ice ight wn g

Allison Aftergut Valentina Akhtar Sarah Crow Kele Onuoha Indiana University UNC Zoe Cote Boston Colege UCLA Charlotte Ding Julia Donovan Trish Ashish Aasha Ardila Avery Antes Meg Dillon UCLA Emma Kogan Cornell CalTech Berkeley UChicago WashU Tulane Northwestern Kelsey Chen Faith Choi Shayle Cruz Zaria Aquart Sophia Bahad Harvard Case Western Reserve C0lumbia College Chicago Avery Mitts University of Stirling Boston University Molly Clark Fordham Estelle Fisher Kate Clark Maddy Charest Lauren Bailey University of Richmond Washington & Lee Boston College University of Texas Tufts University Kemper Lowry Danya Evans Eva Framjee Ellis Copley Anna Joy Aldis Susan Zhang Elena Dewar Yale UT San Antonio Texas A&M Kenyon University University of Arkansas UPenn Isabella Lambert Northwestern Sophia Foster Bella Heintges Occidental Lehigh Erin Hughes Lena Hicks UVA Joy Hu Shinjini Mukherjee Sarah Kate Ashton Maya Dattatreya WashU Postgrad St. Andrews School Rollins College Berkeley Emory Duke Hudson Johnson Caitlin Katz Suha Irfan Kylee Hong Maya Raghunathan Suzanne Baxter Nancy Dedman Occidental Georgetown Texas A&M Brown/RISD Dartmouth Rhodes College Georgetown Sriya Chebrolu Erin Parolisi Chloe Dorris Tia Hsieh Maddie Fisher Louisa Benedict Tess Benedict WashU Santa Clara Colgate Yale Tulane Elon University Belmont University Arin Lalsare Lynn Jung Karen Huang Mount Holyoke College MIT UChicago Eva Balogun ia rn X te Kaitlin Kelly Addie McCrary Northeastern p ia es u Claremont McKenna Ava Berger Kathryn Bowers Alabama M thw lc f ta ity o Kristine Pak or Boston University Notre Dame S d s N ex ver on Fordham l Laine Betanzos Margaret Bracken i A n hm c U i Colgate University University of Texas R al Caroline Collins Burkeleigh Boyd eg nce S on e Colgate University ah awr ohns Newcastle e L hL zJ Emilia Callahan Kate Burkhart es e ara u In Bat S Tulane Dartmouth o rs ge Anna Connolly aL o r l R a Shea McKenzie Washington & Lee rb rnel otte va e a o l B C ar lano ag UT Isabel Malakoff Ch Vil Sav lege Sophia Mathis AUP/USC el ery Col lt Santa Clara Diana Piovanetti d v n e n A to v Riya Malhotra hi ilt Bos se Cornell o c b o S er Case Western Sara Mangelsdorf R g a d h d r n r Emi Jillian Martin nn Van me abet arva erri Wesleyan ly V A z arga H H UT A i WashU m l Margot Phaneuf n e i s rlin ni row w ll E gton Ananya Phadke n Alabama h B A Sc rne an UMich Isabella Page a o m t h C r s USC a O t t a deis Sa le pa m a o n n Z n y Em Bra b ri tow sa owso elb I T n u T l Sh nt so ce rge aW Lahar n i n e ah n e i o o i Th l o y C v e T t P e W s i g e i St. And ati t h ers n G h e i d S An MI g a n s rews a i a y nn scon M H niv mil Tul a i U E Kris t H W sa u r J e o e o U nni l t eg ndec Liu J i y S l l z f ided ad l e Ta e rcy Col ui d e Har r Xion de l a R Un Ng e n v e n s g d o l a a i d r l i P st d v de de uy ys u ze c cid en Sa eci It nde Al T Au ed a d i U M Un

Art by Veronica Fang