February Issue 2014

Evergreen THE

Cue the

February 5, 2014

Volume XLVIX, Issue 4

uirks p.10-11

Photo by Ariana Zhang

PUPPETEERS: In the upcoming musical, Avenue Q Student Edition, the theater program explores controversial themes, the process of obtaining the performance rights, as well as some of the challenges of working with puppets. Above, juniors Jordan Jaffee, Harris Chowdhary, and Adam Konig (left to right) rehearse their scene.

New computer science courses add variety, rigor year, the requirements become more stringent.

Imagine programming a “While these are great courses, robot, wiring a circuit board, or we really wanted to offer selections writing a computer program that that get at the heart of computer can identify your taste in music. science. We did not want to have a This may seem like PhD level stuff, course where students may happen but these types of challenges will to use computers and say it will be completed as part of Greenhill’s fulfill a technology requirement,” revamp in Upper School computer said Chris Bigenho, Director and technology courses. of Instructional The goal is to renew Technology. the focus on computer Next year’s Engineering, science, engineering, freshmen will have to science, and and computational complete one of several analytical thinking not only new computer courses thinking are throughout the before the beginning of increasing Upper School, but all of their senior year to importance to divisions. the world.” fulfill the computer Currently, an requirement.

Upper School student “Exposure to can fulfill his or her one engineering is one of technology requirement that must the reasons for these changes, but be completed before graduation by so is the computational thinking taking a course like Fashion Design that is associated with computer or Video Production. Starting next science and technology courses,” Christian Holmes Double Truck Editor

“

Dr. Bigenho said.

According to Dr. Bigenho, computational thinking is about taking difficult problems, breaking them into simpler problems, developing solutions,

and applying those solutions “It is at the core of engineering and computer science. That is what students will gain from taking more rigorous computer science and

technology-related courses— an analytical framework,” said Mr. Mikulski, Upper School technology teacher, who is retiring after this year. cont’d on page 13

A community in action, p. 4

story by Sanah Hasan

Also in this issue...

News Canceled Visit

Features College Counseling

Backpage Food for Thought

Arts Swing Dancing

Sports Off to the Olympics

When Greenhill chose not to invite Orson Scott Card to speak to students, Features Editor Sofia Shirley set out to discover why. p. 15

Asst. News Editor Madison Goodrich explores the college counselors’ commitments outside Greenhill’s campus. p. 6

A plethora of popular restaurants surround our campus. Explore a few options with our staff. p. 20

Asst. Arts Editor Catherine Leffert describes her unexpected journey into the world of swing dancing. p. 7

Online Editor-In-Chief Danielle Stoler explores student and alumni involvement in Olympic-level competitions. p. 16

Serving Greenhill since 1966

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The Evergreen Wednesday [12.18.13]

VIEWS

Rants & Raves A RAVE to the second annual Upper School Spelling Hornet.

From Pope Francis to Sage’s breakfast potatoes, it seems that everyone got a shoutout in this year’s event. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is reportedly changing the definition of “Success” from “The correct or desired result of an attempt” to “The 2014 Spelling Hornet” in our honor.

A MENTAL SURVEY

A RANT to the lack of dividers between urinals in the boys’ bathroom. If you thought being spied on by the NSA was uncomfortable, just use one of these urinals. Where’s Edward Snowden when you need him?

A RANT to the library’s recent relegation of “The Pit” to Middle Schoolers. The pit of the library is an important place for underclassmen to socialize and work, generally in that order. After the territorial loss, Upper School students have reverted to a nomadic lifestyle, wandering aimlessly in search of comfortable chairs and centralized heating.

A RAVE to the most exclusive event of the winter social season, Runway for a Cause. For the third year in a row, this event knocked us out of our seats as talented Greenhill models, volunteers, and designers came together as one. It was certainly a huge step up from our usual “I’m wearing pants, I promise!” attire.

A RAVE to the timing of spring break this year. Last year, we had to sit at home and watch movies on our computers alone. This year we can sit at home and watch movies on our computer alone while texting our friends from other schools!

Hooray!

A RANT to people who are leaving the cafeteria doors open as they wait in line. The indoors are our sanctuary from the frosty winter winds blowing in from the north.

It’s been rumored that these winds come with such horrors as the ghosts of executed Salem witches and the smells of Oklahoma. We ask you politely, close the doors. As great as a lukewarm chicken fried steak sounds, it doesn’t.

Staff Editorial Each F day, a speaker appears in front of the student body, talking about an issue like internet safety or cultural appropriation. They give a speech to the entire Upper School, and most of the time, people know little about this speaker. Sometimes, students aren’t the most attentive.

We think this is an opportunity to engage the student body.

The Evergreen staff believes that since the audience is comprised of students, then we, students, should be more involved in choosing the speakers that come to campus.

Currently, the system for scheduling F-day speakers goes something like this: a faculty member, parent, or the occasional

student approaches Mr. Oros with a potential speaker, they check schedules, and then that speaker appears in front of us on F day.

But what if it happened another way?

Since Greenhill Upper School students are easily engaged when interested by the topic being spoken about, the student body should have a voice in who speaks at each F-day assembly. Upper School students know the present and pressing issues among our student body, and therefore can find people that talk about subjects we care about.

Creating a student committee that will spend time discussing speaker options would strengthen

Rachel Diebner

managing editors Alex Weinberg Ben Weinberg

design editor Laura Arnold

since 1966 • 4141 Spring Valley Road • Addison TX, 75001

views editor

arts editor

Shruti Rao

Sanah Hasan

news editor

sports editors

features editor

double truck editor asst. features editors

Sera Tuz

Sofia Shirley

“

that received positive feedback this year was Woody Roseland, a fivetime cancer survivor who inspired the Greenhill community with his optimism and determination.

A major reason why Roseland was such a success is because a Greenhill student brought him to campus. That’s the power of involving students in the selection process: we care deeply about significant topics.

There are aspects of Greenhill that the administration should choose, including the curriculum, and even what is for lunch. But we feel that who is speaking to us every week should be, at least partly, our decision and a reflection of us as a student body.

staff writers

asst. speacial sections editor

Blake Lieberman

Ben Schachter

asst. sports editor

advisors

staff artists

Eve Hill-Agnus Pamela Kripke

Michael Kerner

Suman Chebrolu Cole Forson Andrew Friedman Arhum Khan Zach Rudner

online editor in chief

backpage editor

multimedia editor

art director

asst. arts editor

asst. news editor

Megan Wiora

Varun Gupta Christina Zhu

Content courtesy of Nick Kraus and Harris Chowdhary graphic from mengaonline.blogspot.com

business manager

asst. views editor

Ben Krakow Madison Goodrich Joseph Middleman

Christian Holmes

A RAVE to the amazing performance of not only our athletic teams but our fans at last Friday’s sweep of ESD. Hornet passion and pride was in full force despite cold weather. It’s satisfying to know that our “BEAT ESD” shirts can finally be read as past participles.

the F day experience for the greater the student body’s experiences and study body. The first step would be to collective interests. gather ideas for topics and speakers We, not only as students, but also that students would in the broader sense be interested in. The of being human, love committee could work choice. When Upper with Student Council School students We, not only as to arrange to send out had the choice students, but also in surveys to assess topic between two F-day the broader sense of interest such as speakers, an author of being human, psychology, volunteering love choice.” of a book regarding and exploration. a controversial The committe could lynching and an Air nominate, research, and discusses Force One pilot, students responded these possible options for F-day positively, because we love the speakers. By drawing representative ability to choose our own interest. from each grade level and a faculty We happliy went to the session of sponsor, a committee has the our choice. opportunity to be representative of Another particular speech

Evergreen staff

editor in chief

A RANT to the stench of rotting lunches left in students’ lockers. We understand that you feel guilty throwing away the PB&J with crust removed that your mother packed you for lunch, but we would all appreciate if you took one for the team and threw it out. You can, however, keep her note that reads, “Have a good day, Sweetie!”

Having a Say in our Speakers

THE

Serving Greenhill

A RAVE to shorter C-Day meetings. The Student Council administration has done a wonderful job of fine tuning the ratio of quality to quantity, and we are thankful for that. And the best part of it is, without the rush to class, the amount of students attempting to run awkwardly with backpacks on has substantially decreased. Our hunchbacks are Notre-gone.

Catherine Leffert Lane Hirsch Amna Naseem

Danielle Stoler

Lizzy D’Apice

Isabet Tranchin

Ariana Zhang

wednesday, february 5, 2014

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Greenhill was given the opportunity to host Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game and other science fiction novels. Due to his public statements regarding sexuality, race, and religion, the administration decided not to have him speak. Did Greenhill make the right decision in declining the visit? (For the news story, turn to p.15) Natasha Suterwala, Junior I’ve still got Enders Game lying on my nightstand, its pages saturated with colored highlighters and marked with multicolored Post-It notes. When I slaved over it for months in the seventh grade (albeit not at Greenhill), I found it icky and uncomfortable, a book filled with constant violence, manipulation, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and pure terror. My twelve-yearold brain wasn’t able to wrap itself around the societal criticisms of power structures, the analysis of how humans act in desperation, the symbols of games and ruthlessness, the juxtaposition of effective rulers and benign rulers, the exploitation of political systems, and the apotheosis of Ender – among

the dozens of other themes that make Ender’s Game one of the most important books of the twentieth century.

When I heard that Orson Scott Card was coming to Greenhill, I was quite honestly ecstatic. Finally, all my queries about Card’s scathing analysis of human relations would be answered. And, knowing the themes that Card plays with in Ender’s Game, I knew his speech would be a standout. The majority of Greenhill’s speakers, in effect, have been uplifting and educational.

Card’s speech, by contrast, would have been much more – controversial.

But what Card has said doesn’t change the fact that he is one of the most influential

and diagnostic authors in history. As long as Greenhill makes it explicitly clear that they also do not condone Card’s hateful speech and ask him to keep his speech centered on his career as a writer and the books he has produced, and maybe makes the assembly optional for those who do not wish to support him because of his choice of opinion, I do not see a problem in inviting him to give an assembly. Greenhill prides itself on providing a diverse yet comprehensive education, so exposure to different types of speakers is much needed as many of us find ourselves stuck in the protective “Greenhill bubble.”

There are racists in this world, and

Ricardo Jaramillo, Junior

Spencer Kuiper, Senior

I think that ultimately Greenhill made the right decision by not allowing Orson Scott Card to come speak to this campus. On an educational level, our school administrators have a responsibility to ensure that the content that students are exposed to is not only appropriate, but also informative and enlightening. Greenhill students do not gain any sort of educational value from listening to the ramblings of a racist.

People who are chosen to address the Greenhill student body should be role models – people who represent the core values of this institution. Orson Scott Card does not embody these values. Greenhill is a place where we are tolerant of others – irrespective of their sexual preference or racial/ethnic identity. As such, we

should be careful not to jeopardize this atmosphere of open-mindedness and tolerance that is such an essential part of who we are as a community.

