Fourcast Nov 2017 by Hockaday Student Publications

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road

Dallas, Texas 75229

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11.03.17

68 Issue

THE FOURCAST

Vol u 02

News

Arts & Life

Features

Sports & Health

Views

Inside the Installation

Eat Well, Watch Well

Texas’ Fairly Unique Tradition

Social Media Spotlight

Seniors to Find Love at Heart House

Semi Happy Death Day

A Day in the Life of College Counselor Courtney Skerritt

Teachers get Schooled in Self Defense

PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY CHARLOTTE DROSS AND MORGAN FISHER

story on page

1 Running on Empty

Is He our President?

Joining the Ranks of Champions

IN FOCUS: A LOOK BEHIND THE TEEN SUICIDE EPIDEMIC

Within the past few years, teen suicide has jumped to alarmingly high rates, making it the third leading cause of death for teenagers. Everyday, about 12 adolescents commit suicide, and for each one of these deaths an estimated 25 attempts are made, according to studies done by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Information provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that teenagers who attempt suicide typically suffer from some kind of mental illness. Severe depression can lead to thoughts of suicide, but there is a host of other mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and anxiety that can lead to suicide. Substance abuse, bullying, serious loss like the death of a loved one or a breakup, abuse, family history of mental illness and many other factors can also lead to suicide. Read full story p12

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DON’T BURN

A BOOK

BY ITS COVER

LET’S TACO ABOUT

FINE MEXICAN DINING

A (TRANCE)FORMATIVE YOU OUGHTA

After the hypnotist turned off the lights, then junior Katie Vanesko reclined in her chair while snuggling with a blanket. She listened carefully to the soothing intonation of psychologist Dr. Carl Ward’s voice until her eyelids grew heavy and she could no longer stave off the tempting lure of slumber. After some time, Vanesko shook off the shackles of sleep and left Ward’s office without any noticeable change. For the next three weeks before the impending ACT test, Vanesko replayed the recording of her session with Ward as she fell asleep. Then on that fateful morning of April 8, 2017, Vanesko recognized that her typical testing anxiety vanished. A (Trans)formative Way to Improve Scores continued p14

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Haunted Halls: Seniors transform the Upper School into a twisted carnival complete with mimes and lion tamers. P.03 Sexual Harassment in the Real Word: Hollywood experiences an influx of sexual harassment claims against powerful producers. P.04 LOOKING AHEAD: EVENTS TO FOLLOW THIS MONTH. P.05

The Fourca

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Dr. Karen Warren Coleman Installed as Hockaday's Eugene McDermott Head of School On October 15 at 3 p.m. the melodious tune of William Walton’s Crown Imperial echoed through the Penson Athletic Center. The song had only played for this occasion three times before in Hockaday’s history; it officially marked the installation of the new Eugene McDermott Head of School, Dr. Karen Warren Coleman. By Shreya Gunukula | Views Editor

Despite Coleman being the 13th head of school and fourth Eugene McDermott Head of School, installations for new heads have only been in existence since Liza Lee was named Headmistress in 1990. Director of Development and External Affairs Debby Spradley has overseen the planning of these ceremonies from their inception. She said that although each installation marks a new leader for the school, their purpose remains the same. “Our main objective is to create a community event where everyone could participate and it would be a starting point for the next chapter in Hockaday’s history,” Spradley said. Upper School Head Terry Murray echoed this sentiment by noting the timing of the event on a weekend, when students wouldn’t normally be at school. “The idea of doing it on a Sunday is having a community day which we can all celebrate. I liked having the kids there, even though it was a challenge logistically, because that’s who we are. We are nothing without our students and our teachers,” Murray said. The event promoted the spirit of community with students, faculty and staff, parents, both past and present trustees, alumnae, all heads of Dallas area schools and universities receiving invites. Many heads from universities across the nation were also invited. Along with these guests, Coleman’s extended family, past colleagues, and many past classmates and peers were asked to join the occasion. The Development and External Affairs department dealt with the logistical execution of the installation, which included providing, hotel bookings, and transportation for many of the out of town guests. Beyond the organizational work, Spradley worked with the leadership team, Board of Trustees, and Coleman herself on the creative vision for the ceremony. Although the installation was created to honor and initiate the new Head of School, Coleman felt that the event served a much larger purpose to unite the school rather than just being a ceremony, and therefore wanted to be a part of the planning process. With the process being so mission-driven and every detail having a unique importance, she felt the pressure to do her due diligence to the School’s storied history. “I can’t imagine being at the White House and planning an inauguration, but that’s how it felt. If you can think of it this way, it was like if Miss Ela Hockaday was here, and we were carrying forward 104 years of history,” Coleman said. Several key details of the installation came from Coleman and the leadership team’s dedication to this mission of paying respect to Hockaday’s past and present. To start the ceremony, the senior class processed hand in hand with first graders to show a sense of the current community. Murray said that because younger kids can get restless, this was a challenge logistically, but it ended up having a great outcome. “I was most worried about the younger kids with the older kids, because that’s a lot to ask from them, and when I saw it, it was such a cool visual and now the Lower School girls talk about it nonstop,” Murray said. Along with envisioning the initial procession, the team confirmed current Chair of the Board of Trustees Barbara Rosenblatt, and Immediate Past Chair David Haemisegger would give opening remarks and introductions respectively. They then followed Coleman’s direction in her selection of keynote speakers that would uphold Hockaday’s values while also giving insight into Coleman’s past. She

I hope we will continue to embody the four historic values that anchor our community even as we shape Hockaday’s future. Dr. Karen Warren Coleman Eugene McDermott Head of School

reached out to her former colleagues from the University of Chicago, now Colby College President Dr. David Greene and Dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago, Reverend Elizabeth Davenport. “I was very intentional about asking President Greene and Reverend Davenport because they knew me during a period of my leadership that was really important to me [at the University of Chicago]. I knew that they shared my commitment to student life and development and had a profound commitment to girls’ education,” Coleman said. Davenport and Greene’s presence at the installation served to acknowledge Coleman’s past as a gateway to her new role. “You are here among us today as one who’s chosen your own destiny as you have voiced it down the years and it has brought you to this moment to this bold and discerning yes to a new chapter,” Davenport said. When inviting Greene, Coleman and the team were presently surprised to find Hockaday alumna, Gretchen O’Brien ‘14 listed as a senior at Colby College. They felt that O’Brien would be a strong representative of the alumnae community and could provide a connection between the school and the speech from Greene.

PHOTO BY LAUREN PUPLAMPU

It's the Start

of Something New

Ne w

HEART HOUSE

HER VISION | Dr. Karen Warren Coleman speaks at the installation on Oct. 15 as she outlines her plan for Hockaday's future.

They invited her to come to the ceremony and introduce Green as the keynote speaker. O’Brien was nervous and unsure about flying out and taking on such a big role at first, but after a few days of thinking it over, she realized that it was an amazing opportunity to honor a momentous occasion, return to Hockaday and also bring a few Colby friends along, since it aligned with her fall break. “I loved being able to think about my past at Hockaday and my present at Colby, and I wanted to share all of that and properly introduce President Greene,” O’Brien said. Coleman also really appreciated O’Brien’s speech because it gave her a chance to listen to members from the community she was about to join. “[Her speech] was amazing as someone who understands Hockaday like she does, and I will continue to want to know more [about the School] through all of the girls that have been at Hockaday,” Coleman said. In addition to the guest speeches, Coleman was touched by the speeches from current Hockaday students Evelyn Yau ‘26, Sarah Roberts ‘22 and Samantha Watson ‘18. “Each of them not only represented Hockaday well, but had their own tidbits of advice for me, and it was also a nice welcome from Lower, Middle, and Upper School,” Coleman said. Upper School Student Council President Watson was grateful for the opportunity and enjoyed her role in the installation as well. “It was really cool to be able to speak on behalf to my classmates and introduce her to the Upper School. We each represented different sectors of Hockaday life and how we hope she will fit in,” Watson said. The speech that involved the most work from Coleman was, of course, her own. In her first address as the official head, Coleman wanted to ensure she reconciled the history of the School with the plans for the future, specifically with the Four Cornerstones. “I wanted to bring the Cornerstones to life and make them fresh and relevant because when they were written it was a different time,” Coleman said. In her speech, she recalled Googling the meaning of cornerstones to find that they actually mean foundation stones, and that her vision for Hockaday’s future is contingent on building off of them. “I hope we will continue to embody the four historic values that anchor our community even as we shape Hockaday’s future,” Coleman said during her speech. “As head of Hockaday I will challenge us all to continuously evaluate whether we are living up to this commitment and what ways we should grow as a School.” To speak in the midst of the entire School as well as her family and other people from every stage of her life gave her a sense of belonging and closure with this new role. “This is a place that deeply values connections and authentic relationships. Having so many members from my life come together was an affirmation of the community I’m joining… and a really important part of my own feeling [that] I’ve settled into my new role and new home here in Dallas,” Coleman said. In planning the event, Coleman and the leadership team understood that the installation was not a ceremonial gesture, but rather an important marker in the timeline of the school. Although Coleman had been visiting the School for eight months since her appointment last November, the installation still really resonated with her Hockaday journey so far. “In some ways it changed nothing and in other ways it changed everything. It’s not as if [my] work didn’t start until after [the installation] happened. It was a moment in time to articulate my values and my vision,” Coleman said. For her, the installation was a time for reflection on the past and remarks about the future all through the spirit of community. Coleman said, “It [was] truly not about me at all, it [was] about Hockaday. In many ways, it encapsulated the gravity, weight, and incredible responsibility I have coming in to inherit a place of so much history.”

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THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

news

THE 2017

‘‘

INSTALLATION

NUMBERS

SENIORS HAUNT THE

HALLWAYS

On Oct. 27, seniors continued the tradition of decorating the hallways for Halloween and scaring the underclassmen. This year, they transformed the Upper School into a carnival-themed haunted house. From clowns to mimes, each student dressed up as creepy characters decked out in fake blood, ripped dresses, masks and even realistic special effects makeup. The Fourcast walks you through each hallway and gives you the fast facts on all the spooks and scares that went down in each one. Hold on tight, it’s pretty scary.

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Senior Hallway Theme: Clowns Hallway Leader: Hannah Sipes Characters: Scary clowns, quiet clowns, cheerful clowns and distressed clowns Fun Fact: Senior hallway leader Hannah Sipes was behind many of the special effects makeup seen on seniors. The makeup is so detailed and gory that you’ll think it’s real. She runs an Instagram account with over 4,000 followers called @sfx.by.h, which features her creepy creations, like bloody cuts and alien makeup.

3 4 10

NUMBER OF HEADS OF SCHOOL IN HOCKADAY'S HISTORY

NUMBER OF EUGENE McDERMOTT HEADS OF SCHOOL

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Junior Hallway Theme: Circus Gone Wrong Hallway Leader: Victoria Pyle Characters: Lion tamer, ringmaster, tightrope walker, scary clowns, knife throwers and fire breathers Fun Fact: It was an interactive hallway with games like Cornhole and Go Fish that underclassmen could play as they walked through the hall.

NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IN DR. COLEMAN'S INSTALLATION

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Sophomore Hallway Theme: Mimes Hallway Leader: Lily Loose Characters: Mimes, silent dolls, contortionist and silent clowns Fun Fact: Talk about creepy. The sophomore hallway was completely silent and clear pieces of string dangled from the ceiling so they brushed against people walking through.

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Freshman Hallway Theme: Freakshow Hallway Leader: Chloe Irwin Characters: Two-headed people, animal heads, two faces, backbend girls, creepy teddy bear, creepy doll and people with faces on the back of their heads Fun Fact: Seniors Claire Rattan and Lizzie Benedict joined together to be one of the two-headed people, and they got creative. For their costume, they squeeze into an extra large costume and both wore freaky masks.

AMOUNT OF HOURS THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY LASTED

Aurelia Han | Editor-in-Chief

TIDBITS & TALES |

SPC Fort Worth The 2017 Fall Championships for the Southwestern Preparatory Conference will occur from Nov. 9 to Nov. 11. Volleyball will compete in the number one seed on Nov. 9 at Fort Worth Country Day after beating ESD, the first time to do so in many years. Cross country will compete on Nov. 11 at Athletic Performance Ranch in Fort Worth, and field hockey will play Trinity Valley on Nov. 9.

Quick reads to stay up-to-date

McDonald's Week

Hockaday Debate Tournament

Dance Assembly and Concert

St. Mark’s is hosting their annual fundraiser for Austin Street Center the week of Nov. 13 at the PrestonRoyal McDonald’s. Stop by for fun games, breakfast and an opportunity to benefit a local homeless shelter.

The annual Hockaday Round Robin, which is all-girls, will occur on Nov. 9. The rest of the tournament, formally named The 40th Annual Hockaday Debate Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament, will commence on Nov. 10 and 11 at Hockaday. There is noon dismissal on Nov. 10 due to the debate tournament.

The dance assembly for Upper School students is on Nov. 14 at 2:40 p.m. and the dance concert is on Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m. The assembly is dedicated to Fine Arts Department Chair and Upper School Dean of Students Ed Long, with dancers creating music on-stage with tubs, drums and cow bells. The music will be akin to some styles learned in HAM.