Think of all the people that we could have speak at Greenhill instead – we’ve had some really amazing and engaging speakers this year, ranging from distinguished journalists, heroic cancer survivors, to decorated veterans. Why invite a bigot when there are so many other great people out there? We need to be able to ask the personal questions about our speakers, and in the case of Orson Scott Card, I’m not sure we’d like the answers.

Hunter Parkhill, Freshman Although Card is free to express his views and opinions, I don’t believe that his paradigm of this world is one that is compatible with Greenhill’s core principles. Greenhill fights for honor, respect, and compassion; because of what we fight for, I do not believe that having a speaker, such as Card, would benefit us in our fight to be students that respect others. Card advocates violence, lobbies against fundamental human rights, has expressed racist views, and is homophobic. His public opinions on homosexuality as a choice have been extremely offputting. Even more disturbing is the fact that he publicly pronounced that he was disappointed that “there are no more laws left to discriminate

Kevin Wei, Sophomore

Although Card has been known to make racist and homophobic statements in public, I believe that the Greenhill administration has made a grave mistake in not choosing to bring Card to our campus. Let me explain why.

First comes the concept of the so-called “Greenhill bubble.” The Greenhill bubble is the idea that students and faculty at Greenhill are nondiscriminatory in all areas, areas including but not limited to race, gender, and sexual orientation. It is the idea that denizens of Greenhill constantly demonstrate compassion and respect towards each other, that they always behave honorably.

there are bigots, and there are people with different opinions, but exposure to those is a necessary part of life. I could honestly say that some of the “opinions” I’ve heard from students my own age in communities other than Greenhill make Card’s interviews seem like wedding vows. We as a community don’t have to agree with what Card says – but that doesn’t mean that we cannot hear it, and agree to disagree with his negative opinions.

Having Card come speak, in my opinion, would be incredibly beneficial, and would maybe pop that bubble and expose more students to the real world and the themes that run through it.

gay couples.” If this isn’t enough to convince you that Orson Scott Card should not be given the opportunity to speak at our school, the fact that he equates our president to Adolph Hitler should.

Orson Scott Card’s values are un-American, outdated, and incompatible with the values we pursue at Greenhill. I am grateful that Greenhill did not allow him the opportunity and the platform to convey his ideas to the accepting and diverse community that we have at Greenhill.

Because of this, I am proud to call this school my home.

Although this may provide for a beneficial educational environment, it is my personal belief that this bubble is, in the long run, harmful to our students.

Many students are aware of the bubble.

Only some, however, whether through student exchange programs or other experiences, truly understand how different the “real” world is. Outside of Greenhill, there exists racism. There exists sexism. There exists homophobia. Outside of Greenhill, there is discrimination. Outside of Greenhill, not everyone is compassionate. Not everyone is respectful of others and their rights, opinions, and emotions. Not everyone is honor-

I’m definitely in favor of full marital and racial equality — I’m gay and my parents are one each from New York and Trinidad, so one might say I’m fairly well-stocked with regard to both aspects of race and homosexuality. Still, Card being denied a speech strikes me as rather disturbing. I know that Greenhill excluded him in an attempt to support its mission of diversity, but I think part of that is a diversity of opinions — something for which we should strive even if some opinions are genuinely bad ones. Indeed, we should do so especially if some are objectionable, as there are dangerous modes of thinking in the real world, and people will be exposed to them; it’s best that we face and judge a myriad of opinions early in life so that our choices are genuinely informed.

I think we can only reach such a state of enlightenment, so to speak, by knowing not only why we accept our own opinions, but why we reject others. This doesn’t take a great deal of investigation in a lot of cases, either; my justification for rejecting an idea is often as simple as noting that no convincing evidence has been provided to support it.

Anyway, it’s not as if Card’s comments are going to turn any thinking person homophobic or racist — maybe they’ll make people think more seriously about the perception of LGBT or race issues. Hearing many viewpoints, including many

able. Upon leaving Greenhill, it is likely that our students will experience many of the things listed above. Maybe it doesn’t happen to everyone, maybe it doesn’t happen for months or years, but eventually, it is inevitable that our students become the victim of, witness, or otherwise become exposed to discrimination, ignominious behavior, disrespect, bullying, theft, and a variety of other disreputable behaviors.

I’m not saying that the bubble is bad, necessarily, but I’m not sure that Greenhill does anything to prepare us for this. In a world where all a student has experienced is the kindness and love of the Greenhill at-

blatantly ridiculous ones, should not be harmful if we have the intellectual and informational ability to assess each rationally.

I’ve just read a bit of Card’s writings on same-sex marriage — they’re frankly silly. As the far as I know, LGBT community has neither telepathic intercommunication ability nor an overarching agenda to take over the world (though maybe I missed the memo). On an additional serious note, we should also be aware that the Orson Scott Card books we’re reading don’t even contain explicit statements on race/LGBT issues. Just because we disagree with some of Card’s writings doesn’t mean that others automatically lack merit.

As a personal example, I agree with much of Justice Antonin Scalia’s legal philosophy, but I find many of his private opinions repulsive — I dislike his denouncements of homosexuality, for instance, but agree with his legal assertion that the issue of samesex marriage is an issue for the individual states. I don’t hold one view to the exclusion of the other, because a justice’s philosophy and personal views can, in theory, be considered largely independent of one another — so, too, can my assessments of each. Similarly, Card’s writings on homosexuality, targeting the real world, and Ender’s Game, set in a fictional one, can likely be regarded as unassociated with one another.

mosphere, even if the student believes him/ herself prepared for what is out there, I’m not sure he/she can ever be fully prepared for what he/she may see or experience out there.

I believe that Card should have been brought to campus. Sure, many among us, including me, would likely be highly offended by his claims and controversial statements. But what if this is better for us in the long run? We, as students, need to learn that the rest of the world is vastly different from Greenhill.

The Evergreen Wednesday [02.05.14]

COLLEGE COUNSELORS On top of their duties advising greenhill students, greenhill college counselors ARE HIGHLY INVOLVED IN MANY RELATED INITIATIVES. Turn to pg. 6 for more.

Search for a

Kidney FINDING A MATCH: Jeffrey Diamond ‘13 has had chronic kidney ailments and was recently instructed to begin a search for a new kidney. He took his search to Facebook, and his post has been shared over 650 times.

Sanah Hasan Arts Editor

The current functionality of Jeffrey Diamond’s ’13 two kidneys, combined, is approximately 25 percent and will continue to decrease until he receives a kidney transplant.

Currently at stage four renal failure (five being the most severe and one being the least), Jeffrey has been told by his doctor that he needs a kidney transplant by the fall.

He has not been placed on any donor lists yet, because potential organ recipients must have 20 percent or less kidney functionality.

Jeff was born with Kidney Reflux, a disease in which urine flows back into the urinary tract system. According to renal specialist Arti Gupta, Kidney Reflux can cause infection and scarring in the kidneys.

Many children who have congenital Kidney Reflux, as in Jeff ’s case, usually grow out of the condition.

However, for some patients, the constant infection and scarring can damage the kidneys to the point that they start losing functionality.

Because Kidney Reflux is known to result in a degradation of organ functionality, doctors had warned Jeff ’s parents about the possibility that he would need an organ transplant, but they were unable to predict when that might happen.

“When doctors explained my reflux diagnoses to my mom, and the possibility of me having a kidney transplant, she wanted to fix it right away; but my doctor told her it was a ‘wait and see’ game. So for the past 19 and a half years, I’ve just been waiting to see if my kidney function

was going to go down,” Jeff said. is that they tend to provide better Jeff had gone in to the doctor results. for routine blood work when he “It is much easier for patients received the news that he would to find family members or people need a transplant. in their community, who could “I was at my kitchen table, and possibly be a match. It is obviously I heard my mom crying, but she a tremendous gift from the person had this cough in her voice too. I giving the organ, and using different mean we’ve always been preparing mediums, whether through social for this, and I knew media or other that she was talking to forms, to find a my doctor. So, as soon donor are strongly I was at my as I heard her crying, I suggested,” Dr. kitchen table, and knew immediately what Gupta said.

I heard my mom was going on,” Jeff said.

Jeff has crying, but she “Right after my mom received several had this cough told me, I hugged her, messages and in her voice too. I and I began my search to support from mean we’ve always find a donor.” members of his been preparing for Jeff wrote a Facebook community in this. So, as soon as post immediately after response to his I heard her crying, I finding out about his Facebook post. knew immediately need for a kidney, and “The response what was going shared it publicly on the I’ve gotten has been on.” social media platform. ov e r w h e l m i n g .

“I was shaking while I have gotten writing my post. I was so many phone just so nervous. All of my thoughts calls, texts, and messages from my came from the heart, and I feel like friends, family, even strangers, just that was reflected. I didn’t know wishing me the best of luck. It’s also what was going to happen, and I still so amazing how much Facebook is don’t, but I have to take things day helping me with my donor search. by day” Jeff said.

Just in general, the support has been Since Jeff wrote the Facebook so remarkable,” Jeff said. post, it has been shared over 650 In fact, 15 people have already times. Facebook has also proved to volunteered to donate one of their be a useful platform in receiving kidneys and that number continues possible kidney donors. Since it to grow. However, these volunteers takes patients longer to receive an must be tested for a match, and organ through donor lists, doctors one of the criteria for being recommend that patients approach a donor match is having the members of their community first. same blood type. It is crucial According to Dr. Gupta, most donor that the blood types of the lists are comprised of organs from organ recipient and donor deceased donors. The advantage of match, in order to decrease seeking organs from living donors chances of organ rejection,

“

Check your blood type. To minimize the chance of kidney rejection, Jeffrey is looking for a donor with B+ blood type.

If you are a match in good health, contact Jeffrey at

jeffrey.diamond@ymail.com.

If not, spread the word.

according to Dr. Gupta.

Meanwhile, Jeff plans on continuing and finishing the second semester of his freshman year at the University of Miami.

“I just feel a little tired sometimes, but other than that I’m pretty much the same. I don’t know why I wouldn’t finish the rest of my semester. There isn’t really anything the doctors can do right at this moment, so I’m going to stay at school, and continue to be a regular college student,” he said.

“I play with the school band, and I love that. I also really enjoy playing sports, and I’m also the president of my dorm. I think it’s so important that I get the most out of my experience here, especially since I’ll be gone during the fall semester next year. I don’t want to give up the things I love for this.”

While they await the operation, Mrs. Diamond said she is not worried about Jeff

remaining at school.

“I know that Jeff is such a responsible, good kid. He is very brave and he is doing extremely well in college. I’m not worried at all,” said Mrs. Diamond.

“I believe that you’re only given the problems that you can handle, and with the massive support from my friends and family, it’s hard not to look at this situation positively,” Jeff said.

wednesday, february 5, 2014

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Photo by Ariana Zhang

LABORS OF LOVE: Greenhill faculty often turn their passions into courses that become Greenhill staples. Without these teachers, these classes wouldn’t be offered at Greeenhill.

Teachers put their stamp on Greenhill

Anxious conversations spring up around campus as students enter the course selection process for the coming year. Advisories become cacophonous chambers of confusion as students scribble down on draft sheets the names of classes they have been contemplating. Some students are apprehensive, caught on the fence between two classes they love, and others are still unsure if they should take an elective class at all. Leaving their advisories with more questions than answers, these underclassmen call upon the knowledge of the upperclassmen. More often than not, the classes upperclassmen recommend have been developed by teachers who are teaching them out of a specific passion for a subject.

Greenhill’s course catalog includes over 25 classes that would likely never have reached Greenhill if not for the passion a specific teacher has for that subject.

“Often the best classes are ones where the teachers are excited about it personally,” said Laura Ross, Head of Upper School. “That kind of system allows for students to get a really great experience.”

Genie Burke, Upper School history teacher, created a class on the

Cold War. In elementary school, Ms. Burke recalls a history teacher who painted an egregiously skewed image of the Soviet Union for her and her classmates. This teacher described the USSR as a dark, deathly place whose objective was to spread evil throughout the world. Ms. Burke, inspired to find the truth behind her teacher’s misconceptions, studied the Cold War extensively through high school and college and truly found a passion. “[The class] was easy for me to teach from the get-go because of my enthusiasm for the time period,” said Ms. Burke.

Ms. Burke brings in guestspeakers, including her father, who has a vast knowledge of the Cold War. Another original Greenhill class is that of Andy Mercurio, Upper School English teacher, known around campus for his deep-rooted obsession with music.

The class he titled “Class on Class” focuses on what he considers the often overlooked issue of classism.

It is structured around the study of primary sources: songs, short stories, and poems. The course includes songs from artists ranging from Van

Halen to Woody Guthrie.

Jonathan Weber, Upper School “As I started to listen to music, I history teacher, is also passionate realized, ‘Oh my God, almost every about a topic. Dr. Weber plans to genre of music revolves around teach a course next year on how class,’” said Mr. Mercurio. “I was food is intertwined with national staying up until one-thirty in the identity. He developed his interest in morning listening to music.” college as well.

Scott Cotton, Upper School To him, a student’s interest history teacher, shared a similar in the class lies on the teacher’s excitement during the days and shoulders: “The class is only as good years leading up to the beginning of as the teacher, and the enthusiasm his 9/11 course: “I remember being he shares for [the subject],” Dr. very excited. I had Weber said. been thinking about Courses such this class for several as these take lots of The class years, even before I precise planning, but is only as good came to Greenhill.” even so, the original as teacher, and Ms. Daniels feels material forces the the enthusiasm the same way about art teacher to be flexible. [they] share.” history.

“I want there “When I look at to be a studentart, I can just fall into driven element, and it and love it,” she said.

I want there to be a Ms. Daniels, found her interest collaborative feel,” said Mr. Mercurio, in college through a professor. “but I’m going to have to be flexible “I had a great art history teach- because there will be things popping er when I was in college at [South- up in the news on a nightly basis.” ern Methodist University],” said Ms. Fitting all that passion into a Daniels, “And she inspired me to single period can be challenging. love art history and to really want Ms. Burke said she lost track of to teach art history. So, I’ve always time in the classroom the first year of worked a lot of art into whatever teaching her Cold War class: “[The class I teach.” class] is exciting, but it is honestly

“

overwhelming. In your mind you think, ‘Oh, this is going to take one class period,’ but then it may end up being just minutes or three days.”

These classes, conceptualized years in advance, are first discussed at the department level. After the teacher submits a formal proposal, a committee composed of all department heads, Upper School administrators, and a representative from college counseling decides upon the classes, judging them against existing classes and comparing them to Greenhill’s philosophy.

Mrs. Ross explained, however, that the process can also be relatively informal in its initial stages.

“Teachers will just come to me and kick ideas around. [Often, they’ll say,] ‘I was kind of thinking about something like this, what do you think?’” said Mrs. Ross.

The ultimate goal is to foster mutual learning.

“Students are able to connect with themes from their own lives,” Ms. Daniels said. “I’m learning from them, and they’re learning from me.” story by Andrew Friedman and Ben Schachter

6

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wednesday, february 5, 2014

College counselors venture outside the office Madison Goodrich Asst. News Editor

The Las Vegas sun is starting to set as a group of college counselors in evening attire fills an auditorium.

Marie Bigham, college counselor, walks to the podium to present a speech to the board of trustees of the NACAC, National Association for College Admission Counseling.

She is one of 20 candidates pursuing a position on the board. She makes her way up the stairs, careful not to slip in her stilettos, and addresses 150 of what she hopes will be her future peers.

This is one of the many types of events that Greenhill’s college counselors engage in outside of school. Ms. Bigham, Jennifer Kincaid, and J.R. Neiswender not only assist Greenhill students with the college process but they hold positions as board members, host events, and take many leadership roles in the college counseling field.

Some of these commitments require a substantial amount of travel or preparation. From June 2012 to June 2013, Ms. Bigham calculated a total of 22 flights, 13 business trips, and 14 conference calls. Her nomination process spanned from February to July, requiring countless essays and interviews.

“I felt like I was writing a college application,” said Ms. Bigham.

In September, she was elected to the board of trustees for NACAC, a board of 14 members out of the 12,000 to 16,000 members worldwide.

“It’s exciting and flattering,” Ms. Bigham said. “Every once in a while I look at myself and go really, me, why?”

Ms. Bigham has had interviews with media sources ranging from CNN to Stanford Magazine.

“I’m really lucky that the school

Photo by Ariana Zhang

ABOVE AND BEYOND: Students see their college counselors in their office, but they have many other roles as well.

The three college counselors, (left to right) Marie Bigham, J.R. Neiswender and Jennifer Kinkaid depict some of their outside commitments: planning college fairs, teaching classes and tweeting about college visits.

and Mr. Griggs trusts me to do that,” Ms. Bigham said. “A lot of my colleagues’ schools never allow you to talk to the press, so I’m very lucky.”

Through networking and a series of connections, Ms. Bigham was invited to write a blog about college counseling for the New York Times.

“One of the counselors [I knew] connected me with Jack Steinberg [of the New York Times] and in New Orleans over coffee and beignets at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning he said, ‘Let’s come up with something cool.’”

This blog idea became what is now known as “The Choice.”

“It started out with a Facebook thing [in] 2011 where on the New

In the Spotlight

We continue our “In the Spotlight” series, a chance to get to know one randomly-selected Upper School student each issue.

This conversation was with junior Vanessa Akinnibosun.

“My mom speaks mostly Yoruba,” said Vanessa, who understands the language but can only say phrases. “It was never taught to my siblings and I. We just picked up what our mom was saying.”

Vanessa visited Nigeria close to a decade ago and yearns to go back so that she can visit family and become fluent in the language.

Vanessa is the first generation born in this country, since her parents moved to the United States in 1980’s from Nigeria.

“When I go home, I spend time with my family, and that’s something I cherish because I have a fear that as I get older this whole culture will diminish, because the younger generation is becoming Americanized and I am afraid we will lose it,” Vanessa said, referencing her brothers’ less involved interest in traditions. “I try my best, whether it’s dancing or music, just to keep it afloat.”

Photo by Ariana Zhang One of the ways she keeps in touch with her family is EMBRACING HER HERITAGE: Junior Van- through dancing.

“Dancing in itself is an essa Akinnibosun keeps in touch with her Nigerian culture through dance and the art, it can be pulled from so many different cultures and traditional outfits. backgrounds,” said Vanessa.

York Times Facebook page, for one her travel time while she worked on night I answered questions in live the college fair. time. It was a little “We have meetings overwhelming, [but] I monthly. It’s a very large bought very cute boots committee; it is a lot of Ever y after to celebrate,” she admission counselors once in a said. and counselors from the while I look She continued Dallas Fort-Worth area,” at myself and to publish articles for she said. “We have teams go really, me, the blog until it was that handle everything why? discontinued due to from the transportation insufficient funding. needs of the students It has taken Ms. Kincaid a coming to the fair, to the hospitality whole year to plan the Dallas Fort- for the representatives, to the Worth college fair on Feb. 10 for the details of managing the event at the National Association for College convention center.”

Admissions Counseling. This is the Ms. Bigham served as the chair first year she is the co-chair for fair, of this event for three years before which will represent 1,050 colleges handing off the responsibility. all over the world.

Some of the counselors’ Ms. Kincaid had to cut down initiatives emerge spontaneously.

“

She describes African dancing as full of rhythm and beat.

“It makes you want to get off your seat and stomp and ours has a lot of body rolling,” she said. “It can go from traditional tribal music to a hip hop song in the club.”

Fashion is also an important part of Nigerian culture.

“Women walk into these parties with their own designs ordered straight from Africa,” Vanessa said. “We have a lot of colors and traditional outfits. Nigerians are known for their head wraps, and we have the largest ones in Africa, we like to show off.”

Vanessa’s Nigerian grandmother sends cloth to Vanessa’s mother to make intricate clothes.

“I think my ethnic background has influenced my style of fashion,” said Vanessa. “Africans are very fashionable; they like to express themselves with colors and different styles of clothes.”

Singing is also an integral part of entertainment at parties.

“With Nigerians, our singing is not about ‘okay, she hit that high note,’ it’s very emotional and family oriented. It can be based on something you are going through and the words can bring you to tears. It is about the message you are bringing across,” Vanessa said.

Vanessa intends to foster her dedication to her heritage in college and beyond.

“I can’t speak for everybody else, but for me my family’s traditions are

always going to be there. I love being African and I think every person who has their own background should embrace it and never let it go, or be shy or sad or disappointed or embarrassed about it,” said Vanessa.

“I think it’s a beautiful thing,

Last year, Ms. Kincaid started a twitter account while visiting the University of Kansas.

“When I was listening to the tour guide, I wished my students knew about these opportunities, and I wanted to broadcast my experience,” she said.

Ms. Kincaid chose Twitter because it gave her the ability to communicate quickly and give students the feeling that they were touring schools with her.

Mr. Neiswender’s primary outside-the-office responsibility still has him on campus: he teaches an AX10 class.

“I enjoy being in a classroom, I enjoy being able to teach, it’s a fun part of my day,” Mr. Neiswender said. “I get an opportunity to see students in a different light, that’s one of the reasons I’ve [also] enjoyed coaching for as many years as I did.”

Mr. Neiswender visits college campuses while traveling with his son’s competitive ice hockey team.

“He travels all around the country and what’s nice is in supporting him, it gives me an extra opportunity to [visit] places that I wouldn’t otherwise go,” he said.

Mr. Neiswender has been a college counselor at Greenhill for nine years, during which time the office has gone from only one full-time counselor to three. They added programs such as workshop classes that take place during winter trimester for juniors.