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

YOUR WORLD TODAY

EXPOSED IN

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

On Oct. 5, the New York Times published sit with me. Don’t embarrass me in the hotel.” This audio tape solidified the accusations a report detailing decades of sexual harassment allegations against Hollywood producer of sexual harassment of women that, according Harvey Weinstein. Since then, hundreds of to Ronan Farrow of the New Yorker, was “a sewomen have come forward accusing men in rial problem that the Weinstein Company had prominent positions, including Amazon exec- been struggling with in recent years.” Upper School Counselor Judy Ware has utive Roy Price and former Fox News host Bill followed the Weinstein reports since they were O’Reilly, across the entertainment industry. Weinstein, who has been a part of Hol- first revealed in early October. “I was not surprised at all. My first relywood since his first film “The Burning” in 1981, and his brother Bob produced both cult action was ‘Why hasn’t Hollywood been vocal about this before?’” Ware classics like “Pulp Fiction” said. “Why is this just comand “Scream” and criticaling forward, when probaly acclaimed films such as bly everyone in Hollywood “Good Will Hunting” and has known that he was “Shakespeare in Love.” The RAPECULTURE taking advantage of his Weinstein brothers togethposition?” er founded two of the most Upper School Histoinfluential studios in Holry teacher Tracy Walder lywood: Miramax and the agreed with Ware. Weinstein Company. “I was not surprised,” The first of WeinWalder said. “I was more stein’s accusers was Ashsurprised that this hadn’t ley Judd, an actress best come out before because I known for her work in feel like he is a person that “Kiss the Girls” and “Dou‘Why hasn’t Hollywood has offended so many peoble Jeopardy.” According to been vocal about this before?’ ple and probably a very the initial New York Times cutthroat businessman.” report, Weinstein asked As more women Judd to his hotel room in JUDY WARE Upper School Counselor came out against Weinthe 1996 for a meeting, stein, accusations began to which evolved into Weinmount against more powstein’s harassment of Judd. erful Hollywood elites. “I said no, a lot of In the past year, esways, a lot of times, and pecially in the wake of rehe always came back at ports of President Donald me with some new ask,” Judd said in an interview with the New York J. Trump’s own misconduct, Fox News has exTimes. “It was all this bargaining, this coercive perienced a rise in public accusations against its own personalities. bargaining.” Within the last week, more reports have Just five days after the first report, the New York Times revealed that Gwyneth Pal- surfaced of disgraced former host Bill O’Reilly’s trow and Angelina Jolie had experienced sexu- private settlement of over $30 million with one al harassment at the hands of Weinstein. That of his own accusers. O’Reilly was fired from same day, the New Yorker released audio tape his long-standing show “The O’Reilly Factor” in of Weinstein’s interaction with Ambra Battila- April 2017 following repeated accusations of na Gutierrez, a former Miss Italy, along with sexual misconduct from well-known Fox personalities Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson. the stories of more Weinstein accusers. Amazon Studios, a relatively new producIn the recorded conversation Gutierrez is heard telling Weinstein that “I don’t want to tion studio similar to Hulu and Netflix, fielded be touched.” Then Weinstein responds that “I accusations from Isa Hackett, a producer on won’t do a thing, please. I swear I won’t. Just the Amazon original show “The Man in the

By Katie O’Meara | News Editor

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DAVID SHANKBONE

HOLLYWOOD

With the revelation of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment of actresses, the culture of Hollywood and the country alike has been scrutinized.

I WAS NOT SURPRISED AT ALL. MY FIRST REACTION WAS

DISGRACED PRODUCER | Harvey Weinstein walks the red carpet prior to revelations about his sexual misconduct throughout the majority of his career as a powerful producer.

industry, are reluctant to come forward as individuals due to the ability for these accusations to hurt their careers. “When I was younger, women were still hiding this and were ashamed, knowing that they would be blamed for what happened, and 99 times out of 100 they were blamed,” Ware said. “Now, I think that our culture has started to shift.” Yet, even as the stigma surrounding sexual misconduct changes, young women and professionals alike still experience the harassment.

Not Just Weinstein In 1977, director Roman Polanski was arrested for sexual abuse of a minor. The reaction from Hollywood paled in comparison to that of today. During a 2009 taping of “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg commented on the scandal. ““I know it wasn’t rape-rape. It was something else but I don’t believe it was rape-rape.” Goldberg said. In fact, in the wake of the Weinstein scandal, another Polanski victim came forward. Marianne Barnard has filed an official case with the Los Angeles Police Department against Polanski for his abuse of her as a 10-year-old PHOTO PROVIDED BY WINKELVI

High Castle” directed toward the Head of Amazon Studios Roy Price. Price resigned from his position on Oct. 17. Yet the issue of sexual harassment extends beyond the entertainment history. According to senior Chloe Irwin, who has participate in debate since her freshman year, it is something that she has to confront during her tournaments. “Last debate tournament that I went to it was judged by a female judge and then at the end of the round she told me that [senior] Emma Rose [Shore] and I would have a better chance of winning if we smiled more,” Irwin said. “It was really strange coming from another woman.” Much like Irwin, Walder and Ware both believe that gender discrimination and sexual harassment infiltrate everyday life. Before coming to Hockaday, Walder worked in both the CIA and FBI in the male-dominated field of defense. “The CIA was wonderful and was very much an even environment. Men and women were treated really no differently. I never felt any kind of harassment or bias,” Walder said. “I know that my friends that were girls and I, we never felt any issues.” But, according to Walder, a blonde, blueeyed Californian, the FBI was the complete opposite. “The FBI was a completely different story. And that was probably the first time in my life that I felt that I couldn’t look the way that I looked, act the way that I acted, dress the way that I dressed without not being taken seriously,” Walder said. “I don’t [know] if it was good or bad for me to feel that way, but it was upsetting. I was completely alienated by my entire class at the FBI. No one would talk to me. No one would be friends with me because of the way that I look.” Yet, even with Walder’s experience of harassment within the department, the FBI reports that they witness little to none of this behavior. According to the Office of Inspector General, they “found ‘relatively few reported allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Department’s law enforcement components for the fiscal years 2009 through 2012.’ [While they concluded that] the ‘FBI had the lowest rate of [sexual harassment]’ across the components.” According to Ware, many women, especially in jobs in politics and the entertainment

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HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

PHOTO BY KATIE O’MEARA

Seniors to Visit Heart House Contemporary American Literature class to visit Heart House and to write the story of young refugees.

This year, equipped with empathy and knowledge, the Contemporary American Literature Senior Semester Seminar will breathe life into what they have learned in class and take on a project in association with Heart House, a Dallas nonprofit organization dedicated to create a safe environment for refugee and underprivileged children. Upper School English Department Chair Janet Bilhartz designed the Contemporary American Literature course and has taught the seminar for five non-consecutive years. She created the course to offer seniors a chance to read contemporary American literature, especially American writing in the 21st century. These stories touch upon current subjects and offer a more diverse scope of perspectives than the works of American literature studied in previous English classes. Senior Tiffany Bai, a student in the Contemporary American Literature Senior Semester Seminar, loves the materials she is reading in the course. “I enjoy reading about cultural backgrounds and the integration of different cultures in the nation because it reminds me of my own

THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

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identities,” Bai said. For the same reason, Bilhartz offered the students the project that they are about to undertake. On Nov. 6, Hockaday seniors taking the Contemporary American Literature class will take a field trip to Heart House where they will learn the stories of refugee children from third to fifth grade. Heart House Dallas, founded by Suzanne Kiefer and Anna Land, is nestled in the Vickery Meadow community that many refugees call home. Every senior who takes the Contemporary American Literature Senior Semester Seminar will interview a refugee at Heart House’s site on Park Lane and learn their life story. Afterwards, the seniors will return to the classroom and craft a narrative based on the life of the child they met. Bilhartz believes that allowing the students to fully experience and see what they’re reading is very important for her class. “For me, it’s about making literature real,” Bilhartz said. “Literature is about life.” Each day, Heart House serves roughly 130 students who speak 15 different languages. According to Alissa Windle, Manager of Program and Operations at Heart House, the nonprofit

tries to make the classroom experiences relevant to the community. “The number one thing I’m really interested in these days is how do you connect what you’re learning in the class to social impact,” Day said. Similarly, Windle believes that what students learn in the classroom can only come alive with human connections in the real world. “The story of a refugee is a lot different. It’s not one that a lot of people get to interact with other than on the news. Being able to put a face to these different things you’re hearing about changes a lot,” Windle said. Bilhartz said that the students’ connections with the refugee children will inspire a better understanding of literature. She believes that this project, like reading literature, allows students to gain empathy into the lives of others. Senior and Contemporary American Literature student Sarah Fitzpatrick is nervous but excited to talk to the refugee children and hear their stories. “I know for a fact that I’m going to come out of it with a new sense of something,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think it will be really eye opening, and I’m really excited.” Academically, Bilhartz thinks that the project will be a very good chance for the students to exercise their narrative writing skills. But this project, aside from bettering the students’ understanding of life, is also about sharing these stories with the community. “I think that for us to have this opportunity to go to Heart House is for us to have the opportunity to, not live the life, but to hear it first hand from the people who lived it, and to spread it to others, to become carriers of those contemporary American stories, to carry those to other readers, specifically Hockaday,” Bilhartz said. EXPERIENCING EMPATHY | English Department Windle sees this collaboration as a chance Chair Janet Bilhartz leads a discussion in her Contemporary American Literature Class. for the refugee children to be able to tell their own stories, something they can’t do on their strives to transition refugee students from an en- own because of language barriers. “Getting to give these kids a voice for the first vironment of chaos to calm and also to offer the time is going to be a really children a safe oasis to integood impact for them,” Wingrate into American culture. dle said. Many of the students come REAL LIFE Day hopes that the from war-torn countries. school can offer spaces like “They’re not able to the Hockaday Ann Bower learn because of all the ‘67 Gallery to potentially trauma they’re carrying display the narratives alongwith them,” Windle said. “It’s side pictures of the refugees. a lot easier for them to reHeart House will also use tain knowledge in school if the student works for their they’re able to release the campaign to raise awareness. emotional baggage that “A lot of our kids they’re carrying with them.” have these really amazThis project is coordiing stories that got them nated by Janet Bilhartz and Literature is about life. to America or just their Director of Service Learning struggle through moving Laura Day. Hockaday first through America, and we reached out to Heart House JANET BILHARTZ haven’t had a way to really regarding the organization’s English Department Chair capture those in the past,” promotion of Social and Windle said. “We’re excited Emotional Learning, a profor Hockaday students to cess focusing on emotion come learn about our stuwithin education, which is dents and then be able to similar to Hockaday’s efforts on promoting mindfulness. When Day first write their stories for the first time.” thought of this project, she discussed it with the English Department. Bilhartz, who saw that the project fits nicely with the curriculum of the Contemporary Literature Class, took the opportunity. Michelle Chen | Staff Writer As the director of service learning, Day

FOR ME, IT’S ABOUT MAKING LITERATURE REAL.

PLAN ON IT! SAT Testing Nov. 4 Candy Drive Begins Nov. 1

McDonald’s Week begins Nov. 13

Thanksgiving Break begins Nov. 20

Debate Tournament Nov. 10

Fall Play Nov. 3

Feast of Sharing Nov. 9

Fall Dance Concert Nov. 15

PHOTOS BY KATIE O’MEARA, GRACE LOWRY, REAGAN JONES, AMELIA BROWN, SONYA XU, STEVEN DDEPOLO, VXLA

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

06 t cas r u

The F o Life

Semi-Happy Death Day: A review of Christopher B Landon's new comedy-thriller "Happy Death Day" P.08

A Weak Light Flickers: Web Editor Cheryl Hao shares thoughts on Niall Horan's first album as an independent artist P.08

PUMPED FOR PASTA A TOUR OF DALLAS' BEST PASTA RESTAURANTS P.11

DINE OUT

P.08

Art s

It’s official, for the first time in Hockaday’s history, a senior has written and directed the school’s annual fall play. Senior Grace Lowry has been establishing a theatre legacy for herself since her sophomore year at Hockaday. Prior to her current and third direction project for Hockaday, “Somewhere South of Galway,” Lowry wrote and directed “Flooded,” a one-act show in the spring of 2016, and “Starving Artists,” a full-length show last spring. By Kate Woodhouse | Photo & Graphics Editor

“It was definitely an intimidating prospect, but at the same time my shows have gotten bigger each year. It feels like the perfect way to end my writing and directing time at Hockaday,” Lowry said. But it has been a long process. Lowry had no funding from Hockaday for “Flooded,” no place to show it, and only one rehearsal every Y Period on Day 6. Her second play, “Starving Artists,” got more support and had a small budget, the Black Box to perform in and the involvement of Hockaday’s Tech Crew. Now, with “Somewhere South of Galway” as the official Hockaday fall play, Lowry is getting full support. She has a larger budget for marketing and props, the costume crew, the tech crew, the Black Box and many actors and actresses at her disposal. “Somewhere South of Galway” is a musical set in 1930s Ireland that centers around three sisters whose lives are turned upside down when English sailors arrive in their village. Galway, a rural town on the west coast of Ireland, has a seaport for fishing and trade and its inhabitants are wary of visitors. With a mix of upbeat and tragic moments, the three sisters deal with both the death of their mother and their love lives at the same time. Senior Paloma Renteria, who first worked with Lowry in “Flooded”, plays Darcy, the owner of the local pub. “I have watched Grace write this for the past year, so I feel really honored to bring this to life,” Renteria said. One problem Lowry faces when directing is trying to be an authoritarian with her peers. In “Flooded”, she struggled even more as a sophomore when she directed seniors. In order to gain and maintain respect, Lowry balances fun with serious. “It’s a difficult balance to make. I’ve tried certain things and failed at those things, but I’m at a place now where I get it,” Lowry said. Lowry has matured as a writer and director. Upper School Drama Teacher and producer of “Somewhere South of Galway,” Emily Gray, has noticed an evolution in Grace’s directorial skills. “She has really grown in terms of understanding the process of making theater, and that has been really lovely to watch,” Gray said. Instead of being stressed when a member of the costume crew faces last minute problems, Lowry now better understands how the production of a play works and calmly discusses the problems with the crew members. This change is largely in part to Gray’s mentoring. “You have to learn through seeing first, and then you learn through doing, so I watched Mrs. Gray direct,” Lowry said. “I saw what she did and how she interacted with actors, and I think that served as a basis for how I do my role.” Even though Gray is the most inspirational person throughout Lowry’s directing career, Lowry also has writing influences. Lowry’s inspirations include actor and director Laurence Olivier, whose work on “Wuthering Heights” earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and playwright Noël Coward, who wrote “Hay Fever”, because of their work with characters. Gray’s favorite quality of Lowry is her writing; she often forgets she is reading a student’s work. Although Gray initially liked the premise of “Flooded,” it was Lowry’s clear, witty and heartfelt dialogue that blew her away. “Her writing is remarkable,” Gray said. Gray also loves Lowry’s confidence when directing. The actors respond to her directions without argument or talking back. When disagreements occur, the actors and Lowry dis-

She has really grown in terms of understanding the process of making theater, and that has been really lovely to watch. Emily Gray Drama Teacher

cuss the problem, but Lowry never loses control of the situation. Sophomore Helena Magee, who worked with Lowry on “Starving Artists”, appreciates Lowry’s cues for lighting. Magee designed and strung the lighting in the Black Box for “Somewhere South of Galway”. She also programmed the cues for the lights and will control them during the show. Lowry provided Magee with many different lighting cues throughout the play and worked with Magee to accomplish her vision. “She is all-around a very good director,” Magee said. Lowry currently independently studies playwriting, a course titled Playwriting and Dramatic Studies, allowing her time to work every other day on creating new plays. She is currently in the process of editing a new play and has started writing another one as well. Along with writing plays during the class, Lowry also reads and analyzes about 12 plays throughout the year. Lowry does not plan to stop playwriting after she graduates from Hockaday. She wants to study playwriting or theater management

PHOTO BY HUNTER FOLSON

Tell Them to

Break a Leg

Double Threat, Senior Writes and Directs Fall Play and is currently applying to conservatories, or three-year programs that have vocation-based curricula, in both the United States and the United Kingdom. “Plays give me a great place to put all of my interests together and bring them together in the place that I love, which is theater,” Lowry said. “Somewhere South of Galway” was performed in front of the freshman class yesterday and will be shown to the general public this evening at 7 and tomorrow afternoon at 2 in the Black Box Theater. Tickets come on a first come, first serve basis before each show at the Black Box and can be paid with cash or credit, but the theater fills up quickly. To read a review of the play, visit hockadayfourcast.com.