“Adding more people allows us to continue to do a good job of meeting with students and families, while at the same time having the man-power to be able to do more things with our college representatives and more things in terms of our program here on campus,” Mr. Neiswender said.

especially at a school like Greenhill, where it’s so diverse and there are all these different races. I can sit down and learn about their backgrounds and for them to respect mine as I respect theirs.” story by Isabet Tranchin

The Evergreen Wednesday [02.05.14]

ARTS

& Entertainment

Indian Dance For a vibrant new look at traditional Indian dance, read on p. 9

Confessions of an Accidental Swing-Dancer

Photo by Michael Kerner

SWINGING TO THE MUSIC: At the Sammons Arts Center, couples of all ages can take a class and dance to the swinging vibe of the music from the speakers on a hoppin’ Saturday night.

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Photo courtesy of Russell Kelemen

ere I am, paired up with a man who is around 30 years older than I am, and whom I have never met in my life. I hear the rhythm of the music, swooshing sounds of ladies’ dresses, and men’s shoes tapping on the floor, as we take our first steps into the swing dance. I’m nervous, but everyone around me is ready to, as the song goes, ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll.’

Let’s rewind about an hour before this. I walk into a strange gymnasium in downtown Dallas, where I’m meeting up with several girl friends for a birthday party. As I look around, I’m feeling more than a little awkward because I’ve never swing-danced before.

Some people in the room, like me, have never stepped onto a dance floor. Others have been dancing for more than 30 years. The ages range from 15 to 70. Each minute, it seems as though a new dancer will walk through the door wearing a forties-style dress or captoe shoes.

I begin by watching from the sidelines, not feeling the confidence to bust a move with the cool cats and dancin’ fools who have been swaying and stepping for years. I start to feel the beat and rock back and forth on my feet. Three songs in, despite my efforts to be a wallflower, I am asked to dance, and I oblige.

Around me, girls are dipping so low their hair touches the ground. Couples are shuffling the Lindy Hop across the floor, while I awkwardly say to my partner, “I’m not very good.” He ignores me, we start the basic step, and the fun really begins.

Once the first man asks me, I am a magnet. Song after song, I am asked by a different partner each time. And each partner is so unique.

I dance with a guy who swingdances at least twice a week. I mess up so many times, but he is patient and I end up able to keep pace with him by the end of the song. I am nervous that I will make him look bad, but each time I miss a step, he just keeps going.

A different partner, who has Tourette’s syndrome, says dancing helps him keep his

syndrome more in control. Throughout that whole song, I am worried he will spin me into the wall because he is so fast and skilled. But each time, he catches me and I spring back like a rubber band and we go into the basic step again.

The thing I fell in love with most about the swing dancing experience was the energy.

It was as though each person in the room had drunk two espresso shots and a Monster drink, and then started prancing around the floor.

The music was upbeat; the sound of trumpets blared over the speakers and the rhythm of the drums pounded in the souls of my feet.

I even fell at one point, while trying to spin under my partner’s arm. Immediately, everyone around asked if I was okay, and although I was a little embarrassed, I got up.

My partner started swaying me to the sound of the music as though nothing had happened.

After two hours, the initially intimidated me was back to my regular 5’1” self, except I was swing dancing! I may not have learned to dance 35 years ago in the Naval Academy or while trying to impress a future spouse like some of the other dancers that night, but I was moving nonetheless.

After I left, I wanted to tell everyone in Dallas about this cool underground occasion that happens every second, third, and fourth Saturday of the month from 8-12 p.m. at the Sammons Arts Center for only $8.

I loved the dancing and meeting new people and the outrageous supply of energy so much that I’ve gone back every Saturday that I’m free. Each time, I get better, and people have started recognizing me as a “regular.” I even became a member of the Dallas Swing Dance Society.

Get rid of the idea that swing dancing is just for old people, or done on swings, folks.

Let me be the first to say that swing dancing is great, whether you want an exciting Saturday evening activity, a not-of-this-era way to burn some calories or let out some extra energy.

After one night of swing dancing, I am forever hooked on twirling to the sound of Peroxide Swing. story by Catherine Leffert

Want to Visit?

3630 Harry Hines Blvd Dallas, TX 75219

8

The

arts

Evergreen

wednesday, february 5, 2014

Photo by Ariana Zhang

STRIKING IN SILK: Senior Shivani Rana, junior Remya Menon, and senior Supriya Bhargava (left to right) show off their Indian dance garb. Colors and hand gestures have specific meanings.

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enior Supriya Bhargava cringes as we sit down to watch her Arangetrum, her graduation performance in traditional Indian dance.

It’s the first time she’s seen the performance on video, her keen eye picking up hand movements, facial expressions, and even the sweat seeping into the silk of her costume.

Supriya is one of a number of Greenhill students who have trained in Indian classical dancing.

Junior Remya Menon and senior Shivani Rana have also completed their Arangetrums.

Indian traditional dances have existed since ancient India, and are based on folklore and mythology. Dances retell episodes involving different Hindu gods or classical heroes.

The Arangetrum is a culmination of a dancer’s career, no matter which form of dance

she practices, the most common in America being Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Oddisi. In an Arangetrum, the Guru, or teacher, presents his or her student to the public.

The performance itself consists of roughly eight solo dances. Student dancers typically practice at least four hours a day for up to a year in preparation for their Arangetrum.

“Dance is the biggest connection I have to my culture,” said Supriya.

“Not only my Arangetrum, but dancing with my dance team and keeping in touch with the music is a great way to stay connected.”

In the video, Supriya glides across the stage, her hands constantly moving and changing positions. Her arms are sometimes straight, sometimes bent, or curved with each finger in a precise position. Each hand position reflects something in

the story, such as a blooming a goddess at one point and a river flower or a peacock. It is crucial the next.” that Supriya be precise in her Another essential element hand movements. of Indian traditional dancing Along with hand gestures, facial is the attire. Each specific expressions show the emotions of dance has its own traditional the characters in the stories. In one clothing, but they are all colorful of her dances, Supriya has to act and extravagant. as a snake and then a child playing In Supriya’s Arangetrum, she ball. In order to convey wore four different outfits, each character, she each one incorporating has to quickly change different designs and facial expressions Dance is brilliant colors tailored from delighted to the biggest in India, Supriya’s outfits fearsome and back to custom made connection were content. One second with her choice of fabrics I have to my and colors. she is smiling and culture.” laughing with wide With each eyes, and the next her step, the bells face is blank with a on her outfit jingle hard stare. along with the “Dance is where I can be myself music. Her hair is braided with but be somebody else at the same elaborate flower extensions in the time,” said Supriya. “Being on stage traditional manner. is like acting. I play a lot of different Arangetrums are a tradition roles when I’m dancing- I can be in Supriya’s family. Both her

“

Lawyers illuminate controversies and conflicts that polarize the world of art marketing of art. Their cases relate to “the acquisition, ownership, Becky Daniels’ second-trimester authenticity, import/export, lending, class, Art History: Conflicts and provenance, and restitution of works Controversy, will come to life when of art, antiquities, and cultural two art lawyers speak to the class property,” according to the Vernon from their personal Law Groups website. experiences about what Ms. Daniel’s art theft means in the class focuses on professional world.

This many of the things presentation will that the art lawyers The two lawyers are help add a new will be discussing.

Greenhill Alum, lawyer, we dimension to the look “Inat class and adjunct professor conflicts class by having and controversies at Southern Methodist true professionals surrounding University Law art discuss cases in the last century.

School, John Vernon, that they have This presentation accompanied by Susan worked on.” will help add a new Bruning, the Assistant Professor of Arts and dimension to the Law in the Meadows class by having true School of the Arts at SMU. professionals discuss cases that they The two have worked together have worked on,” Ms. Daniels said. on many recent cases in art law, the Recently, there has been a lot of body of law that protects, regulates discussion about the Nazi’s role in and facilitates the creation, use and stealing art during World War II, art Joseph Middleman Sports Editor

“

that is now slowly being returned to the proper owners. The upcoming movie Monuments Men, based on a book by Dallas-raised author Robert Edsel, deals with this very subject.

Because much of this highpriced art has since been auctioned off and passed into other hands, it is a concern whether or not the art belongs to the public or the highest bidder with the most money.

Many students said they are excited about the upcoming presentation.

“I’m particularly excited to have the opportunity to hear these speakers since I will be attending SMU in the fall and am interested in practicing law in the future,” said senior Casey Holiday.

The presentation will take place on Jan. 13 in the Lecture Hall during third period. It is open to any student who either has third period break or is excused from their class by their teacher.

mother and aunt were dancers, and Supriya was especially excited to pursue dance with the support of her family and friends.

Today, all three girls still dance as a hobby.

Currently, Shivani is working on a senior Capstone about the psychology behind Indian dance. The process includes attending classes at Nartana Center of Performing Arts.

Her Capstone grew out of both Indian classical dance and her experience in Greenhill Dance Company.

Remya plans to study Indian traditional dance, and Supriya hopes to join a college dance team and eventually teach classical Indian dancing as an adult.

“I think [my Arangetrum] is my biggest accomplishment,” said Supriya. story by Amna Naseem

Evergreen The Elements of a Good Movie

wednesday, february 5, 2014

The

arts

9

Greenhill’s resident film buffs ponder what makes us tick Cole Forson Staff Writer

What makes a movie great?

Is a great movie one that makes you laugh or that makes you cry?

Is it one that makes you ponder the meaning of life or one that you can watch mindlessly while doing last-minute homework and eating Nutella with a spoon?

Each person might have a different response, and none is correct. The answers are possibly more diverse on our own campus than anywhere else, due to our abundance of independent thinkers and our robust film program. So, The Evergreen polled students and faculty on what makes a great movie.

Many said that a movie should have an element of surprise, and also be original and intriguing.

“A great movie must do

something that takes the movie in a different direction,” said freshman Cameron Potter.

He added that movies should also be relatable to many people.

“A great movie is one that everyone can enjoy,” he said.

Junior Alex “Danger” Raphael, a member of Advanced Video Production, had a different opinion on the matter.

“A good film is one that makes some people love it and other people hate it,” he said.

But why should a good movie be so polarizing? Corbin Doyle, Video Production teacher, agreed that the most polarizing movies are best.

He mentioned that he doesn’t really like Titanic, a movie that was considered by many critics to be extremely well done. The sweeping, romantic epic, however, is far from polarizing.

Regardless of the overall

effect of the movie, there are many imprecise science. aspects to consider when evaluating A perfect example of this a film. One of these is the score, is that Mr. Doyle mentioned which is often one of the most that mainstream movies did critical pieces. not appeal to him - until very

“A great movie must have a recently, that is. He recently great soundtrack,” Cameron said. saw Disney’s Frozen, a more Some students felt that mainstream, less the score should be a tool p o l a r i z i n g used to make the audience family flick. He The answer to feel a certain way, while this question said it completely others felt that it should his lies within each changed reflect the feelings of the individual’s view of what characters themselves. heart.” m a i n s t r e a m Students also movies could considered character be.

He development. Should a character even mentions he was be predictable or should they be “slow-clapping” by the end surprising and unexpected? Should because it was so well done. a character be strictly hero or villain, It was unexpected and or somewhere in between? powerful, and now, he “I think the most compelling said, he may give character is one in the middle,” mainstream movies more said sophomore Dallas Dillon. “A of a chance. Maybe this character can rarely be just an demonstrates that if a embodiment of one trait.” movie manages to

Freshman Summer Dobozy hit all o f finds a different quality compelling. the key “Characters that are predictable a r e a s are easier to sympathize with, and of a you can think along with them,” said Summer.

Ultimately, one’s assessment of moviescan change. Film is an

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p e r s o n’s interest, that person might be sur pr is e d at the unexpected types of movies they find themselves enjoying.

While we are no closer to knowing what makes a great movie, perhaps we are a bit closer to knowing why a great movie is great.

“The answer to this question lies within each individual’s heart,” Alex said.

Although a slight humor could be detected in his voice, he has a point; there is no right answer.

“I’m sure there’s a formula for raw entertainment - films that are universally liked,” Dallas said, “but the great stuff is art. I don’t think there’s any particular list of things that makes a film great.”

Photos courtesy of 123RF and Oscar Icon

10

The

Ever

AVENUE Q SCH PUSHING BOUNDARIE S WI

PUPPET POWER: Junior Adam Konig, senior Allie Woodson, and juniors Jordan Jaffee and Harris Chowdhary (pictured above) of Avenue Q School Edition rehearse with their furry friends and monster mates. Freshman Jonah Goldberg (pictured below) plays Trekkie Monster, the notoriously antisocial resident of Avenue Q.

Avenue Q School Edition injects the raunchiness of South Park into a puppet-filled world along the lines of Sesame Street. The show follows the trials and tribulations of the fictional residents of Avenue Q in the outskirts of New York City, satirically taking on hot-

button issues like racism and homosexuality through musical numbers and the adventures of its characters, both human and puppet.

Greenhill students are putting on Avenue Q School Edition as this year’s annual winter musical. The show opens Thursday, Feb 6, and runs through the weekend. Between its content and international renown, the show is not the typical high school production.

Choosing and preparing the play has been a saga all on its own for the students and faculty involved.

Because of the play’s controversial nature, Music Theater International (MTI) and the original writers teamed up to create the school edition.

The version is an edited cut made to be appropriate for school audiences.

For example, the original song, “The Internet is for Porn” is translated to “Social Life is Online.” This kind of ageappropriate adjustment is characteristic of the essential differences between Avenue Q School Edition and the award-winning show’s original form.

The message of the song, which focuses on life in the age of computers, is

accessible for school audiences; by making the Laramie Project. The show focused on the edits to some of the jokes and content, School reaction to the murder of a gay college student Edition conveys that same message without in Laramie, Wyoming. Greenhill was one of the controversy. the first high schools to perform the show.

“I feel that we can make “Now that we are doing the point without offending Avenue Q School Edition, I’m anyone,” said Synthia Rogers, “I feel like we sure many other high schools Theatre Director. want to do it,” Ms. Rogers are always try- will said.

Members of the Greenhill ing to push the community have been receptive The school hopes this trend boundaries and will continue in the future. to the play, even given some of its more “adult” content. never want to “I feel like we are always Senior Allie Woodson, who be stagnant. It trying to push the boundaries stars as one of the show’s lead has nothing to and never want to be stagnant. characters, remembers seeing It has nothing to do with the do with the age age of the play or anything. It the show professionally for the of the play or just has t do with how much we first time and being surprised about its adult content. This was anything. expect from our students and assuaged when she found out the writing,” Mr. Orman said. the school would be adopting In order to get permission the censored student version. to perform Avenue Q School “I think the student show is less Edition, as with any other production, the controversial than most people think,” said musical directing team (comprised of Ms. Michael Orman, Technical Theater Director.

Rogers, Mr. Omran, Henry Paolissi, Assistant Rather than being deterred by adult Director, Vonda Bowling, Music Director and content, Allie said she thinks students will Kelly McCain, Dance Director) first goes to Michael Manes, Head of Fine Arts. However, relate to a lot of the material.

“It’s about the characters going out, due to the circumstances of Avenue Q School exploring – finding their purpose in their Edition’s content, permission this time was slightly trickier. lives,” she said.

“He’ll decide if he needs to talk to other Ms. Rogers and Mr. Orman both called the musical’s handling of the subject matter people,” Mr. Orman said. “In this case, we talked forward-thinking and in line with Greenhill’s to other people [including the administration] to see how the community would react. It ethos. wasn’t just about getting approval.”

“I think we are not afraid to turn the Once the school gives the thumbs up, mirror on ourselves occasionally,” Mr. Orman they must secure the rights to perform it from said.

MTI, a leading theatrical licensing agency in Last fall, the theater performed Bright New York, to get the rights to perform it.

Ideas, which also was a bit controversial in its The first thing MTI looks at is look at a parent’s desperation for the success availability. of their child.

“We were a little concerned because [local Greenhill took on another seemingly Dallas theater] Theatre Three just performed controversial play about ten years ago with

“

rgreen

wednesday, february 5, 2014

11

HOOL EDITION TH THE ART OF PUPPE TRY

Photos by Ariana Zhang

it,” Mr. Orman said. “But it wasn’t really a problem.”

Although the rights didn’t end up being a problem, the actual production of the musical hasn’t been easy. Not only have actors had to learn the choreography, lines, and music, but they’ve also had to do it with puppets and in character voice.

Acting onstage for both the puppet and human characters has required technical and artistic knowledge with which most of the show’s cast members were unfamiliar. Michael Robinson, who owns the costume warehouse Greenhill uses, was also a cast member in the Theatre Three production of Avenue Q. He designed and constructed the puppets for the show – the puppets that the school is now renting for its production. Mr. Robinson, along with Theatre Three colleague James Chandler, has facilitated several puppet workshops for the actors throughout the play’s production process where he teaches how to properly handle the furry friends onstage. Actors went to four of these workshops in December and January.

“I do not claim to be a master puppeteer,” Ms. Rogers said. “[Mr. Robinson] teaches them that.”

According to Mr. Robinson, the learning experience is comparable to his professional experience.

“The difference was not that much,” he said. “I had [the professionals] when they were brand new [to learning how to use a puppet] as well.”

Opposite Allie is sophomore Max Harberg, who plays her neighbor and romantic interest, Princeton. The challenge for the actors, though, lies not in the characters themselves, but in the fact that they aren’t human – they’re puppets. Much of the show’s frequent comparison to Sesame Street comes from its use of puppets as many of its main

TROUBLESOME TRIO: Freshman Ali Simenc, sophomore Alexandria Moore and freshman Addie Gomez play the Bad Idea Bears, a group of sinister teddy bears who influence the residents of Avenue Q to make irresponsible decisions.

characters, animated by unconcealed actors the entire show. The set is a three-building onstage. Only three of show’s principle façade that must be completely modular so it characters are human. Naturally, this has can be easily transported. presented some unprecedented challenges for Backstage actors will be changing the the students involved. heads of their various puppets to give them “It’s strange because you get used to talking a costume change. The tech crew will also to the human and that’s your first instinct, but be busier than you have to adjust and look at where their u s u a l hand is [in this show],” said sophomore Rachel Poole, who plays one of the three human characters, Gary Coleman. “Especially if you have to have a conversation with the puppet because their face is so animated and happy, you can’t help but smile.”

According to the cast, the task of being both puppeteer and stage actor at once is much more complex than it may seem.

“We work on really bringing the puppets to life, rather than just moving their mouths and hands,” Allie said.

She emphasized that the main challenge lies in straddling the line between acting normally, and using the puppet to do the acting. Understanding the distinct roles is key. “[The puppets] “They’re characters with are characters feelings and intentions,” she said. “We [the actors] are just with feelings vehicles for them.” and intentions.

Then again, not every We [the actors] character is a puppet. Striking are just vehicles the correct dynamic for human for them.” to puppet interactions onstage has been a new challenge for the show’s cast as well.

“We have to truly believe that we are in a backstage in that their conversation with a puppet,” Allie said. “That’s job is not just moving set pieces the biggest challenge – separating ourselves on and off. from them.”

The show is challenging Just as for the actors, there is a lot going on to run. But on the other hand, behind the scenes. The set has multiple levels the set was designed to be and involves characters going up and down completely portable, allowing ladders and scaffolding backstage throughout it to be easily transported to

“

ISAS in the “The within five a t

April. goal is to load it minutes, so we can actually use our set ISAS,” Mr. Orman said. “It’s hard for schools to do that, but we are going to try.”

The Evergreen Wednesday [02.05.14]

NEWS The Bulb Eater Quiz up

THE HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ BOWL TEAM RECENTLY QUALIFIED for the national academic quiz tournaments for the first time. see page 14 for more.

Varun Gupta

Asst. Features Editor

contract with Waste Management for all disposal services, including bulb compacting. According to Mr. Adams, FOS workers had to hand-pack bulbs into cardboard boxes, store them in an empty shed, and wait for the truck to pick up the load at a cost of $1,200 a trip. The West Management truck would only stop at Greenhill a few times each year. According to Mr. Thompson, the truck would take the boxes of bulbs to a compacting machine and then dump the shredded components into a landfill.

With the Bulb Eater, however, FOS

workers just have to slip on a pair of rubber gloves, press a green button on the machine, and let the “monster” eat up the fluorescent bulb.

“A one-stop shop essentially saves a lot of man power and is very economical for schools,” Mr. Adams said.

The Bulb Eater is also eco-friendly because it reduces the amount of pollution in the air. When the lightbulbs are compacted by the Bulb Eater’s electric motor, small amounts of mercury gas are emitted. A two-stage filtration involves a carbon bag and HEPA-inline filter that absorbs 99.99 percent of the toxic mercury vapor and seals it in an airtight container.

High-levels of the toxic mercury vapor in humans can lead to many brain, kidney, and lung related diseases.

According to Mr. Adams, the metal drum that holds the broken bulbs is transported to a specialized recycling center called Air Cycle. Components of the fluorescent light bulb that include aluminum, glass and mercury are reused and recycled.

Upon arrival, the crushed bulbs are sent to a machine that separates the phosphor powder housed between the bulb’s glass and metal. Next, the glass and aluminum caps are separated and stored for later use. Finally, a powder extracts mercury from the inline filters. This process occurs every 12-18 months.

Before, the bulb components would decompose and cause a safety hazard to landfill workers. Now, the Bulb Eater and Air Cycle program permit recycling and reuse of old bulbs.

The Bulb Eater machine costs about $4,000 dollars, but Greenhill saves the $1,200 it used to spend on each West Management pick-up.

The search for new maintenance technologies continues. Mr. Adams said he hopes to buy an all-in-one contraption with a vacuum suction and scrubber that reuses water to hose down the P.E. locker room floors.

Photo by Varun Gupta Graphic by Sera Tuz

Voom! The Cyclops monster opens its one eye. Huuummmmm. The beast growls with hunger. Chomp, chomp, chomp. It crunches a mouthful of fragile glass. After chewing for a little, the demon finishes its snack.

Each year the school counts over 4,000 light bulbs on average in its inventory.