FALL PLAY BY THE NUMBERS

CASTMEMBERS

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DRAFTS OF THE SCRIPT

PLAYS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED AT HOCKADAY

WEEKS OF REHEARSAL

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT | Senior Grace Lowry runs through script with actors during dress rehearsal of "Somewhere South of Galway"

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

arts & life

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If you take even a cursory glance at the It’s gameday, y’all. The Dallas Cowboys’ game is on the screen, fantasy football friends are over and you’re decked out in blue and silver. No gameday, however, is complete without a table full of gameday grub. We’re talking burgers, a cheese board and even a football cake. Turn on the game, and let’s eat!

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting in the shape of a football

Dublin Retro grape soda, Dubin Texas Red Creme Soda and Cheerwine

Garlic and herb pita chips with lime guacamole and spinach dip

Brown sugar cookie flavored cupcakes, frosted pretzles, football shaped cookies and googey chocolate chip cookies

Sweet potato crackers, Gouda, smoked Gruyere, herb goat cheese, grapes, almonds and cranberry cracker crisps

Shack burger and crispy cringle-cut fries from Shake Shack

PHOTO BY ELIANA GOODMAN & GRAPHIC BY EMILY FULLER

Eat Well, Watch Well

GAMEDAY GRUB | There is a little something for everyone. Whether you are in the mood for something sweet or savory, this gameday food spread will have you covered. Munch on some snacks before digging into burgers, fries and a cookie to finish it off! Aurelia Han and Katie O'Meara | Editor-in-Chief and News Editor

FASHION FINDS | Fashion is Life, Fashion of Life Every year, Hockaday Advanced Placement Biology classes partake in a year-long project called “Tree of Life,” where each student is assigned to research an organism. On Oct. 31—Halloween— students were required to dress up in a homemade costume of their organism. Want to know what these costumes looked like? The Fourcast picked our favorite ones and shared some of these students’ research.

Flamingo: Amanda Jin

Ladybug: Sarah Haetzel

Polar Bear: Ashna Ahuja

Snow Leaopard: Audrey Martin

Cuttlefish: AnaLaura Renteria

Decked out in an American flamingo costume, senior Amanda Jin wore to class a tutu adorned with the flamingo’s iconic pink feathers. Jin explained how flamingos stand on one leg in order to conserve energy. Unlike humans, flamingos balance weight more effectively on one leg, even sleeping with this leg raised. In colder weather, having one leg tucked into their feathers also helps them save heat.

Junior Sarah Haetzel created a costume for a seven-spotted ladybug, whose scientific name is the Coccinella septempunctata. For her costume, Haetzel constructed the ladybug’s distinctive red-and-black shell using construction paper and also donned a pair of black antennae. Though the seven-spotted ladybug is the most common in North America, there are around 5,000 ladybug species worldwide.

With a paw on her hand, junior Ashna Ahuja dressed as a polar bear. According to Ahuja, the skin of a polar bar is black in color to conserve body heat. Additionally, polar bear fur is transparent but appears white in sunlight and yellow if dirty. Ahuja explained that polar bears use non-retractable claws to rip apart their prey, and that their paws are specially adapted for traction.

Dressed in leopard print pants., junior Audrey Martin crafted a snow leopard costume. To create her paws, Martin cut sections from an old faux-fur vest and glued them onto a pair of gloves. According to Martin, snow leopards have retractable claws—a characteristic of big cats—to prevent their claws from wearing down. Snow leopards use their tails to assist with balance but also chew on them for fun.

Senior AnaLaura Renteria researched and dressed up as the European cuttlefish. Renteria attached black mesh to her arms to represent the ink of the cuttlefish. Similar to octopi and squids, cuttlefish, when approached by predators, release ink as a defense mechanism and then swim away. Interestingly, cuttlefish, despite their name, are not actually fish, but instead, molluscs. Elizabeth Guo | Managing Editor

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE FORBESS

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NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Universal Pictures

Get Up. Go to Class. Party. Die. Repeat. This snappy, hour and a half comedy-horror-mystery, makes one thing clear: being a good person requires an awful lot of death. “Happy Death Day” does not try to hide the fact that it is an unapologetic medley of the 1996 horror film, “Scream” and 1993 comedy “Groundhog Day.” However, despite its potential to be monotonous and repetitive, director Christopher B. Landon and screenplay writer Scott Lobdell kept the plot turning and viewers on their toes. Truly, watching someone live the same day 16 times is not as annoying as it sounds. Coming out fittingly on Friday the 13th, this movie blends the lightness of a comedy with the plot of a mystery, the haunting murder scenes of a thriller and the underpinnings of a romance. And whether it was intentional or not, it looks at rape culture on college campuses and bystanders’ roles in it. However until the creepy Bayfield Baby horrific mascot appears, the movie has the appear-

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ance of any college campus movie. After Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothie), a blissfully self-centered collegian, wakes up on her birthday in the bed of her love interest Carter (Israel Broussard), she staggers to her sorority house and tries to remember her foggy night out. That is until she gets the eerie feeling that she's experienced the events of this day before. While each day after a masked killer suddenly takes her life in a brutal attack, she once again magically wakes up in Carter's dorm room unharmed. Now, the frightened young woman must relive the same day over and over until she figures out who murdered her. With no shortage of jump scares, “Happy Death Day” lets you relax as she goes through her day and cringe as she is brutally murdered each night. Landon finds a nice balance in his cinematography, to not make viewers too unsettled but still incorporate the enthralling element of horror. Although I expected this movie to be cliche because of its unoriginal plot, its successful execu-

tion surprised me. Even when you think Tree defeats the cycle, “Happy Death Day” keeps things unexpected until the end. While Rothie only gave a mildly compelling performance of Tree, the engaging soundtrack fully compensates. Well known artists such as Demi Lovato and the band The Lumineers, as well as new voices Mother Mother and Cherry Glazer, made the soundtrack captivating As Tree fights to escape the fate of her death, the movie encapsulates every positive aspect of a light-hearted comedy, a suspenseful mystery and a romantic ending. On a quest to eliminate suspects, this vulnerable college student takes her life into her own hands, she only discovers her masked killer when she develops empathy. Although most wrapped up in a predictable ending, some questions remain on the table. Landon reportedly told Insider Magazine that Tree’s story is not over, leaving me wondering when “Happy Deathuation Day” will be.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

SEMI-HAPPY DEATH DAY

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Emily Fuller | Arts & Life Editor

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Water Tower Theater 2400 Flora St., Dallas Until Nov. 5., Daily

Perot Mudeum of Nature and Science 2400 Flora St., Dallas Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND DIMENSION FILMS

HEAR ME OUT

All the Eternal Love I Have For Pumpkins Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N. Harwood St. Until Feb. 25. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Truth: 24 Frames Per Second

Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N. Harwood St. Until Feb. 25. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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If you follow Niall Horan on any social media, you’ll see that his life after One Direction is simple. Snapchats from his Saturday nights are shots of the golf course he’s playing with his buddies, beer in hand, an Eagles’ song in the background. His life is so regular that I thought he would like to keep it that way and live off of his One Direction money for the rest of his life. So that’s why I was surprised when he threw himself back into the industry with his debut single “This Town,” and the announcement of his debut album. “Flicker” came out Oct. 20th, complete with 10 songs and three additional ones on the deluxe album. Listening to “Flicker” was like talking to an old friend—a repetitive, borderline-annoying friend that only talks about their relationships. His boring normality transgresses to this new album; the lyrics are shallow, and words are selected to (cheaply) rhyme rather than convey any meaning. Listeners can sense that nothing too exciting happened in his relationships. From the sounds of it, the breakups he describes were probably amicable and nothing gut-wrenching or even remotely moving happened; he just had to draw from these bland relationships because there’s not much else in his life that he can write PHOTO PROVIDED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A WEAK LIGHT FLICKERS iTunes

about. It was either golf or this. So he chose the girl to capitalize on. The album kicks off with “On the Loose,” intended to be a warning to the next guy who this ambiguous, rebellious “she” antagonist reels in. A throbbing bassline is layered with clean, crisp guitar plucks and invites fans Horan’s smooth voice and underlying Irish accent. Opening the album, Horan sings, “I know what she’s like / She’s out of her mind / And wraps herself around the truth.” At this point, I already knew this was going to be a long ride. This cheap writing isn’t any better in track two, “This Town,” the first single off the album. It’s a little narrative about a girl in his hometown. However, he quickly clarified the subject in an interview: “It’s not really about anyone in particular. When I’m writing songs, I write the concepts and then just write the scenario and then write the song around it,” Horan said. What he’s saying is that while he does draw on personal experience, he’s kind of just writing whatever comes to mind. This explains the lack of emotion in his tracks, despite the sensitive subject matter like going home to Mullingar, Ireland in “This Town,” and an unrequited love in “Too Much to Ask” that could have been emotionally provoking if he had done it correctly. In the chorus of “Paper Houses,” Horan shamelessly rhymes “stars” with “scars,” and “apart” with “far.” You’d think he would have a more extensive vocabulary from touring the

world in his boy band days. His diction is overall meager, unexciting and unstimulating. Despite this weakness, “Flicker” has its good moments. I have nothing bad to say about “Slow Hands”; it’s definitely my favorite song on the album. It’s upbeat, bass line driven and even a little risque. It’s a good pop song that I wouldn’t mind listening to even after writing this album review. Horan is also very strong on “Seeing Blind,” which contains the only feature on the album. Arlington-born country singer Maren Morris and Horan complement each other very well, merging together in melodious harmonies. Though in an Instagram post Horan deemed this album as “the first time [he has] put [his] thoughts and emotions on paper,” (what did he do in One Direction?) I realized that that might not be the case. This album was written to sell, not written to be eloquent, perfect prose. And it does the job. Billboard said that “Flicker” is on the way to being a number one album, selling 150,000 copies in the first week it was released. I will say that this album is good, but that’s it—just good. It’s just so plain that it wouldn't have gotten this much recognition if he didn’t already have a fan base of millions of girls from One Direction. However, this is just an indication of where Horan can go. I can tell that behind every cheap lyric is a beautifully phrased sentence awaiting its premiere. Maybe he should take some demos to our English Department. Cheryl Hao | Web Editor

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

arts + life

LET'S TACO ABOUT FINE MEXICAN DINING 49 W Lovers Lane, Dallas. 214.891.5673. jose.mx

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Cilantro Rice

PHOTO BY PAIGE HALVERSON

Corona Shrimp Taco

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FROM THE FOURCAST

KITCHEN

Arts & Life Editor Emily Fuller's Favorite Veggie Tacos

Ingredients:

Directions:

Corn tortillas Green bell pepper Yellow bell pepper Onions 1/2 of an avocado Corn Black beans Shredded lettuce Squeeze of lime Tortilla chips WHISK BY PETER WILLIAMS

1.Turn stove on medium heat and add olive oil. 2. Sautée green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers and onions in pan. 3. Mash up avocado with salt, pepper and a squeeze of a lime. 4. Mix together corn, black beans and shreeded lettuce in a separate bowl. 5. Warm up corn tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds. 6. Assemble taco with toppings of your choice. 7. Serve veggie tacos with leftover mashed up avocado and tortilla chips. 8. Enjoy! We bet you won't be able to just stop at one taco.

During my daily commute, I cross through a sea of restaurants and many are fresh, new brainchilds of savvy entrepreneurs trying to shine in today’s highly competitive restaurant business. But there is one place that has recently caught my eye. Resembling something from the past, with its geometrical block designs and its mid-century modern Mexico vibes, José is a new restaurant on Lovers Lane. Upon entering, it feels the as though you have been transported into a whole new era. With the plentiful murals inspired by the owner’s adventures to Guadalajara, rows upon rows of cacti and a lone pineapple adorning the trickling fountain outside, I couldn’t imagine a better place to enjoy a taco or a bottle of Topo Chico. I arrived in only athletic wear and was afraid I was slightly underdressed, but with José’s relaxed atmosphere, there were more sandals than heels present. Service was quick even on a Sunday evening without a reservation, but around 7 p.m., the crowd started to pick up, and the bustle of dinnertime commenced. Contrasting with the throwback decor, José is also very high-tech, with portable iPads accompanying every server around the open-concept restaurant. With entrees that range from $11 to $30, and sides that start at $9, it may not be the best place for a broke college student, but with such tasty food from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., it’s worth it. My favorite dish was the sizzling fish tacos, or tacos de pescado. Delicately arranged on a large plate, the fish was crispy on the outside, and as I took a bite, the initial flaky layer revealed a moist and warm inside. The thick tortilla was complemented with the creamy avocado and refreshing pico de gallo. The dish was served with a classic side of rice and beans,which completed the meal. Another hit at José is their ceviche, which is served by the bowl. With a squeeze of lime, it is a soothes the palate after chowing down on their tasty chips and salsa. The sweet tomato and zesty fish contrast each other which reminds you of a warm, summer day on the coast. I finished up my meal with Pera Escalada, a poached pear served with a creamy sauce made from cinnamon, cream cheese and caramel. Even though I could barely stand up after such a filling dinner, I made sure to finish this luscious dessert. The atmosphere of José also added to the dining experience. Music was a mix between songs like XXXTENTATION’s new hit, “Jocelyn Florens” and appropriately themed genres from South America. With the open spaces and ample floor room, I was surprised to see no dancers emerging from the lively crowd. My main complaint was parking. Like with other stores and restaurants on the tight Lovers Lane, finding a place to leave my car was not easy. However, if you have a problem with parking across the street or sneakily parking in the residential area, you can always use the valet. José is owned by Megan and Brady Woods, who set out to create an authentic restaurant channeling their love for the Guadalajaran culture and delicacies. “José is an authentic, neighborhood Mexican restaurant rather than a Tex-Mex restaurant. We were inspired by regional Mexican cuisine and atmosphere,” Wood said. With its Guadalajaran theme throughout, José’s namesake is the designer, José Noé Suro, who helped design the restaurant's hip aesthetic and is a close friend of the owners. And you might see some familiar faces at José; the Woods’ daughter, Honor, is a freshman at Hockaday and their son, Wheeler, attends the Episcopal School of Dallas. José opened last May, and I believe it has a bright future ahead. With it’s creative and original recipes and plates, it will most likely become a Dallas classic in the years to come. Paige Halverson | Staff Writer

NOVEMBER 3 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

arts + life

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PUMPED FOR PASTA Although Tex Mex cuisine permeates Dallas food culture, Italian restaurants rich with history and community are also scattered through the city. Some places, like Jimmy’s Food Store, which has been family-operated since 1966 in Old East Dallas, are known for Italian specialties, deli sandwiches and fresh takeout pasta. Other establishments, like Carbone’s, located between Highland Park and Uptown, are more suitable for fancier dinners. These options range in price and location but are all authentic options for an Italian pasto or meal. The Fourcast celebrated yet another foodrelated national holiday, National Pasta Day, on Oct. 17.

Dallas Tradition: Jimmy’s Food Store 4901 Bryan St.

Perfect Patio & Atmosphere: Taverna 3312 Knox St.

Fancy Dinner: Carbones 4208 Oak Lawn Ave.

Pizza & Pasta : Cane Rosso 7328 Gaston Ave.

Family Bites: Penne Pomodoro 11661 Preston Road

THE FOURCAST | THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

A SILENT CRY FOR HELP: The alarming escalation in teen suicide STORY BY CHARLOTTE DROSS AND MORGAN FISHER ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE HANCOCK

When 16-year-old Stacy* returned home from track practice, she began her usual routine— she ate dinner, showered, stretched out her tight muscles and put on pajamas. But instead of sitting down to complete her homework as she normally did, she wrote her family a note and swallowed a bottle of her mother’s sleeping pills. Stacy was on a path to the Ivy Leagues due to her success on the track and in the classroom, and had social media accounts littered with smiling photos of her alongside her loving friends and family. But, she had been silently battling depression and anxiety which was worsened by the immense pressure she put on herself in sports and school. Neither her friends nor family had any notion of her struggles beneath the surface. Unfortunately, Stacy is just one of many victims of teen suicide. THE RISE Within the past few years, teen suicide has jumped to alarmingly high rates, making it the third leading cause of death for teenagers. Everyday, about 12 adolescents commit suicide, and for each one of these deaths an estimated 25 attempts are made, according to studies done by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention. Information provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that teenagers who attempt suicide typically suffer from some kind of mental illness. Severe depression can lead to suicidal thoughts, but there is a host of other mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and anxiety that can lead to suicide. Substance abuse, bullying, serious loss like the death of a loved one or a breakup, abuse, family history of mental illness and many other factors can also lead to suicide. Mental illness is treatable, but limited access or the stigma associated with mental health treatment can prevent those who suffer from receiving appropriate care. According to a study done by the CDCP in 2015, successful suicide attempt rates among teenage girls reached a 40 year high, doubling since 2007. Although successful suicide attempt rates for teenage boys have not increased as dramatically, they still rose by more than 30 percent from 2007 to 2015. Girls consider and attempt suicide more often than boys, but the number of successful attempts in boys are much higher than girls. According to the CDCP, in 2015, five girls for every 100,000 committed suicide compared to 14 boys for every 100,000. Boys generally use more violent methods like firearms, hanging or jumping from heights, while girls typically attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or self-harm. Furthermore, boys less often use suicide attempts as a “call for help” which would allow for intervention and thus are more successful. BEHIND THE SPIKE Many teenagers find themselves mindlessly checking Snapchat Discover or scrolling through Facebook for hours everyday. According to Upper School Counselor Judy Ware, having this wealth of information at their fingertips can expose teens to dangerous content. Everything that a person watches and listens to becomes ingrained in the brain. More commonly known as the “copycat effect,” this is the idea that the media subconsciously causes its audience to imitate what they see being portrayed. If this is the case, by depicting violent suicides, the media could have a very negative influence on teenagers. On March 31, 2017, Netflix released a show called “13 Reasons Why,” produced by singer and actress Selena Gomez. Based off of the novel by Jay Asher, the show quickly gained momentum as audiences became hooked on its tragic plot which follows the story of a teenage girl, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide and left cassette tapes to the people who drove her to take her own life. Almost immediately after it was released and attracted large crowds of viewers, the show became a very large source of controversy. Although suicide is certainly not a topic that should be silenced, there comes a point when the media’s portrayal of it is romanticizing rather than sensitive. “There is a lot of concern about ‘13 Reasons Why’ because it sensationalizes suicide,” said Laurel School psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who wrote New York Times bestseller “Untangled”, a book that focuses on key developmental transitions in teenage girls on their path to adulthood and how adults can successfully guide them there. The show glamorizes suicide by providing the false notion that committing suicide allows one to get revenge on their tormentors and graphically depicted the lead killing herself. Psychologists caution against both dramatizing suicide and providing methods for attempting it, particularly in graphic manners. “There is a lot of concern in the mental health community because we have seen teenagers talking more casually about suicide and seeing it through a more sensational lens than we remember from before [“13 Reasons Why”] came out,” Damour said. Additionally, the show simplifies suicide by suggesting that bullying and sexual assault were the sole triggers, when in reality, it was Hannah’s mental illness, aggravated by the trauma, that pushed her to commit suicide. It virtually ignores the topic of mental illness, which is crucial in the discussion of suicide. This creates an idea of hopelessness, as Hannah could not make her bullies stop tormenting her, when in reality, according to Damour, mental illness is highly treatable. The National Center of Biotechnology Information stated that watching the show could trigger mentally unstable viewers to inflict harm upon themselves or consider doing so, otherwise known as “copycat effect.” These results were conclusive, as one study showed that only 19 days after the release of the show, online searches about suicide were 19 percent higher than expected, including searches like “commit suicide,” “how to commit suicide” and “how to kill yourself.” Besides the media’s portrayal of suicide, a rise in mental illness caused to the rise in teen suicide. The intense pressure put on teens in schools nowadays contributes to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, according to Dan Nelson, M.D., the Medical Director of the Child Psychiatry Unit at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Technology, specifically social media, also plays a role in the increase. Social media not only opens up teens to cyberbullying which can lead to mental illness and in many cases has driven teens to commit suicide. Various studies, including one done by Nelson, have proven that frequently using multiple social media platforms raises the risk of anxiety and depression. STUDENT STORIES Teen suicide has affected countless families and communities close to Hockaday. During her freshman year, one of senior Emily Fuller’s friends told her that she was scrolling through Instagram and saw a video of their friend Violet* taking a bottle of Prozac, a medication prescribed for depression, and essentially saying goodbye. Fuller and her friend immediately called the police to send an ambulance to Violet’s house because her parents were out of town. They immediately drove to Violet’s house where they discovered the ambulance had taken her to the hospital. Luckily, Violet survived her suicide attempt and received proper treatment. “I don’t think that she actually expected to die, I think it was a call for help,” Fuller said. Fuller said she saw signs that her friend was struggling with depression. She wishes she had done more to answer this cry for help before she attempted suicide, but she also said that the incident has changed the way she approaches situations. “Every single day I think about that night, just how someone could seriously want everything to stop,” Fuller said. “I know everyone has their problems that they don’t share at school, and people that I don’t even know are struggling. Now I try to think of things in that way, that anyone could be thinking these things.” Fuller wants to stress the importance of talking to a trusted adult, whether it be a parent or

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

advisor, if you think there is even the slight possibility someone is struggling. “It’s not something that just having good girlfriends can get them through. Depression is so much more serious than that. I wish that people would think about it in the sense that it is seriously life or death, because for too many people it’s death,” Fuller said. When senior Eliza Parker attended middle school in Arizona, her best friend was diagnosed with depression and went through medical treatment at a rehabilitation center because she was suicidal. Parker said that at the young age of 12, she did not know what to do to help her friend when she saw the warning signs of substance abuse, isolation and sadness. “We just tried our best to be there for her when she was really sad and keep her involved because she felt really isolated, and made sure she felt like she was a necessary component of everyone’s lives,” Parker said. Parker’s friend, with the proper help and treatment, has recovered and was recently released from rehab. “From a friend standpoint, I think it’s really important to realize it’s not your fault. It’s easy to feel guilty if you are the friend of someone who is depressed. Just know that it is an internal thing for them, and you can do your best to let them know how important they are, but don’t feel guilty for their mental illness, because it really is an illness and they can’t help it,” Parker said. WHAT CAN WE DO? Although suicide rates have risen in the past 10 years, efforts to help decrease these rates and raise awareness about mental health issues have advanced as well. There are countless suicide awareness foundations in the United States, like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to suicide awareness. Additionally, the Grace Loncar Foundation is a Dallas based organization honoring Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Student Grace Loncar, who took her own life in 2016. Loncar was diagnosed with depression at the age of 11. The foundation was established in 2017 with a mission to raise awareness about depression and mental health disorders and provide resources and support to those who may be battling with suicidal thoughts or depression. Despite the efforts of foundations like the AFSP and the Grace Loncar Foundation, the media is a major obstacle in the fight against teen suicide. With its more susceptible younger audience, the media’s portrayals of suicide and mental illness have negative effects. “It’s really hard to control what the media does, especially if what they do draws a large market. The media is often driven by profit, and putting forth programming that is exaggerated or dramatized makes people really want to watch it,” Damour said. “This is really hard to get communities to do, but to not click, to not watch is the best way to regulate what the media is going to put forward.” But the media is not all negative; there are some positive influences as well, like films that handle suicide in a correct way by bringing awareness and opening up the conversation. Celebrities like Demi Lovato, who struggled with mental health and suicidal thoughts, are also bringing awareness and support to those struggling. The hit song “1-800-273-8255” by Logic featuring Khalid and Alessia Cara is named with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number and encourages listeners experiencing suicidal thoughts to fight for their lives. Suicide in the media is a slippery slope, but recognizing warning signs in your peers and knowing what to do when you spot them is the most concrete way to prevent suicide. We often have a tendency to push ourselves past our limits, causing overwhelming amounts of stress. But there is a fine line between healthy stress and a mental health disorder. “Healthy people get sick, but healthy people can recover, while unhealthy people get sick and don’t recover,” Damour said. “When we worry is when someone has a bad day followed by another bad day and another bad day and they can’t bounce back. That’s when it’s time for some help from the outside.” Warning signs of mental health issues that could lead to suicide include talking about wanting to die, researching or taking interest in suicide, feelings of hopelessness or numbness, being trapped, guilt or being a burden and unbearable pain, substance abuse, reckless or impulsive behavior, anxiousness, irregular sleeping habits, isolation, inability to concentrate, extreme mood swings and self-harm. If you see any of these signs in your friend, immediately tell an adult you trust. Ware understands that girls may be concerned about their friend’s reaction if they bring the problem to an adult. “Which would you prefer? Would you prefer that your friend is angry with you, or is it more important for her to be safe?” she asked. Both Ware and Damour emphasized the importance of reaching out to those who display signs of depression or other forms of mental illness. “You can’t make somebody suicidal by asking,” Damour said. If there is even a small concern, it is worth asking. Ware wants to reiterate the idea of “let’s talk about suicide.” If there is no shame or stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide and if it is open for discussion, teenagers will feel more comfortable seeking help if they are struggling. Both Damour and Ware stress that depression is highly treatable if you have access to medical help. In order to get this help, you must talk to someone about the problem. Teen suicide can drastically affect a community, yet our rhetoric often treats self-harm carelessly, with phrases like “I have so much homework, I want to die,” echoing throughout the halls of Hockaday. Damour believes statements like this should be followed with questions. “Sometimes we just say really dramatic things, I don’t think that is inherently bad. But I think as an adult who is around that, sometimes I will say ‘Do you really want to die or is that how bad you feel?’ and most of the time the answer that comes back is ‘Oh, no, I don’t want to die, I just feel really bad.’ And then we can talk about that. But it’s also good because I haven’t dismissed it, because sometimes the person will say ‘I don’t know, I think I do want to die’ and then we can have that conversation,” Damour said. Suicide needs to be discussed so everyone struggling, including people like Stacy who are doing so silently, can receive help. “You just don’t know who. It’s not just the people who don’t have any friends, it’s the people who are the center of attention. You can’t always tell,” Fuller said. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to an adult you trust and know that help is available. You can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

* Pseudonyms used to protect the teenagers’ identity.