When the bulbs burn out, someone needs to dispose of the waste. A new machine now makes this process more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

L i v i n g in the wellventilated s u p p l y room of the Maintenance Building, the Bulb Eater Lamp Crusher quietly feasts on burnt-out light bulbs. The fluorescent tubes are sucked into the monster’s mouth by a foot-long vacuum attachment. Next, the belly stores the shards and filters out harmful toxins.

The Bulb Eater was purchased last August from the tools and equipment fund to improve waste management on Greenhill’s campus. In an effort to contribute environmental awareness, Greenhill is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, a distinction for environmentally-friendly buildings.

Five years ago, Facilities Operation Services (FOS) applied for LEED certification for the campus’s existing buildings.

“We applied to measure what we are doing wrong,” said Bruce Thompson, Director of FOS. “We know how many light bulbs we are throwing away. As long as we are measuring, we are doing the right

thing.”

Nate Adams, FOS Assistant Director, had asked for the contraption when he was employed by the University of South Dakota to oversee and run mechanical and construction projects.

“I found [the Bulb Eater] more conducive over time to just take care of the bulbs right there on the site, “ Mr. Adams said.

Before, Facilities had a

FEEDING THE BEAST: Nate Adams, Facilities Operation Services Assistant Director, feeds the Bulb Eater. The machine crushes fluorescent bulbs then traps their mercury, thus reducing pollution.

wednesday, february 5, 2014

The

Evergreen

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School revises computer curriculum cont’d from page 1

The seven new course offerings will follow a tiered structure, each tier predicated on completion of the previous tier’s course.

“The first tier is introductory courses. The second tier includes intermediate courses and topics. The third tier facilitates greater independent study in advanced topics as well as an opportunity to work on topics specific to the AP Computer Science test,” Dr. Bigenho said.

Freshman Adam Weider, who has yet to take an Upper School computer class, plans on taking some of the new courses in the future.

“I’ll definitely look into [the courses] and see which ones I want to take, as I’m really interested in computer science,” he said.

Sophomore Kalen Beacham is excited for the new course offerings.

“I have only taken Beginning C++ in Upper School, but one of the things I wish was improved upon was the actual coding in the classes,” he said.

Today, Kalen says the curriculum is much different.

“We only examine the anatomy of programs and their elements, but in the future, we’ll actually create our

own programs, which will really help our understanding. And since I want to pursue engineering in college, this will certainly help,” he said.

One of the highest-paying fields, the engineering profession in general has an average starting salary of $64,000 after college graduation, according to Forbes magazines, making it the highest earning degree for recent college graduates. Those with chemical engineering or computer science degrees, engineering professions with the highest salaries, can expect to earn a starting salary of $70,000 after college.

But where did the idea of reinvigorating these courses originate?

“Greenhill has wanted to do this for years – engineering, science and analytical thinking are of increasing importance to the world,” Dr. Bigenho said.

For Hockaday’s Centennial, a $10 million STEM building is under construction to promote scientific inquiry and learning amongst females, who are traditionally underrepresented in engineering fields.

However, Laura Ross, Upper School Head, cautions against labeling Greenhill’s changes as “STEM-motivated.”

“While perhaps a student might take these new courses and

discover an interest in engineering, it’s not about forcing people to becomeengineers and pursue STEM,” she said.

According to Dr. Bigenho, the reason businesspeople to politicians to educators are stressing engineering education is not so much about its job potential as one of the fastest growing fields, but about how applicable it is in other fields such as business and law.

“Many of the skills learned in computer science and engineering are transferable,” he said.

Both Dr. Bigenho and Mrs. Ross hope that this revamp as well as some future technology course changes in Lower School and Middle School will create a structure where students have the opportunity to take computer science courses until they graduate and gain mastery.

“We really hope these changes spur a different type of thinking among students,” Mrs. Ross said.

Dr. Bigenho has several new classes he wants to add over the next five years.

“I already have some courses in the pipeline for the future, and after we evaluate how our first year goes, we will continue to improve,” Dr. Bigenho said.

Student concert raises microfinance awareness Christina Zhu

Asst. Features Editor

Music blasts in the Addison Convention Center. Teens cheer as their peers perform on stage, raising money for an important cause.

Such was the vision of the students, including two Greenhill students, who organized a Feb. 1 concertfundraiser whose proceeds will go to empower disadvantaged women.

The organizers belong to the Youth Initiatives for Women Leadership, the youth branch of the World Women Global Council (WWGC).

“Everything has been pretty much run by the youth group,” said senior Rebecca Sostek, president of YIWL. “Last year we did a concert that didn’t go great but didn’t go terribly,” she said.

Afterwards, they were encouraged by their WWGC leader to try another concert, improving their strategies to make it a success.

“We brainstormed for a while and came up with a youth-focused

concert with more student singers so kids would have a drive to go see their friends perform,” Rebecca said.

The YIWL team draws from multiple schools in Dallas. Because it is run by students, the group is productive, but a huge commitment.

Already, being part of the board has taught Rebecca important skills such as leadership and clear communication.

“On every Tuesday and Sunday I have to be on my call at the right time and I have to have talking points. I have to know how to tell people what to do if they have questions for me.

It’s very much of a leadership role and it has made me more confident,” Rebecca said.

As they planned the concert, the students had a lot of responsibilities to be divided and conquered with minimal adult supervision.

“We had to plan the ticket-sales, venue, the event costs and the profit

margins,” said junior Paulo Springer, YIWL’s Director of Administration.

It was up to the students to plan and execute the concert, which featured student performers from schools around Dallas, an art auction, and food provided by Raising Cane’s.

One of the hardest things for the students was that many sponsors were hesitant to donate for the concert, especially because the org an i z at i on , founded in 2012, is relatively young.

T h e students had to approach over 40 restaurants for sponsorships. “ W h e n you’re new and

Graphic by Sera Tuz

you go up to restaurants asking them to donate money, they don’t really know anything about us. It was really hard to get sponsorships,” said Rebecca. “Up until a couple months ago, we really only had minimal funds, and we were at a pretty big loss. I was also applying to college and I was really freaking out and stressed. It was a hard first trimester, but now it’s looking up.”

Rebecca is particularly passionate about WWGC’s mission.

The organization is dedicated to empowering women, specifically through micro-lending. Microlending is the granting of small loans to groups that might not otherwise be able to secure them.

“Our project is different from traditional charities because it provides a long-term solution. Our services are providing women with the opportunity to free themselves from poverty, to gain education, and to make a better life for themselves in the long-term,” Paulo said.

14 news

The

Evergreen

wednesday, february 5, 2014

Students qualify for Quiz Bowl nationals Lane Hirsch

Asst. Sports Editor

For the first time ever, the Greenhill Upper School quiz bowl team has earned a spot in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments competition in Chicago this May. Since quiz bowl was brought to Greenhill at the beginning of last year, it has grown immensely and now carries a total of 28 students, 25 of which are Middle School students.

“Last year was really our first year of competitions, so just qualifying for nationals was a victory,” said Grant Mindle, coach of both the Upper School and Middle School quiz bowl teams.

The club was started by current sophomore Kevin Wei when he was in eighth grade.

“I figured that it could be a fun program for kids who enjoy trivia, like me,” Kevin said.

For competitions, there can be a maximum of six people on a team. High-school students are not allowed to compete in middle-school tournaments, however middle-school students can play up a level and compete along side high-school students.

The high school team consists of three Middle School students and one Upper School student. One of the middle-school teams, which, for the second year in a row, has qualified for the middle-school division nationals, will attend the competition alongside the high-school competitors.

“We went to one tournament that first year [at St. Marks School of Texas]. The students who went had a really good time, however, we were not successful at that first tournament, and realized we needed some help to prepare,” Dr. Mindle said.

Last summer, Dr. Mindle ran a two-day camp at Greenhill. Dr. Mindle persuaded champion quiz bowlers from Cistercian Abbey and Preparatory School, who placed fifth in the nation in the 2013 national tournament, to come to Greenhill and help teach the quiz bowl camp. “The more advanced quiz bowl students and teachers from other schools really helped our kids, and have contributed to the success that we have had this season,” Dr.

For background on these updates, see the Dec. 2013 issue of the Evergreen.

Runway for a Cause The 2014 Spring Getaway Runway for a Cause, which was held on Jan. 18, raised over $6,000. All of the money is being donated to the Grant Halliburton Foundation, which strives to educate and prevent suicide. “[We] were able to bring amazing style to the Dallas community. [Senior] Virginia [Dollins] and I are so happy with our final show,” said senior Maddie Crick, who with Virginia hosted her final show. Next year, juniors Caroline Early and Madison Pidgeon will take over.

Holiday Cheer The redesigned holiday-gift-giving policy received nearly $50,000 in donations this past December. The Holiday Cheer Fund was formed to give all faculty and staff equal share of bonuses from community members. Families were encouraged to donate to this fund rather than give individual gifts to their respective teachers. “[It was] a great success and much appreciated by all Greenhill employees,” said Melissa Orth, Chief Financial Officer.

Juice As for the long-gone juice machines, Greenhill is no longer in contact with Tropical Fusions, our former juice provider.

Today, the cafeteria serves lemonate, four types of iced tea and two types of spa water (such as Strawberry Mint and Rosemary Lemon). During breakfast and Lower School lunch, they also offer orange juice, apple juice, milk and chocolate milk.

These options will be reevaluated in summer 2015 when the dining hall is renovated. compiled by Arhum Khan story by Sera Tuz

Mindle said.

Meetings every Friday provide time for the students to discuss questions from prior competitions.

If students would like to further their quiz bowl studies, they are encouraged to attend the quiz bowl study session held at the St. Monica Catholic School every Tuesday evening.

“Their success is also based on the work they put in outside of the actual practices. It helps when the

kids practice on their own and study specific subjects, because then we have an expert in each category,” Dr. Mindle said.

Questions fall into four categories: mathematics, history, literature and science. Each subject has various subcategories, yielding diverse questions that can practically be about anything.

A separate category, designated as the “trash” category, is for topics that are not academic, such as pop-culture,

music and movies. Because of the range of questions, it is often easier to have each person on a team specialize in a specific topic to boost overall team knowledge.

“I’m really focusing on mastering literature. I have always been interested in literary history, and Quiz Bowl gives me the opportunity to explore my interest. I really enjoy it,” said freshman Getty Hess.

Graphic by Sera Tuz

March groundbreaking to initiate work on new regulation sized fields Ben Krakow Sports Editor

Starting March 1, construction workers will arrive on Greenhill campus to tackle the new fields that are to be built on the Spring Valley Road corner of Greenhill.

The two new regulationsized soccer fields that will be built can also double as playing fields for field hockey.

Baseball and softball diamonds for the Middle School will also be used on those fields.

Netting and fences will go up on the corner to separate the fields from the street.

According to Head of School Scott Griggs, those fields are expected to be ready next fall for field hockey season.

In late April, a date timed around Alumni weekend

and a Heart of the Hill event, they have currently raised $31 Greenhill’s construction crews million of their $52 million will break ground on the new goal. performing arts center as well.