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

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Hypnosis: 10 percent of Hockaday seniors undergo hypnosis to help with anxiety about standardized testing P.14

Faces and Places: Hockaday students and faculty attend the Texas State Fair for the rides, food and attractions. P.15 A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING. P.16

A (Trance)formative Way to Improve Scores “I got there and everything was easy. All the things that I had struggled with before like doubting myself, it wasn’t there. I didn’t worry about the time as much,” Vanesko said. Prior to undergoing hypnosis, Vanesko met with an ACT tutor every Tuesday afternoon and frequently took mock exams at Slingshot Test Prep on Saturday mornings. Each time she finished the exam, Vanesko received the same score despite studying several hours a week. By Mary Orsak | Magazine Editor

Hypnosis is accepted by all the professional organizations now. There are hundreds of books and thousands of scientific studies validating the use of hypnosis. Dr. Carl Ward Licensed Hypnotherapist, Behavioral Medicine Clinic

behavioral therapy, which Hoenig practices, as too time intensive. Instead, Ward has a preliminary diagnostic meeting with the patient and his or her parents to assess whether hypnosis will benefit the patient and then proceeds with hypnotherapy. According to a report produced by researchers at Stanford University in 2000, only 10 percent of the population is highly hypnotizable although a greater percentage has the ability to undergo hypnosis. Despite this statistic, Ward assumes that every patient is a good subject for hypnosis. “I don’t believe that 10 percent thing. Those things are researched at universities by people who do not practice,” Ward said. Ward contends that hypnosis is far more effective than more traditional methods of therapy. “The quickest way to help somebody is using trance work. When you are dealing with something as powerful as anxiety, [cognitive behavioral therapy] is much less effective,” Ward said. “In terms of stabilizing a personality with anxiety, CBT [cognitive behavioral therapy] is very good. In terms of providing something that gives them pretty quick help and getting back to being able to manage that level of anxiety, trance work is much more powerful.” Hoenig has never referred a patient to a hypnotherapist because “while I certainly

IT’S A LONG

STORY A staple of the Hockaday community since 1970, Ed Long has become part of the identity of the school itself. Few members of the community are unfamiliar with Long’s contributions to campus, including his development of the History of Art and Music course as well as his leadership of the Upper School orchestra. However, during his 47-year-long tenure, Long has accomplished far more than most students know. In his last year before retirement, The Fourcast shares a Long story every issue.

Red and yellow leaves line tree branches and pumpkin spice lattes are back at coffee shops. Autumn is here, and with autumn comes Halloween. Long has experienced decades of Hockaday Halloweens. While the tradition of senior pranks and scares generally stays similar to the years prior, new themes make every year special. A few years ago, Long decided to join in on the fun and games by presenting the Hockaday faculty and student body with a fun surprise: donning a plaid skirt and saddle Oxfords. Long showed up dressed as a Hockaday student for his Halloween costume. Long explained that while many female faculty members come dressed as Hockaday girls for Halloween, male faculty members almost never do so. After Long went to the Mill’s Uniform Store and bought the famous Hockaday plaid skirt, saddle oxfords and a white dress shirt, there was still something missing in his costume: long hair. While Long was shifting through the long blonde wigs at Tom Thumb, he found a red bow to jazz up his wig and complete his lively outfit. When the day of Halloween finally came around and the girls saw him, Long was surprised by their reaction. “No one recognized who I was,” Long said. “Everybody thought I was Goldilocks!” And that day was the last time that Long dressed up for a Hockaday Halloween. Pictured above: Long dressed as a Dracula, long before this incident.

TESTING TESTING 1, 2, 3 | Starting as early as Lower School, Hockaday students begin standardized tests. Director of Learning Support Shelley Cave notes that these types of tests often provoke anxiety in even the youngest students.

PHOTO BY CIRRUS CHEN

Frustrated with her progress, Vanesko decided to resort to an unconventional preparation method: hypnosis. Although rarely discussed, students have increasingly relied upon hypnosis to alleviate test anxiety and, in turn, improve test scores. A survey of 33 Hockaday seniors found that almost 10 percent of students had undergone hypnosis for test anxiety, and more than 50 percent of the 177 underclassmen remained open to trying hypnosis. Ward defines hypnosis as “a state of deep relaxation in which the subconscious mind becomes more available for suggestion.” His sessions, which last from 30 to 50 minutes, begin with the patient sharing his or her particular anxieties and then end with the hypnotic session, in which Ward counteracts negative thoughts through targeted messages. Although anxious high schoolers only comprise a small percentage of his practice, Ward, a psychotherapist who has practiced hypnotherapy for 25 years and who served as the president of the North Texas Society of Clinical Hypnosis, has become a valuable resource to many standardized test tutors who rely upon his services to reduce anxiety in their students. “Years ago, I hypnotized some medical students and they did much better and so the word got out to these North Dallas tutors,” Ward said. Ward credits the increase in stress to the rising college admission standards and the competition to attend the most prestigious universities in the country. “These people want to get into these colleges and want higher and higher ACTs and so hypnosis—it won’t make them do well in math if they don’t know math and it doesn’t replace studying—but what it can do is get more out of yourself,” Ward says. Vanesko desperately wanted to add one more point to her composite ACT score in order to make herself a more competitive candidate at her dream school, but her anxiety about timing precluded her from getting that extra point. “I just got really nervous when I was taking the full test. I would get really stressed out about time,” Vanesko said. Dr. Avery Hoenig, a licensed psychologist who treats adolescents and adults with anxiety and depression, has observed anxiety about school and the college admissions process in nearly 100 percent of her high school patients. “I would say that the main cause of anxiety is stressors so mostly within the academic realm, you can see test anxiety, which is more of specific stress or anxiety about performance on a test,” Hoenig said. “More often there is just an overall feeling of being overwhelmed.” When Hoenig first sees a patient with test anxiety, she discusses whether testing accommodations like taking the test alone or receiving extra time would help assuage some of the anxiety. If that is a not a viable solution, Hoenig progresses to cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches patients problem-solving skills and healthy ways to cope with stress. If that then fails as well, Hoenig may refer a patient to a psychiatrist, who could prescribe anti-anxiety medications. Ward, on the other hand, approaches test anxiety differently and views cognitive

don’t want to discount [hypnosis] because it can be helpful, it is something that the jury is still kind of out. There are not a lot of peer-reviewed articles about short-term or long-term benefits of hypnosis.” Ward disagrees with this assertion and said, “Hypnosis is accepted by all the professional organizations now. There are hundreds of books and thousands of scientific studies validating the use of hypnosis.” Regardless, the word “hypnosis” still evokes images of performers instructing unwitting audience members to cluck or fall asleep at a snap of the hypnotist’s fingers. Every time a patient enters his office, Ward must explain that hypnotherapy greatly deviates from its depiction on television. Vanesko experienced this same skepticism about hypnosis even though her brother had used it to help with both his sleeping problems and his test-anxiety. “I didn’t really trust it. I mean, it worked for my brother, so maybe it is not just some weird dude with a crystal ball, but I was skeptical,” Vanesko said. Even after the hypnosis, Vanesko refrained from sharing her experience because she believed her friends may judge her for utilizing an unorthodox treatment. “It was embarrassing. It’s like weird,” Vanesko said. Despite her uneasiness about discussing hypnosis, Vanesko did improve her ACT score by one point. However, Vanesko is not certain that the hypnosis alone earned her the point. “I credit my sessions with Dr. Ward, but I don’t think it was hypnosis. I don’t think I was hypnotized,” Vanesko said. Vanesko does still recommend meeting with Ward if you suffer from test-anxiety because his sessions train patients to believe in their own ability and remind them that they will survive even the most traumatizing test experience. “Honestly, it costs the same as one tutoring session,” Vanesko said. Hoenig simply recommends treatment for anxiety, regardless of what treatment one chooses. “I do think that anxiety seems to be on the rise, and I think that it is important to know that there is help and treatment available. If hypnosis is helpful to you, that’s great. If that’s not working for you, [Dallas] has great mental health practitioners,” Hoenig said. “There is help available. There is no need to suffer in silence.”

PHOTO BY KATE WOODHOUSE

Stressed Students Turn to Hypnotherapy

Fea t

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THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

PHOTOS BY ELIANA GOODMAN

features

A Texas’ Fairly Unique Tradition

01. Proudly standing and saluting the fairgoers since his building in 1949, Big Tex serves as an iconic symbol for Texas Pride. 02. This bright red arch, positioned at the entrance of the State Fair, welcomes in the excited guests for their day of fun at the Fair. 03. Sophomore Isabel Shaffer, winner of six State Fair art awards, sports a smile as she enjoys funnel cake. 04. Students Gabby Evans and Margaret Thompson stand in front of the Fair’s market, which ranges in stock from cowboy boots, to pocket knives, to jewelry. 05. The iconic ferris wheel at the Fair, which overlooks the city of Dallas at its peak, stands by thrilling rides such as the Alpine Bobs.

Aromas of fried ice cream, fried Texas sheet cake and tamale donuts waft through the air as hundreds of people buzz through the crowds of the annual Texas State Fair. And as she clutches her ticket, sunglasses and wallet, freshman Elizabeth Roosevelt joins the State Fair rush. But this is not her first time; Roosevelt has visited the Fair every year since she can remember. “I think [the Fair is so appealing] because it has been around for so long, and the yearly tradition is so unique and unlike anything else you can find,” Roosevelt said. Like Roosevelt, thousands upon thousands make it an annual traditional in the fall to visit the Texas State Fair in Fair Park. The prospect of fried food, thrilling rides, wild exhibits and various contests has drawn huge crowds in since the Fair’s establishment in 1886. For many people, the biggest allure of the Fair is its food. Offering wacky options such as Fried Fruit Loop-Donuts and Bacon Queso Funnel Cakes, the State Fair serves just about every decadent concoction one could think of. Another yearly attraction of the Fair is the series of free country, Tejano, hip hop and pop concerts held at the Chevrolet Main Stage. In 2017, the Fair hosted concerts over a 24 day span,which contained performances by 75 participating artists. Since the concert is free with the price of Fair admission, radio stations such as 99.5, Kiss FM and Radio Disney sponsor the performing artists, who include Flo Rida, Daya and the Waterloo Revival. Perhaps one of the biggest attraction to the State Fair is the Texas/Oklahoma University weekend, when the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma compete in a football showdown. Fueling the longstanding rivalry between the two schools, a full stadium of over 90,000 fans rooted for their schools. This Red River Showdown on October 14 finished with a 29-24 score in OU’s favor. The State Fair also offers over 1,100 contests with categories in 12 different artistic departments, so there is something for everyone who is interested in boosting their competitive spirits. Inspired by her ceramics and film photography camp in Vermont this summer, sophomore Isabel Shaffer submitted her work and received six awards: five in ceramics and one in photography. “I was really excited about all my new artwork and thought the State Fair would be a great place to display it, so I entered,” Shaffer said. “The Fair is a great place for people of any community to bond and show off their skills.” But the Fair is not just for kids. Upper School Latin teacher Dr. Andre Stipanovic has visited the Fair almost every year since his move to Dallas in 1997. He especially appreciates the agricultural aspects of the Texas State Fair. Guiding his three boys through the agriculture exhibitions of the Fair, Stipanovic thinks it’s vital for families to spend time outside. “There are so few outside activities for families, especially ones that are so rich in culture and history… [The Fair] is a great bonding opportunity for families, and provides a day of learning and fun,” Stipanovic said. Whether it is a bird exhibition, concert, competition or midway game, the Fair has a diverse experience for anyone to enjoy. “You know, the Fair is kind of like a newspaper. Each building, each article, supplies a different learning experience for its ‘readers.’ It gives people, children and adults alike, a community through learning and fun,” Stipanovic said. Ever since it opened, the Fair has become an integral, quintessential aspect of Texan culture and community. In 1886, its inaugural year, the Fair attracted 100,000 visitors. One hundred and thirty years later attendance broke record: in 2016, 2,408,032 people enjoyed the Fair. Eliana Goodman | Staff Writer

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

A Day in the Life of

Mrs. Skerritt Have you ever wondered the daily routine of Director of College Counseling Courtney Skerritt? We did! The Fourcast sent Staff Writer Eugene Seong to shadow Skerritt and to find out what her typical day looks like. (Spoiler alert: she has to edit a lot of college essays in between many college meetings!) Read the story below to know Skerritt’s schedule on Oct. 19.

Rise & Grind!

Comeceonisinop, en! my offi

7:35 A.M. EARLY ARRIVAL | Director of College Counseling Courtney Skerritt arrives at Hockaday with her daughter, Dana, at the horseshoe in front of the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Center for the Arts. She drops off her daughter at the Child Development Center and then makes her way to the college counseling office to start her day.

8:00 A.M. STARTING YOUNG | She starts her first college meeting with a sophomore. Skerritt welcomes into her office any students who have a question about college, no matter their grade.

8:20 A.M. MORNING CHATS | She walks around the senior hallway and greets senior Shivani Batra on her way to her morning classes. Skerritt likes to check in with the seniors every day, starting from a short “good morning” to a brief conversation on how their day is going so far.

3:10 P.M. GOOD VIBES | Skerritt purchases a good vibes bell from Etsy. “I want the college counseling place to be a comfortable, fun space for the girls, so I’m buying this bell to bring in good vibes,” Skerritt said.

9:00 A.M. 3:30 P.M. FAVORITE CAKES | Skerritt and Kerrie Smith, College Counseling Associate and a close friend, have a conversation about cakes. They often have small talks like this one throughout the day to break the routine.

LESS STRESS | Head of Upper School Terry Murray and Skerritt have a short meeting about how to alleviate students’ stress. “We want all of our students to feel good and not stressed. And we are trying hard to make that happen,” Skerritt said.

2:45 P.M. HOT TEA BREAK | Break time. Skerritt takes a brief break in the teacher’s lounge. Cinnamon apple spice tea and a little chat with Drama Teacher Emily Gray refreshes her mind.

Afternoon fuel

9:45 A.M. Goodbye! 4:00 P.M.

1:50 P.M. COLLEGE STOP BY | A college representative from Colorado College visits Hockaday. Skerritt and the representative have a short meeting, then Skerritt gives chances to the students to meet the representative and ask questions.