“I am excited about The new building will where we are, we go on top of the old have some very athletic fields. One good prospects baseball field will be We have in the pipeline kept available this some very good and I am very spring for the Middle prospects in optimistic we will School baseball teams’ the pipeline see some good practices. and I am very movement in the Mr. Griggs said optimistic we near future,” Mr. he does not anticipate will see some Griggs said. the construction good movement Although to cause too much in the near they will now be distraction at the future.” able to practice school. “It is contained on regulationon the exterior of our sized fields, campus and it will all some students be enclosed and fenced in,” he voiced minor trepidations said. about the new location, citing Mr. Griggs said that the longer hauls from the High school is pleased with how the Performance Center and fundraising has gone and that bathrooms.

“

wednesday, february 5, 2014

The

Evergreen

news

15

Author’s controversial stance counters school mission, precludes visit Sofia Shirley Features Editor

Author Orson Scott Card is nothing if not highly acclaimed, winning many prestigious awards for his novel Ender’s Game.

But when given the chance to have Card speak to Greenhill students, Greenhill turned him down. Because in addition to his role as esteemed novelist, Card also attracts attention for his controversial statements regarding gay marriage.

Card’s statements began to emerge decades ago but have received more media attention in recent years. His statements Photo courtesy of Terry Manier

include his desire to “destroy” and “bring down” any government argument some could make is that he’s coming to talk about supporting gay marriage, and comments that homosexuality is the writing process and we should not be concerned about his a “sex-role dysfunction.” personal beliefs. However, we all make decisions and choices A Greenhill parent attended an auction and won the that identify who we are and what we stand for.” opportunity for Mr. Card to come speak to their school. At the He wouldn’t have been surprised to find a similar negative time, Mr. Griggs was unaware of the controversy surrounding reaction among Greenhill community members if Mr. Card Mr. Card, who would have only met with a small group of visited Greenhill. students. However, another parent heard of Mr. Card’s visit “If he had come I would have expected people to be very and alerted Mr. Griggs to some of Mr. Card’s statements and concerned. What does this say about who we are as a school writings. Mr. Griggs looked into the facts and felt that Mr. if we are bringing someone with those beliefs to talk to our Card’s visit to campus would be inconsistent with the mission students?” and the core values at Greenhill.

The mission is Mr. Griggs’ compass in “There was no gray area in it for me,” he said. making his decisions.

“It was pretty clear that his beliefs are very, very “It’s my biggest responsibility as Head of strong and he’s outspoken about it. I did some School to make sure we are living our mission.

While differing research and clearly his lack of respect for certain Everything we are doing must live up to and views are respected people, which is a core part of our mission, won’t support that mission,” he said. “While differing and valued at work for us.” views are respected and valued at Greenhill, Greenhill, specific Other schools have made different choices in specific statements that show a total lack of statements that the same position, including the Harvard-Westlake show a total lack of respect for certain members of our community school, an independent co-educational college respect for certain are not tolerated,” Mr. Griggs said. preparatory school in Los Angeles. In September Mr. Griggs said he saw some of those members of our of 2012, they brought Mr. Card to speak to their statements as potentially threatening to community are not Middle School students. Several faculty members tolerated.” students. and the head of middle school discussed Mr. Card’s “I think that safety and security are some visit, and ultimately decided to have him speak. of our biggest responsibilities as a school, and But when they posted a photo of Mr. Card while I doubt Mr. Card would have done any wearing a Harvard-Westlake hat on their Facebook page after physical harm, he certainly could be in a position to provide the event, some students and alums voiced strong disapproval. some emotional harm to students if he went outside of his In a comment about the Facebook photo, Harvard- writing and talked about his personal beliefs with students,” Westlake Director of Communications Jill Shaw, the school Mr. Griggs said. explained their decision.

Mr. Card’s assistant said Mr. Card declined to comment “He was not invited to discuss his social, political, or for the article. However she did say that Mr. Card does visit religious views - and he did not. He was invited here as an schools when he has time. author, not as a political figure”.

“This hasn’t been a problem for him. Unfortunately, his However, they ultimately apologized in the same comment comments are regularly taken out of context,” she said. for bringing “a speaker to campus whose personal views offend In an interview with the New Zealand Listener, he members of the community.” maintains that some of his best friends are gay, and that many While Mr. Griggs could see the flip side of the decision, he of his most controversial statements are made as fictional voices still maintains that the decision was an easy one for him. of what could happen in the future.

“I see the argument the administration was making at Harvard-Westlake, but I can’t separate the personal and See the Views roundup on page 3 to find Greenhill students’ professional that distinctly,” Mr. Griggs said. “I think the opinions on the school’s decision to decline the visit.

“

CAMPUS CONTROVERSY: Famed Ender’s Game author Orson Scott Card’s campus visit was cancelled after Greenhill heard about his comments on race and sexuality.

Fresh foods newly for sale at Buzz promote health Suman Chebrolu Staff Writer

The Buzz has added more healthful snacks to their shelves in an attempt to provide students and faculty with better choices than a Kit Kat and root beer, for example.

Lean meat sandwiches and wraps, vegetable and hummus trays, chicken and tuna salads, and yogurt parfaits can be purchased from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an interruption during lunch hours. The Buzz will not be selling the snacks between 11:30 and 1:30 p.m.

Often, students will opt to skip a cafeteria meal and instead purchase “Buzz lunches,” which are usually comprised of Easy Mac or Ramen Noodles. The more healthful foods will not be offered during this time in order to avoid competition with the cafeteria.

These snacks will be prepared and delivered daily by SAGE Dining Services. The products not purchased by 11:30 a.m. the next day will be thrown out. While this poses an issue of wasting food, the Buzz and SAGE have come up with a solution.

“What we are doing is setting our par levels so

that [the Buzz] does run out of product,” said Ed Bogard, SAGE Food Services Manager.

The new snacks also provide more substantial options for faculty and students staying after school.

“Faculty have emailed me saying that sometimes they will work late,” said Sharon Brewer, Campus Store & Purchasing Manager.

“They have to either go out and get something and come back or wait until they get back home. Now they know they can come back [to the Buzz].”

The suggestion for these new foods came from the Athletics Department, which wanted their athletes to be able to purchase snacks to have before or save until after practice.

“I have had students say that they are very hungry when they get done with practice or when they get done with lifting,” said Trey Stringer, Director of Strength & Conditioning.

“The last time they could have eaten something is usually around lunch.”

Graphic by Ariana Zhang

SNACK SWAP: As of January, the Buzz has been offering fresh foods as a healthy alternative for students during the day. The snacks are not available for purchase from 11:30a.m. to 1p.m., however, to deter “Buzz Lunches” from becoming too popular.

sports The Evergreen Wednesday [02.05.14]

Body Builder

Coach Toni Oppliger takes Bigger, Faster, Stronger to a whole new level. p. 18

Olympic Dreams Greenhill student and alum reflect on experiences in Junior Olympics and Olympic Trials

Olympics in June, where she placed third in long jump and In the spirit of the seventh in relay. The pressure upcoming Olympics, place of competing at an Olympic yourself in the mind of an level isn’t always easy to Olympian. Imagine that handle, she said. you have just flirted with “Something that people your body’s may not realize breaking point, about competing pushed yourself at such a high level Something to unimaginably like the Olympics that people s t r e n u o u s or Junior may not realize boundaries with Olympics is how about competthe weight of a ing at a high stressful it really country on your level like the gets,” Naya said. “I shoulders, all of Olympics is never eat before a your hard work how stressful it race because my finally coming to gets.” stomach always a peak. starts turning, Whether you and I don’t want have finished with the fastest to throw up.” time, landed your triple axel, Naya is no stranger to or scored the final goal, your such intense competition. event is over, times and scores She qualified for her first are in the books, and you are Amateur Athletics Union a world champion.

Junior Olympics at the age Now consider how far of seven, after placing in the you have come and what top three for her age group in brought you to this place. the district meet and top five For most, involvement for her age group in the state with the games does not go meet. beyond a television screen. “[Competing at a high Greenhill, however, is level] all started when I the home of two athletes realized how fast I really was,” who stand a chance of said Naya, whose best 100m experiencing the games for time is 11.8 seconds. real. Sophomore Naya Sharp “I don’t think I realized, has already participated in at that age, that I was fast. I the Junior Olympics, and was just running to run. Now Claire Brandt ’12 swam in the that I’m aware of my abilities, Olympic Trials. the only thing I want is to make them better, and get faster.”

Still, even years of competition hasn’t lessened Naya, who discovered the pressures placed upon her her knack for speed at a as an athlete. young age, raced in the Junior “Overall, with being a Danielle Stoler

Online Editor-in-Chief

“

Junior Olympics

Junior Olympian there are some expectations that at times I think are a little high for me, but I know I can handle them,” she said.

Sometimes it’s a question of balancing expectations with reality.

“Coming to Greenhill, people found out that I had gone to the Junior Olympics and expected me to be amazing in SPC, even though I was hurt,” she said.

“I knew I was not going to do well. I physically could not, but this year…well, we’ll see,” she said, flashing a bright white smile of confidence.

Also, she said, “My parents support me so much, especially my mom. She pushes me a lot, but in a good way.”

Beyond school and the Junior Olympics, Naya does have a dream of going to the Olympic Games one day.

“I would love to go [to the Olympics] so much. I think I would do especially well in the relays,” she said, adding how she likes to be part of a team.

Olympic Trials

“Olympic Trials was one of the coolest experiences of my life,” said Claire, who now swims for Texas A&M University.

In the summer of 2012, Claire swam at the Olympic trials, where the members of the United States’ Olympic team are chosen. She qualified for her times in both the 200

backstroke and 50 Freestyle at Junior Nationals the previous summer.

“I have been to many, many swim meets, and I have never been one to get starstruck by the people who are there or by the enormity of the meet, but I definitely was in awe of it all.”

Tens of thousands of people showed up to watch Claire and over 1,800 of her competitors battle for a handful of spots on the nation’s Olympic team.

“The atmosphere made you feel like you were really something,” she said. “It felt so intense, but also exciting, especially in the finals, where I was literally watching people accomplish their dreams.”

As for her, “It was a little more intense and nervewracking than I thought it would be. I like having a fun atmosphere because I get nervous pretty easily, but it was so intense that I may have gotten too nervous.”

Claire explained that she knew it was unlikely that she would make the Olympic team, but this was far from discouraging for her.

She made it her goal to get personal best times, and moved up 75 places in her 200-backstroke ranking.

Today, Claire still dreams of competing in the Olympics someday.

“I was happy to get some experience at the meet in order to know what to expect in 2016, when I ideally will have a better shot,” she said.

wednesday, february 5, 2014

The

Evergreen

Former collegiate lacrosse coach brings expertise to community Laura Arnold Design Editor

After playing four years of women’s lacrosse at James Madison University, spending 15 years coaching Division I at the collegiate level, and now acting as the North Texas Women’s Lacrosse Officials’ Association (NTWLOA) Training Coordinator, Lellie Swords joins the Greenhill girls’ lacrosse program this spring. In addition to working as an assistant to the varsity program, Coach Swords will help with every level, beginning in fifth grade.