HEADING HOME | The work day is over. After packing her bag, Skerritt leaves early that day and heads down to the Child Development Center to pick up Dana who is feeling sick. Like any working mom, she balances her work and family live.

ADVISORY TIME | Skerritt’s advisory gathers in the college counseling room. Often, her advisees have quizzes and test, so this is a great time for them to review their tests’ material. Skerritt tries to give her advisees a comfortable and relaxing environment. “She likes to put on fireplace videos or funny videos to help us do better on our tests or quizzes,” her advisee and junior Michelle Chen said.

11:00 A.M.

1:10 P.M. NO BREAKS | Time for lunch, finally! But she knows how to multi-task and enjoys her lunch while having a conference with senior Genny Wood. During busy weeks, Skerritt often misses lunchtime and eats her packed lunch - turkey sandwich, an apple and string cheese - in her office.

READ & REVIEW | She reads over seniors’ college essays and gives feedback. Even though she has a full pile, she reviews and comments on each and every single one of them.

11:45 A.M. OPEN HOURS | During conference, the doors of college counseling are open and students who need help with their college applications and essays, or just want to hang out, enter and chill on the couches.

PHOTOS BY EUGENE SEONG

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THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

PHOTO BY MARIA HARRISON

features

STUDYING INDEPENDENTLY | Senior Lauren Puplampu reads “All The Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven as research for her independent study. This fictional book focuses on two teenagers living in Indiana, mental illness and suicidal thoughts.

Miss Independent Study

From mental illness to handwriting bias, some seniors pursue independent studies.

If students have a strong interest in a field that is not offered in their curriculum, Hockaday offers an alternative path: a student-directed independent study program where the student has the ability to choose, focus on and write their own curriculum. Although many students are participating in independent studies, The Fourcast is taking a closer look at the independent studies of three seniors: Lauren Puplampu, Neha Dronamraju and Grace Olson. LAUREN PUPLAMPU Senior Lauren Puplampu’s independent study focuses on how mental illness is portrayed in the media. Her advisor, Middle School counselor Rachel Innerarity, majored in psychology. “I wanted to know if the media was portraying mental health correctly and how this was affecting my friends and those in my community,” Puplampu said. “My friends who had mental illnesses were telling me that this isn’t being portrayed right, and it’s making their mental illness worse.” Netflix TV show “13 Reasons Why,” which involves the themes of depression and teenage suicide, pushed Puplampu to choose mental health, specifically depression, anxiety, obsessive

compulsive disorder and bipolar disorder, as her independent study. For her research, Puplampu is reading “The Rest of Us Live Here,” which focuses on depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and “All The Bright Places,” which deals with depression. Later, Puplampu will also choose a movie and a television show to analyze. By asking around, she has found several students in the Hockaday community that she will interview to further educate herself on the topic. At the end of her study, Puplampu hopes to bring awareness and start thoughtful conversations about this topic. She believes that mental illness isn’t something that needs to be kept in the dark. “I want to break this stereotype that the depressed kid wears the black hoodie and is leaning down,” Puplampu said. “I want to tell people that it doesn’t always look like that and it has different signs.” NEHA DRONAMRAJU Senior Neha Dronamraju decided to look at policy reform for undocumented students and students who speak English as a second language in DISD along with her independent study

advisor, Director of Service Learning Laura Day. gration in DISD easier,” Dronamraju said. “We’re going into DISD meetings to find which policies are failing the students,” DronamGRACE OLSON raju said. “I want to provide resources to high After she wrote on the AP Biology classschools and inform teachers of these circumroom’s board last year in, senior Grace Olstances in their schools.” son’s lab group complimented Within the DISD sysher handwriting, which sparked a THEFUTURE tem, Dronamraju’s goal is question within Olson: what is the to hone in on two probimplicit bias associated with handlems: the language gap writing? Thus, Olson collaborated existing between English with Science Teacher Katie Croft speakers and non-English to design an independent study speakers inside the classlooking at the correlation between room, and the college implicit bias and handwriting. process for undocumented “We don’t always realize students. that we have bias against differ“[Non-English speakent handwriting styles and how in place for ESL students ers] are often thrown into that affects how we view others,” that make integration English classes then they Olson said. in DISD easier. are playing catchup their Since the beginning of the entire life,” Dronamraju school year, Olson has done resaid. “The current ESL prosearch about implicit bias, handNEHA DRONAMRAJU grams are only catered to writing analysis, neuroscience Senior Spanish speakers, but the and how humans interpret inforeducation system now is mation. Later in the year, Olson changing with the times.” plans to design and conduct experiments using Dronamraju attends one to two DISD meetings every month where she has noticed Hockaday students’ handwriting to test wheththat there is a lack of students’ perspectives re- er there is a response with bias to handwriting. “I’m hoping to understand how we view garding making the policies. Thus, listening to students from the Leadership ISD Student Voic- things in the most subtle ways,” Olson said. es program, Dronamraju is able to bring that perspective to the policymakers. “At the end of the year, I want to have a Maria Harrison | Features Editor system in place for ESL students that make inte-

I WANT TO HAVE A SYSTEM

BOARDER LINE PHOTOS BY EMILY WU

We looked at a senior boarder, homesickness and the Residence Department’s trip to the Texas State Fair.

●●●

COMBATTING HOMESICKNESS

After years as a boarder, senior Tiffany Bai is considered one of the “big sister” figures in boarding. Since she first came to the United States from Beijing, China as a freshman, Bai’s experiences in the residence department have been an essential part of her Hockaday life. What do you want to say to the new boarding students? Spending time wisely is very important. Finishing school work is essential, but socializing and hanging out with friends are also not neglectable. Make friends with people around you because you will find yourself depending on others in the future. Also, Freshman 15 is real. In addition, rules are rules because they are reasonable and helpful, not because people want to restrict you. For instance, mandatory study halls prevent me from procrastinating for the entire evening and actually make me able to get things done. How do boarders usually go to places of worship? Ms. Angie usually organizes services every Sunday. Normally, the trips to churches are organized according to the type of churches or the specific religion one believes in. What will you miss most about Hockaday boarding? The nice dormitory environment will definitely be one. I will also miss the convenient transportation provided by Hockaday a lot because it’s fast and fun when we get to go to certain places in a group. In addition, the dorm moms are very kind and friendly. Being with them makes me feel safe and even feel like a child again. If you can change one thing in your four year boarding life, what will it be? I wish I could have spent more time getting to know more people. Or, I wish I could have used the procrastinated time in something more meaningful that wasn’t necessarily just studying.

For Chinese boarder and freshman Elaine Wang, living in a completely different environment meant facing dramatic changes. She experienced new kinds of stress, an unfamiliar culture and different lifestyles that were indeed challenging for Wang. One of the biggest changes was the food as the American diet often made her feel homesick. In order to help relieve the homesickness, Wang’s mother crammed her luggage with instant noodles. “Eating familiar food helps,” Wang said. “When I’m frustrated or homesick, ramen noodles remind me of what home feels like.”

↠

BIG TEX SAYS HOWDY The Texas State Fair, one of the most representative local events of Dallas culture, also attracts international attention. The Hockaday boarding department organized a special trip to the Fair in order to provide the boarders with the opportunity of exploring local interests. To read more about the Fair, go to Faces + Places on pg. 15.

Emily Wu | Staff Writer

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

18 ast urc o F

alth The He

Teachers Get Schooled in Self Defense: Self Defense Instructor Meg Hinkley offers a new faculty self defense course. P.18

Joining the Ranks of the Champions: Hockaday athletes volunteer to support their partnership with the YMCA Champions League. P.20

IRON DEFICIENCY

P.19

Teachers Get Schooled in Self Defense With clenched fists and eyes locked on her target, she geared up to throw a punch. Her heart pounded and her adrenaline levels spiked as she swung at her opponent with full force. As the sound of successive punches echoed around the room, high pitched screams of “get away from me” and “back off” pierced the air.

By Amelia Brown | Sports and Health Editor

On an early October afternoon, Alejandra Suarez, Upper School Spanish teacher and Form II Dean, along with nine other Upper School faculty and staff members, attended their first self defense course offered by Self Defense Instructor Meg Hinkley in the self defense training room in Penson Gym. After weeks of conversations and planning between Suarez, Hinkley and Rebecca Calhoun, health curriculum teacher and Form IV Dean, Upper School faculty and staff were invited to participate in the sixweek self defense course. “I received emails right away with people who were interested. It was awesome to see that people really wanted to participate in this,” Suarez said. In the end, ten people signed up for the course and they met on Oct. 4 for an introductory class to kick it off. Hinkley intends to model the course after the senior self defense curriculum by exposing faculty to the same physical content, verbal drills, physical drills and simulated attacks. However, she plans to modify the portions of the senior course that focus on precautions to take when entering college. “Women of all ages can be targets and so by learning some basic prevention skills, like how we carry ourselves and the energy we are projecting, we can make ourselves a less likely target,” Hinkley said. Hinkley works to eradicate the misconception that only young women can be victims of sexual assault. She wishes to prepare and inform women of all ages to provide them with the tools to protect themselves. “Younger people have higher risk of being attacked for sexual assault due to vulnerability but sexual assaults happen to women in their 90s,” Hinkley said. Despite inviting all faculty members, Hinkley hopes to offer a class for men in addition to the current all female class. She is open to teaching a co-ed class but she would focus on different things for each gender. “Men get attacked for different reasons than women do, and they get attacked in different ways,” Hinkley said. Hinkley explained to her students that attackers who target a female for sexual assault typically tend to grab to contain them and transport them somewhere isolated. Males, on the other hand, are more likely to suffer a punch or a hit from their attacker. “Sometimes males are in situations where someone is throwing punches at them but they don’t want to do something to that person that would possibly kill them,” Hinkley said. “Typically when women are being attacked it’s life threatening and you need to do something serious to fight back.” In addition to learning some physical skills, Calhoun stressed the importance of just simply learning to be more aware. She thinks that she and the other faculty members will benefit from hearing reminders about things like remembering to keep one hand free, to put your phone down and to check your surroundings when leaving the mall. “It’s raising awareness and having a plan. I think those two things are invaluable for everyone,” Calhoun said. Before this class, neither Calhoun or Suarez had taken an extensive self defense course. However, Suarez believes that it is important for the faculty to educate themselves to be able to give advice and answer

The more prepared we are, the more we will be able to help ourselves and help others. Alejandra Suarez Upper School Spanish Teacher Form II Dean

students’ questions. “The more prepared we are, the more we will be able to help ourselves and help others,” Suarez said. “It is crucial for us, as educators, to share a common point with our students and to understand what they go through.” Calhoun was grateful for the self defense techniques that she recently learned when she spotted a white van idling in the middle of her street before starting her 6 a.m. pre-workout jog. Although she acknowledged that there may have been no threat, she decided to change her warm up routine to ensure her safety. “I think that we all live in a world where we need to have that extra awareness and extra knowledge of how to protect ourselves, get out of situations, or prevent situations from going further,” Calhoun said. Hinkley believes that learning self defense techniques and reminders should become a greater priority for those who haven’t taken a class. Even though people tend to get caught up in their busy lives, she sees self defense as an essential part of caring for our-

PHOTO BY KAREN LIN

Fists Clenched and Ready for Action

Sports

TIPS AND TRICKS SUGGESTIONS TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED LIFESTYLE. P.19

selves and our health in general. “[Taking a self defense class] is more something that people do when something happens to someone close to them or they have a scare themselves,” Hinkley said. “Just knowing what to do and having that awareness really radically changes things and makes you much less likely to be a target.” Suarez is eager to continue to learn new things in this course and hopes to someday teach a self defense class herself. “In my perspective, if I don’t teach it I won’t learn it,” Suarez said. “I would like to be able to learn by teaching, especially in today's world where we are so busy that we tend to not stop and think about a lot of things” Suarez sees this course as an essential way to learn important self defense techniques, and she also sees it as a way to strengthen the bonds within the Hockaday community. “I am beyond excited that the faculty is involved in [a self defense class] because it’s another setting to build community and another way for adults to connect with each other,” Suarez said. Calhoun hopes to see this wave of faculty interest in self defense continue to grow. “I hope it’s something that we could offer routinely so all faculty has the opportunity to participate,” Calhoun said. And it sounds that the initial classes have already generated a buzz among the entire faculty. “It is only our second week and interest has spread to other divisions of the school,” Suarez said.

Q & A WITH JESSICA CHU

Q: What challenges have you faced in the class?

A: Taking self defense has really forced

me out of my comfort zone. At first, I was really scared and the most uncomfortable I have been was when the instructor pinned me down. I imagine that I feel like some of the students in my class, who hate math, and have to step out of their comfort zones. Q: What have you enjoyed?

A: I appreciate how Meg structures the

class. It is so informational. She just keeps giving us techniques to defend ourselves with, so now I feel prepared for any situation in which I may have to use them. I was really interested in signing up when it was first offered to the faculty because I think that it is one of the coolest things that Hockaday offers. Q: What have you learned?

A: It is our natural instinct to tense up

when our arms are constricted in an attack but Meg taught us a technique that makes it possible to free one or both arms. Before this class I never thought of some of the techniques that I have learned to protect myself. Even though the statistics are not in a woman's favor when it comes to being attacked, I feel reassured that I now have the tools to protect myself.

THROW A PUNCH | Director of Accounts Payable Lana York and Upper School science teacher Kirsten Lindsay- Hudak mirror instructor Meg Hinkley to learn new self defense techniques.

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THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

sports + health

AND FROM

MICHELLE 'S

MIND

‘‘ JOINING THE RANKS

OF THE CHAMPIONS

they are more knowledgeable about that As she dribbles the field hockey ball, senior and Athletic Board Chair Campbell sport,” Burr said. “And, it’s more fun to volunSwango sprints down the field and scores teer with people you know.” Thus, Swango took the lead in reaching a clean goal. However, Swango isn’t here to score points. This is no team practice or game. out to Hockaday varsity and junior varsity Swango, a coach for the September teams to volunteer at Champions League Champions League event at YMCA Dallas, is during the September event. “I organize for the teams so they can help demonstrating to a special needs child how to with their specific sport,” Swango said. “The correctly handle a field hockey stick. The 2017-2018 school year marks the first time, we had field hockey, so I told the field inaugural year of the partnership between hockey players about it and reminded them.” Because the October event took place Hockaday students and the Champions League. On the third Sunday of each month, during Eugene McDermott Head of School student athletes from participating schools Dr. Karen Warren Coleman’s installation, come to the YMCA to volunteer as buddies, Hockaday athletes did not attend, so the next event in which Hockaday will participate will or “coaches,” for children be the November event. with special needs. By Each Champions partnering participants League event takes place with coaches, each particifrom 2 to 3:30 p.m. While pant is free to work at his TEAMWORK Burr plans for and is present or her own skill level. for each event, she asks the Each month features volunteer coaches to lead sesa different sport. The sions and take charge. September Champions “The volunteers come League event focused on half an hour early,” Burr said. field hockey. The event on “And they [lead] because they Sunday, Oct. 15 focused know how to stretch; they do on basketball, while the it before every game. They November event will focus feel comfortable doing drills.” that come to on soccer. A typical program beSarah Burr, the Diwork and volunteer. gins with five to 10 minutes rector of Outreach and of stretching. Next, coaches Special Needs at YMCA and participants engage in Dallas, began her work SARAH BURR The Director of Outreach various drills; then, after a with the Champions and Special Needs at YMCA Dallas quick snack break, the coachLeague in early 2017 and es and participants have time reached out to Hockaday at to simply chat. the end of last school year. “That’s one thing par“A board member ents said to me was very of YMCA had mentioned Hockaday to me,” Burr said. “Our special important,” Burr said. “Ask questions and talk, needs program is still pretty young. We’re still like ‘What do you want to be for Halloween?’ building, so not a lot of the community knows It’s important to socialize; we’re all social human beings.” about the opportunities we have.” To finish the event, participants may enOn the Hockaday end, Director of Service Learning Laura Day is coordinating the gage in scrimmages, or they may observe the partnership between Hockaday and YMCA. coaches play a scrimmage together. “[The participants] really look up to the Swango is organizing Hockaday volunteer incoaches that come to work and volunteer,” Burr volvement in Champion League events. At the end of the summer, Burr, Day said. “They play the sport at a different level.” Swango, who attended the October and Swango decided that it would be best for Hockaday sports teams to come as a group to Champions League event, believes that her volunteer experience was especially meaningvolunteer as coaches. “I like having the sports teams because ful because the blending of sports with com-

[THE PARTICIPANTS] REALLY LOOK UP TO THE COACHES

TIPS & TRICKS |

munity service is a relatively new avenue. “This is something we haven’t really done before. It’s one-on-one with a kid playing a sport, so you really get to know them,” Swango said. “For the kids who had never played field hockey before, it was good for them to have some extra motivation because they started wanting to play.” Looking forward, Day aims to increase the level of Hockaday involvement with the Champions League program at the YMCA. “I hope we get more sports teams interested in partnering with the YMCA,” Day said. Burr aims to foster long-lasting relationships between the coaches and the participants. “The way that I envision having volunteers, they come in and it’s a one-time thing, but then, they see the impact in children’s lives and they come back,” Burr said. “They see how much the participants respond to them. Having those consistent volunteers is very important.” Swango agrees with Burr; she hopes to see a regular partnership between Hockaday and Champions League strengthen in the coming years. “I don’t want this to be something that just lasts one month, one weekend, or even one year,” Swango. “If we weren’t at [Champions League], not every kid would have had one person to work with. I hope that Hockaday continues to go every year.” Hockaday is not the only school to join the ranks of the Champions League volunteer base this year. The Episcopal School of Dallas also began a partnership this school year, while the Ursuline Academy of Dallas and Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas have been partner volunteers since last school year. For those interested in volunteering at the YMCA with the Champions League but are not members of their school’s sports teams, Burr requests that they contact her directly. She welcomes the opportunity to get more people involved at the YMCA. “Everyone is very capable of taking on the opportunities,” Burr said. “I love when they come and they connect, and I love having new volunteers come in.”

Elizabeth Guo | Managing Editor

After a mediocre 3-3 start to the season, many fans were wondering “what is wrong with the Dallas Cowboys?” The answer: Nothing. Nothing is wrong with the Cowboys this year. They are playing exactly how they should be playing given the personnel on the current roster. Quarterback Dak Prescott exceeding expectations and making good decisions and while the running game isn’t as potent as last year, it is still quite effective. The Boys lost two nail biters in October to two very good teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers, and one blowout to the Denver Broncos. In both of the close games, the Cowboys held vast leads in the first half and watched those leads vanish into thin air in the second halves. Both of these losses were good football games that honestly could have gone either way. These type of heartbreaking losses have become almost routine for Cowboys fans which makes it hard for them to remain optimistic about this season. I’m telling you to have hope, to dream big and to shoot for the sky this season with the America’s Team. While the schedule is no walk in the park, I believe this team has an opportunity to win every game on the schedule for the rest of the year. So long as Ezekiel Elliott remains on the field, this offense can put up 30+ points a game, enough to contest with any team. Prescott is masterfully avoiding the sophomore slump, his numbers are top 10 in most categories; he’s proved himself to be a true franchise quarterback. The emergence of Brice Butler gives the Cowboys a deep threat they haven’t had since Terrell Owens left them in 2009. But the defense is a little bit more unpredictable than the offense, many key pieces are returning to the defense creating a unit that has never been healthy at once. Sean Lee’s return from a hamstring injury is vital to the success of the defense and David Irving returning from suspension makes the defensive line a force to be reckoned with. Demarcus Lawerence, the star of the defense, is the pass rusher whom the Dallas Cowboys haven’t had since the departure of Demarcus Ware. The cowboys have tough competition for the National Football Conference east division, the Philidelphia Eagles got off to a strong 6-1 start. The two divisional games against the Eagles this year will determine whether the cowboys are division contenders or pretenders. No matter the result in the division, I believe the Cowboys are strong wildcard contenders. I understand, it’s hard to root for the cowboys after so many heartbreaking defeats but this year in the NFC there is no clear-cut favorite to win it. A trip to the Super Bowl is possible for whichever team heats up at the right time. Here are two reasons that I believe the Cowboys will go to the playoffs: 1. The cowboys have sustained very few major injuries throughout the year 2. The Cowboys offense in the Red Zone is unparalleled, top in the league in percentage of drives converted into touchdowns and red zone touchdowns per game. While this team isn’t the 13-3 team from last year, they are a competitive group with more experience. This experience will come in handy down the road this season.

Michelle Mankoff | Staff Photographer

Suggestions to maintain a balanced lifestyle

A LOOK INSIDE POPULAR FAST FOOD CHAINS In a national report known as Chain Reaction III, a group of nonprofit activist organizations, including Friends of the Earth and Center for Food Safety, released grades on popular American fast food restaurants. They hope to bring awareness to the overuse of antibiotics in meat products.

Grade A

The Sign of Progress

The Danger of Domino's

By removing antibiotics from their poultry, pork and beef, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Panera Bread received an A for their policies on antibiotics. Out of the 25 largest American fast food chains, these two restaurants were the only ones who received this top grade.

KFC, a fried chicken hot spot, was named the most improved restaurant in their policies on antibiotics as they started at an F last year and climbed to a B- this year. They have set out to remove all harmful antibiotics from their meat products by the end of 2018.

The popular pizza chain Domino's has received an F for their policies on antibiotics, which have been extremely harmful to many Americans’ health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization believe that approximately 2 million Americans have suffered infections and around 23,000 die every year as a result of antibiotic related illnesses.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CREATIVE COMMONS AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

PHOTO BY CLAIRE JURGENSMEYER

every six months, and are far more effective than liquid iron, and iron supplements. “I get an IV every six months, which is where I get my iron,” Ryan said. Ryan, whose personal physician suggested this treatment, still runs track and cross country, and with the help of the iron injections, she is able to perform almost as well as she did before. Most people never know what their ferritin levels are or if they suffer from iron deficiency. “I think it’s always a good idea to partner with your pediatrician or doctor because they can run some tests that aren’t too invasive other than taking a blood sample” said Herridge.

Sahasra Chigurupati | Staff Writer

CROSS COUNTRY BY THE NUMBERS

(Fe)male Runners Lack Iron Several members of the Hockaday cross country and track team suffer through their rigorous training with an iron deficiency until seeking medial assistance.

protein blood cell that contains iron. Thus, when Imagine you’re running, and suddenly you cannot breathe and feel like you are about your ferritin levels are low, it is common that your to faint. According to an article published in run- body’s iron count is low. “What you want to look at is the ferritin. The nersconnect, these are common symptoms of iron deficiency, and many girls on the Hockaday ferritin levels are associated with the iron. They have different [treatment] cross-country team have been recommendations for differexperiencing them. ent ferritin levels,” Marr said. With iron deficiency, A regular ferritin level runners start to experience GOTIRON? is about a 30. To put iron fatigue and exhaustion as they deficiency in perspective, hit a wall after running for an Lamb had a six. even short period of time. Ferritin can be low for Ellea Lamb ‘17 who ran many reasons, and one of on the cross country and track the major ways to lose iron team decided to get herself is your diet. tested for iron deficiency on “We tell them to eat the advice of Shaylee Marr, a very balanced diet. Red a Hockaday track and cross meat is a good one along country coach who had expewith the green leafy vegetarienced iron deficiency herself. bles,” Marr said. One of the things that Lamb and that is where This was one of the was looking for was the ferritin it came up at Hockaday. reasons Lamb had such low levels in her iron. ferritin levels as she had “When I came back for stopped eating red meat at track season, I knew I wasn’t SHAYLEE MARR the beginning of the 2016performing as I had in the Varsity Track and 2017 school year. season before and would hit a Cross Country Coach “For iron whether wall,” Lamb said. you’re vegetarian or a meat At Hockaday last year, eater you just want to find four girls had iron deficiency on the cross-country team alone. Combined high foods and protein and high iron vegetables, with the track season, eight girls experienced red meat is probably the best thing to up your iron levels” said Erika Herridge the school nurse. iron deficiency. Long distance runners are also more prone According to the Mayo Clinic, ferritin is a

AREAS WHERE THE DEFICIENCY COMES, IS HOT CLIMATES AND LONG MILES

ON YOUR MARK | The varsity cross country team pushes their pace despite strong winds and fifty degree temperatures, winning the Northzone meet.

to getting iron deficiency than sprinters, especially in Texas’s hot climate. “Areas where the deficiency comes, is hot climates and long miles, and that is where it came up at Hockaday,” Marr said. Running in the Texas heat for five to six miles a day can cause low iron levels, leading to red blood cells that cannot function properly. This can also cause an increase in the sensitivity to heat. Girls are also more likely to being affected by iron deficiency than boys, because of their periods. During their periods, girls lose iron, thus contributing to a low ferritin count. Some girls have anemia, and once they do start running long distance, they hit a low iron deficiency level. Senior Beth Ryan said, “I got it checked after my freshman year of track, and it was really low, after I got it fixed I realized that it was a problem,” Ryan had a ferritin level of 2 and also has anemia. According to the Mayo Clinic once you experience iron deficiency, it takes a while for the levels to stabilize with the help of supplements and once they do, your deficiency still never goes away. “I used to take supplements for my iron, but I was never able to recover and get back to where I was before, ”Lamb said. Iron supplements, which you find at any local pharmacy over the counter, are the most popular ways that people try to improve their iron levels. In addition to iron supplements, liquid iron and iron injections are used. Vitamin C is also recommended when using these supplements to improve the absorption of the iron. Iron injections are a fairly new fix and proven to be advantageous. Iron injections are the fastest way to boost iron levels, while supplements take a couple of weeks to work, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood institute. Iron injections introduce iron through an IV directly to the blood stream. There are given

0 50 30 9

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DURING THE CROSS COUNTRY SEASON

PERCENT OF FEMALE ATHLETES SUFFER FROM AN IRON DEFICIENCY

AVERAGE NUMBER OF MILES RUN BY THE TEAM PER WEEK RUN

PLAN ON IT! JV Field Hockey vs. Oakridge School 6 p.m. Nov. 1

Varsity Field Hockey vs. Oakridge School 4:45 p.m. Nov. 1

Varsity Basketball vs. Hillcrest 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28

JV Basketball vs. Valley View Dec. 1

SPC Championships in Fort Worth Nov. 9-11

Varsity Volleyball vs. Oakridge School 6 p.m. Nov. 1

JV Volleyball vs. Oakridge School 5 p.m. Nov. 1

Varsity Basketball vs. Valley View Nov. 30

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

Burn Bras not Books: Copy Editor Ali Hurst shares how a book set on fire represents a misunderstanding of feminism P.21 The More Clubs the Merrier: Why The Fourcast does not believe in limitations on the number of clubs students can join P.23 FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER P.21

DO WE FIGHT TRUMP?

P.23

Standing Up for feminism

Don't Burn a Book By It's Cover

The cover of Chimamanda Adichie's "We Should All Be Feminists" is simple. It consists of three colors and a standard font that spells out both the author's name and the title of the text. There are no burning bras or indignant protesters; the word "feminist" is the only "controversial" thing displayed. Adichie essay has moved me to tears twice: once when I read the text for the first time, and again when its torn and burnt cover was placed in my hands. By Ali Hurst | Copy Editor

After the first high school football game in late August, I invited my grade back to my house to celebrate the win. I took every precaution in preparing my house for a band of excited teenagers. I was naive enough, however, to leave my copy of “We Should All Be Feminists” out on my kitchen counter in plain sight. Not long after everyone had arrived, I received reports that something was awry outside, and it involved a circle of boys, a lighter and my mangled book cover. It has been about two months since my book was sacrificed to appease the ignorance of these boys, but my initial anger hasn’t subsided. I have had ample time to think about the full meaning of this barbaric event. What those boys did was, at the most basic level, destruction of my property. They entered my house, took something of mine out of my kitchen and set it on fire. Even if their book of choice had been my copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” burning that detestable manifesto still would have been deeply wrong. And, while we’re talking about Hitler, before that night in late August, I believed that only fascist dictators burned books. I have always been taught that books are sacred, invaluable and profoundly respected by all. I am still startled by the boys’ ability to destroy something so vital to humanity, even if it was just the cover. But, I don’t think that these boys are avid book burners, which brings me to my next thought: why this book? The fiery demise of Adichie’s cover is a classic example of the misunderstanding of the word “feminism.” Why is such a simple word so divisive? Resistance to feminism, a word that truly calls for gender equality, typically stems from the fact that its root is “feminine.” Because of this, people seem to think that feminists want women to be more powerful and have more rights than men. While this is a common mis-

The fiery demise of Adichie's cover is a classic example of the misunderstanding of the word "feminism". Ali Hurst Copy Editor

conception, it is utterly unacceptable. When I don’t understand a word or find its meaning upsetting, I, like most people I know, simply click on my browser and type that word into the search bar. If the opponents of feminism could take a few seconds to do that, I think, however optimistic this may be, the resistance would dwindle. In the case of my charred cover, the boys held the answer in their hands. Adichie’s essay clearly and concisely explains the true meaning of feminism and details why it is necessary. And, being the clever writer she is, Adichie actually appeals to men in “We Should All Be Feminists.” She repeatedly explains the essential cornerstone that feminism is beneficial for all genders. If the boys in my backyard had opened the cover instead of tearing it off, maybe they would have seen that by opposing feminism, they are actually opposing themselves. I am not assuming, however, that out of this large group of educated boys, there was not one who knew the true meaning of feminism. There are those who know what the movement stands for, and they still fight against gender equality. I think I entered this world a feminist, so I will never understand this illogical and deep-seated prejudice, but from my experience, I believe that the stubborn opposition to gender equality stems from fear.

LIKE & COMMENT |

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It is human nature to want to be in control. Likewise, it is natural to fear losing that control. But this only applies to one’s own life. We fear losing control of our time, our work, our social lives and so on, and that is okay. Some, however, fear losing their age-old, systematic control over an entire gender, and that is definitely not okay. Men have been ruling society since, quite literally, the dawn of time, but just because that’s the tradition doesn’t mean it has to stay. Humans rarely get anything right on the first try anyway. We eventually figured out that the Earth was round and that the Americas indeed existed, so maybe in this millennium we will finally realize that society works better when women are in charge too. This will only be accomplished when we decide to open our minds, and our books. For this entire discussion, I have been referring to the group who burned my book as a group of males, but I know that it is entirely possible that there could have been a few women in the mix. To my fellow women, I would say that I hold no disdain in my heart for you. The patriarchal society that we live in teaches women that they must please men at all costs and that it is wrong to disagree with a man or to stand up to him. The woman’s ideal is not to have a lucrative and fulfilling career, but to attract men in order to reproduce. There is no room in this plan for opposing the men in our lives, even if they are actively repressing our rights as human beings. Even though I can write this manifesto from the safety of my computer, I too fell into this trap. Moments after I saw the remains of my cover, I went outside to confront someone that I knew was at least partially responsible. I started out the confrontation being assertive and strong, but as I began to feel more and more eyes on me, I shrunk. Feeling that if I

A WOMAN SCORNED | The copy of Chimamanda Adichie's "We Should All Be Feminists" left at Ali Hurst's party is shown here torn off the spine and singed from a lighter.

angered this one boy, I might upset all of his friends, so I conceded to him. I was initially ashamed of my weakness, but I know that I cannot blame myself or any other girl who felt silenced by male pressure, because the desire to appease men is instilled within us. Why they decided to return the scorched cover to one of my friends I will never know. My best theory is that instead of keeping their handiwork as some sort of trophy of male power, they wanted the girls to see what they had done and show us that they wanted to silence our pleas for equal treatment. A few weeks after my first book was destroyed, one of my best friends bought me a new copy of “We Should All Be Feminists.” She reminded me that prejudice, ignorance and hate will never be stronger than the collective power of women. I have come to see my unique cover not as a symbol of oppression but as a source of inspiration to keep fighting for the progress we desperately need. I have pinned the cover to the top of my bulletin board in my room to remind myself of the work we still have to do. My fresh, unscathed copy of Adichie’s text is easier to read, but the torn and burnt cover hanging over my bed is the best reminder of why I am a feminist, and why we should all be feminists.

Our favorite social media posts from this month

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GRAPHIC BY SHREYA GUNUKULA

NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

STAFF STANDOFF

IS HE OUR PRESIDENT?

In the face of current politics, many citizens find themselves confused on how to address their concerns with government action. Some have found an outlet in mass protests, while others feel they should find another way to achieve change. How can they make their voice heard in the most effective manner: through compromise or resistance?

COMPROMISE To preface this article, I must admit that I despise President Donald J. Trump. His megalomania, ignorance of history and puerile temper render him incompetent to hold the most powerful position in the world. His policies toward African Americans, members of the LGBT community and immigrants retrogress all progress accomplished in securing a more equitable America. And I could continue and continue and continue. However, I ultimately care for the American people far more than I revile our 45th president, and therefore, I urge the nation to jettison our partisan antics in favor of an effective governance. The world around us simply proceeds despite our inept leader, and we as a country cannot wait 1194 days for a new president in order to resolve the myriad of international crises. The Catalonians and Kurds will not halt their independence movements; North Korea will not suspend their nuclear wargames; global warming will not wait for us. As much as I fear that our president may aggravate these situations, I recognize that inaction may cause just as much damage. Washington politicos, senators, congressmen and policy advisers must remain at the table with Trump and compromise on a solution that leads to the least damage. It may seem as if Trump has no desire to compromise as his childish antics and Twitter rants often do not help his case. But this September, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer engaged in a substantive conversation about extending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals with Trump. The president appeared somewhat receptive to bipartisan action simply because all unilateral Republican efforts have failed despite a majority in both Congressional chambers. Democrats, moderates and Republicans alike must remember that bickering will not aid the 3.4 million inhabitants of Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. and the 500,000 displaced Rohingya, driven from their home of Myanmar by religious persecution. Instead, Washington must focus on decisive action. Undermining the president solely because it pleases your base, not because the president’s proposed action would inflict significant harm, reflects negligence of your duty in office. Similarly, as much as I wish Trump was #notmypresident, I cannot deny the irreversible truth that the American population elected him and that only he holds the extensive authority of that office. We must employ that power for good, and that requires his aides, advisors, cabinet members and Americans at large to continue to work alongside him, advise him and compromise with him. He may have the temperament of an elementary school child, but he does have access to the nuclear codes. We cannot forget that. Continue to protest, to elucidate corruption and to challenge this White House to act in the best interest of the American people. But as you picket Pennsylvania Ave., ask yourself whether such actions of resistance will truly result in better conditions for the citizens of this nation. I hate Trump. But I love America, and I will do anything to save it. Mary Orsak | Magazine Editor

We Love It, We Love it Not

Prog resi ress c is h stan omes ow d ce , from thr emocr that ives acy . Thanksgiving Break Turkey Day is almost here! Just a couple of weeks before we can get some much needed R&R with family and friends.

RESIST

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On Nov. 13, five days after the election of Donald Trump, immigrant and mother of two Teresa Díaz protested in New York against Trump’s promised deportations. “I’m marching today to show that I’m not afraid,” Diaz told Rolling Stone in a “Here to Stay” rally. Since then, thousands of protests have been organized to bring awareness to issues such as women’s rights and police brutality, with the collective end goal to resist Trump and his vitriolic rhetoric and legislative plans. However, with the rise of these civil disruptions, there is the question of if protesting really matters. Many Americans believe that protesting is ineffective and disruptive, as politicians— especially Trump—are not usually phased by it. Though legislators may not base their agenda or change their views in accordance to current protests, according to a study conducted by economists of Harvard University, protesting gets people politically involved. This enough is a sign that protesting is an effective mechanism for change. Protesting is also a place for students and undocumented immigrants to participate in democracy and make their voice known, especially since members of both communities could not vote in an election that arguably affected them the most. And at the end of the day, protesting is democratic and constitutional. Trump isn’t. To Trump, being president means not that he will rally for Americans, his voters or his party. He does not care about the American people, and no matter how much politicians can attempt to compromise with him and his agenda, it will not change the intention of his legislation: to inflict harm on groups of marginalized people. To Trump, this is about himself. He has absolutely no loyalty to his party, his voters or the American people at large. For example, because Republican senators decided to not vote on his Affordable Care Act repeal in September, Trump now plans to sign an executive order because, as he stated on his Twitter, “Congress can't get its act together on HealthCare.” With Trump unable to have productive conversations with members of his own party, it seems unreasonable and far reaching to expect him to compromise with those who oppose him. But, what does a compromise with Trump entail? For his new travel ban, the Muslim Ban 3.0 as the media is calling it, should we be okay with only indefinitely banning immigrants from Iran, Libya and Syria, as opposed to Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia? Through Trump’s tweets, we see that he may be the first leader of a country in history to initiate a nuclear war over Twitter. What compromise can we make here? We can only bomb North Korea with atomic bombs, but no hydrogen bombs? There is no middle ground, as Donald Trump is not a man to compromise with. Progress comes from resistance. This is how our democracy thrives. Donald Trump will never be my president, and I, along with people like me, will continue to resist until our disruptions become definite victories. Cheryl Hao | Web Editor

Lunch at Eatzi's The holy grail of off campus lunch has arrived. With the new Eatzi's on Preston Royal officially in business, a quick meal is only a couple of miles away.

Sweater Weather Say goodbye to Texas Heat and hello to Winter Wonderland as the temperature starts to drop. Get excited for the warmer clothes and hot cocoa mugs!

College Deadlines Nov. 1 may be over, but the work is far from done. While everyone is enjoying their breaks, seniors will probably be drowning in a sea of dreaded supplement essays.

JRP Juniors are also faced with a big deadline as they start to finish up the infamous junior research paper and turn in their mini draft.

HOCKADAYFOURCAST.ORG

THE FOURCAST | NOVEMBER 3, 2017

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ILLUSTRATION BY LILY ZHOU

A STAFF STANCE:

The limitation on the number of clubs students can join were created to aid students in time management, but in reality, they are detrimental to high school careers.

As sophomore Merritt McCaleb parades through the annual Club Fair, she comes across two clubs she wants to join, then three and suddenly her list grows to 10. Due to the new enforced quota on the amount of clubs that students are allowed to join, students must choose which clubs they really want to join even if they want to join all of them. The Fourcast believes that students should have more freedom when it comes to clubs. Depending on the grade, the number of clubs you are allowed to join varies. Seniors and juniors can sign up for five, sophomores have four choices and freshmen are limited to only three clubs. But if anyone should be able to sign up for the most clubs, it should be the freshmen. For example, when the current seniors were freshmen, there was no limit placed on how many clubs they could join. Without the confinement, they were allowed to put their name down on the list for all of the clubs that interested them. It wasn’t uncommon to find students who were members of 10 to 20 clubs ranging from Model UN to community service focused clubs to one that featured documentaries. Of course, the students weren’t always able to attend each and every meeting, but they were able to find the clubs that they truly enjoyed and wanted a larger role in. In the following years, they shortened their lists and signed up for only the clubs that they were involved in the most. However, if they didn’t have the opportunity

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Aurelia Han

NEWS EDITOR Katie O'Meara

MANAGING EDITOR Elizabeth Guo

FEATURES EDITOR Maria Harrison

MAGAZINE EDITOR Mary Orsak

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Emily Fuller

WEB EDITOR Cheryl Hao

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR Amelia Brown

COPY EDITOR Ali Hurst

VIEWS EDITOR Shreya Gunukula

BUSINESS MANAGER Morgan Fisher

CASTOFF EDITOR Paige Halverson PHOTOS & GRAPHICS EDITOR Kate Woodhouse

STAFF WRITERS Michelle Chen, Sahasra Chigurupati, Charlotte Dross, Shea Duffy, Ashlye Dullye, Eliana Goodman, Ponette Kim, Niamh McKinney, Eugene Seong, Emily Wu STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Cirrus Chen, Sophie Dawson, Michelle Mankoff, Lauren Puplampu, Sarah Schultz, Genny Wood STAFF ARTISTS Emily Baschab, Katherine Hancock, Christine Ji, Elise Nguyen, Hallet Thalheimer FACULTY ADVISER Ana Rosenthal

to sign up for an endless amount of clubs, they wouldn’t have found the right clubs for them. Freshmen don’t always know exactly what the clubs are like, and they should be exposed to a variety of clubs and find their interests. With this newly imposed limit, many clubs have few members, and some meetings get a turnout of only one or two people. Community service clubs offer opportunities that are only open to the members of that club, but this means that community service is confined. Instead, the Fourcast staff thinks that if students were allowed to join any number of clubs, then there would be more students to partake in these community service opportunities. And time is another thing to consider. Seniors’ schedules are packed with college applications, demanding classes and many senior activities. Juniors also must prepare for standardized tests and write the Junior Research Paper. On the other hand, freshmen and sophomore have more time to take on more clubs. Clubs are a chance for students to express and engage in interests that aren’t offered as classes such as the Thrifting and Gifting Club or the Adventure Club. With these restrictions, a student might not be able to join the Coding Club and realize their potential to become the next CEO of Google.

Maria Harrison | Features Editor

EDITORIAL POLICY

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

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

Freak Show

THE HOCKADAY SCHOOL

SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 | THE FOURCAST

Welcome to the

As the students rushed inside, fleeing the unusual cold, last Friday morning, Oct. 27, they discovered something much more bone-chilling than the frigid wind. Following a tradition as old as Hockaday, the class of 2018 successfully spookified the senior hallway with the sole purpose of scaring the unsuspecting Freshman. With gory makeup and an array of clown masks, the seniors, hiding in stairways, bathroom stalls and in trashcans terrified the Upper School with their ghoulish attire.

Isabella Shadle, Clare Beck & Grace Heusinger

PHOTOS AND STORY BY PAIGE HALVERSON

Hannah Sipes

Ana Laura Renteria

Annie Allen

Lizzie Raff & Beth Ryan

Quinn Brodsky

Paige Halverson | Castoff Editor

Genny Wood