“She is an extremely talented coach who has a wide range of coaching capabilities: from breaking down fundamentals for our youngest players to teaching more complex concepts of the game to our varsity team,” said Head Coach Caroline Doswell.

Before arriving in Texas, Coach Swords spent her life in the northeast.

“I made the decision to get out of college coaching and wanted a warmer climate,” said Coach Swords. “I knew that Texas lacrosse was really taking off, so I made the decision to move here and help grow the game.”

Coach Swords is looking forward to her time at Greenhill.

“I ended up at Greenhill because I believe in the vision that the athletic department has,” said Coach Swords. “I have a very supportive family, and they were excited about our new adventure in Texas.”

Coach Swords is a mother of

three: Ryanne, age 8, Killian, age 7, and Jameson, age 7. Her children have a shared liking for the game. While they only do basic skills together now, Coach Swords anticipates that they will join teams next year.

Coach Swords felt it was time to leave college coaching behind.

“I was missing a lot of my children’s lives and wasn’t having as much fun as I used to coaching college,” said Coach Swords. “I’ve found the transition to be seamless.”

Despite having a mother with such elite experience in lacrosse, her kids just focus on enjoying the sport.

“At this point, I don’t think they feel any pressure; they just like that Mommy coaches them,” said Coach Swords.

Having kids forced Coach Swords to manage her time better, as well as not place quite as much emphasis on lacrosse.

“I get over a loss much quicker than I did before I had kids because your children don’t care if you won or lost,” said Coach Swords. “They just want you to hang out with them.”

Managing time is not an easy task for someone who is so involved in various lacrosse activities.

“It would be better to ask what I don’t do. I’ve really taken to heart trying to grow Texas lacrosse one player at a time,” said Coach Swords.

“I’m currently working my way up to becoming a nationally rated official so I can officiate National Collegiate Athletic Association games.”

Despite her vast experience as

a head coach, Coach Swords is not concerned about the transition as an assistant to the varsity program.

“I’ve helped out with several programs around the Dallas area and always serve in the assistant role,” said Coach Swords. “I truly believe I am an excellent assistant and look forward to working with Coach Doswell.”

Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach Tatiane Deibert had a similar entrance into Greenhill. Before arriving here, Coach Deibert worked at the collegiate level for five years.

“To be honest, four years ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into, said Coach Deibert. “After a match, I always feel exhausted.

Since I expect from them nothing but their biggest effort, I feel they deserve mine as well. I have loved every minute.”

Coach Doswell is not concerned about Coach Swords’ transition into the Greenhill varsity program.

“I anticipate that Coach Swords and I will work extremely well together,” said Coach Doswell. “She has discussed her willingness to bring new ideas, new drills, and new challenges to our team, which is exactly what a head coach could hope for.”

In college, Coach Swords was named her team’s “Unsung Hero.”

“Truly great teams only work when someone is willing to do all the little stuff behind the scenes, said Coach Swords. “I was a defender in college that embraced that role and never cared about accolades or having my name in the paper.”

sports

17

By the numbers 0

73 9 5 3

The number of games Greenhill lost at ESD on Jan. 24. Greenhill went 3-0-1 in basketball and soccer.

The number of points scored by Greenhill boys basketball team against ESD on Jan. 24

The number of wins by the Greenhill boys soccer team as of Jan. 28.

The number of hours the Greenhill boys and girls swim meet lasted in Oklahoma on Jan. 18

The number of overtimes the Greenhill boys basketball team played against St. Marks before losing on Jan. 29

18 sports

The

Evergreen

wednesday, february 5, 2014

AMERICAN GLADIATOR: New Assitant Athletic Director Toni Oppliger came with a diverse background in sports.

Photo by Ariana Zhang

Zach Rudner Staff Writer

In 2008, a decade after being on the original show, American Gladiators, Coach Toni Oppliger returned to American Gladiators, for another shot at success. Forty six years old, five foot five, and 121 pounds, Coach Oppliger was put head to head with a younger Kim Marciniak, nearly half her age.

Video shows Oppliger fighting her opponent, and edging Marciniak off of her platform and into the water below. Holding on to suspended rings, she advanced to the show’s final obstacle course with a half-second lead. Scaling a wall, swimming under flames, and sprinting up a moving ramp, Coach Oppliger outdid her younger adversary, finishing the course in under four minutes.

Six years later, Coach Oppliger is still going strong. Her office is littered with posters from her past.

An opened pack of Creatine Edge lies beneath trophies. Buff Water sits under a Marines calendar.

Raised in Norfolk, Nebraska, Coach Oppliger always had a passion for sports and a drive to succeed.

“At a very young age I knew

there was something unique about me. I was stronger than most girls,” she says. “I was very strong. Very fast. I mean I could beat all the boys in the neighborhood.”

Being a female athlete has not always been easy though.

“I had a very supportive family,” she explains, but “in that day it was really called ‘tomboy’, [whereas] today it’s called ‘athlete’.”

Coach Oppliger says she “learned to look at life in general as a challenge.” She asked herself, “What would be my next challenge? How could I go a little faster? How could I get a little stronger?”

Coach Oppliger excelled at high school sports. She became a Marine, where she was awarded an Honor Guard distinction for her speed and strength. This attitude would bring her to a powerlifting national championship, to a Guinness World Record, and to the filming of a Gatorade commercial. They brought her to American Ninja Warrior, another obstacle course themed reality show in which contestants compete in a game of strength.

Today, Coach Oppliger works out five to six days a week, continuing

to pursue these physical challenges said. with specialty trainer Alan Krutulis.

Coach Oppliger’s daughter, “Training Toni is an absolute Taelor experienced it first hand. pleasure. I have not met anyone “I learned at an early age that so enthusiastic about busting her to strive for a win is important, but butt through hard workouts. Being winning isn’t everything,” she said. an ex-athlete myself, I know even “It’s about the skills you develop in [my] most physically fit form, I and the person you become while couldn’t complete Toni’s workout trying to be the best you can be at in even half the time. whatever it is you love Let alone ever match the most.” her intensity. Everytime Coach Oppliger is I have we train it boggles also working to make not met my mind that she Greenhill athletics anyone so is 50 years old yet stronger. enthusiastic doing things most great “I hope that I can about young athletes couldn’t be one of the pieces busting dream of,” Krutulis to make [the athletic her butt said. department] very through hard A typical workout competitive,” Coach workouts.” includes nearly two Oppliger said. hours of warming “So my goal here, up, balance and grip is that at the end of the training, and a strength day, if I left tomorrow, portion, including squats, lunges, if I left 15 years from now, people abs, and a grueling 100 yard push of that are associated with my time a 400 pound sled, he said. at Greenhill would say, she made a This goal-setting attitude guides difference.”

Coach Oppliger in and out of the Athletic Director Chad Wabrek weight room. is working with Coach Oppliger to “Raising my children, they achieve Greenhill’s athletic success. learned how to set goals high,” she “Not having Toni’s passion,

“

Senior football player commits to Army Arhum Khan Staff Writer

In January, senior Jalen Sharp committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he plans to play competitive collegiate football. Jalen was offered an athletic scholarship, and he will owe five years of service to the United States Army after his time in college.

Although Jalen doesn’t come from a military background, he has been through many transitions and isn’t afraid to try something new.

“I’m super excited to get to West Point, and I really want to work as hard as I can and take advantage of the situation,” said Jalen.

He will attend one year at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School located on the West Point campus and then will officially join the main division-one team.

During his stay at the preparatory school, he will play on a

division-three football team.

Ever since his transition to Greenhill in ninth grade, Jalen has been determined to succeed in athletics and academics, though the road to achievement hasn’t always been easy.

“I came here as a freshman, and honestly, I didn’t think I was even going to go to college, it was that bad,” he said. “My grades and everything, the whole mindset was really rough.”

Jalen’s drive to become a competitive football player began to propel him as a student as well.

He has now become a hardworking student-athlete that served as a co-captain for the football team. He has also fulfilled his dream of playing collegiate football at a high level by committing to West Point.

Jalen said he hopes to give back by sharing his struggles with academics and motivation with others at Greenhill.

“I see a lot of kids in the same place I was, and I want to help them as much as I can, because it’s not easy at all,” he said.

“I have so much to learn, and I have so much knowledge to pick up, but I think I have something useful to give back.”

He plans to take advantage of the rest of his senior year by motivating younger student-athletes at Greenhill.

Jalen said he is also eager about serving his country. He was never expecting for his future to hold a military path, but he is fond of the idea of serving his country and having an obligation to represent the United States military.

“I really feel a sense of responsibility to represent and serve my country whatever the situation is,” said Jalen.

Jalen will sign his letter of intent to the United States Military Academy early in February.

determination, and expertise would delay our goal to ‘initiate change’ in [the] four major areas: High Performance, Middle School athletics, Upper School athletics, and physical education,” said Chad Wabrek, Head of Athletics and Physical Education.

Coach Oppliger has a love of physical challenges.

“I’m happiest when I’m engaged in those kinds of activities” she said.

“I really developed a passion for it.”

Looking forward, Coach Oppliger promises, “There’s more to come.”

Having appeared on American Ninja Warrior in 2012, Coach Oppliger did not successfully complete the obstacle course.

“I’m not satisfied,” she said, “because there’s not a woman yet that’s been through the [American Ninja Warrior] course. It’s looming back in my head.”

Later this year, Coach Oppliger will get a second shot.

Coach Oppliger will film for the sixth season of American Ninja Warrior.

Until then, she continues to train each day, working on her next goal.

wednesday, february 5, 2014

Feminist battles

AFTERWORDS

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“Feminists need to shut up, for their own sake.” While scrolling through Facebook I stumbled upon this inflammatory headline of a seemingly misogynistic opinion piece.

Clickbait? Perhaps, but it caught me off guard.

The author—a man—was obviously wrong, right?

Well, the headline worked. I clicked on the link, and the article on the other end went on to discuss how feminists are awful at using the Internet to their advantage and only ever fuel the aggressor whom they’re trying to silence.

According to the author of the post, “Feminists advocating for women’s rights in any way always feel the need to fight means turning a blind eye to misogyny…but when you do existing misogyny. I’m saying that all you do is empower the that we should focus our people you are trying to destroy. energy more on publicizing the Fighting fire with People will not remember your enriching articles and people fire never did blurb on Facebook saying why that defend and empower anything except women, rather than bashing you hate this article, they will create more fire.” the ones that do the exact remember the article itself.”

After reading this piece, I opposite. Malala, Mallika found myself in full agreement.

Sherawat, the beloved Beyonce Think about it. Every time we, and even John Legend, yes, a feminists, attack an article/comment that man, all have clearly described themselves degrades women, we merely bring attention as feminists. Share their opinions and their to the very article that we want disposed of. interviews rather than the opposite. Fighting Every time we hit the “share” button, even if fire with fire never did anything except create it is to bash the author, we are bringing more more fire. attention to it then if we just rolled our eyes I am a feminist, and as such I will always and moved on. If we simply ignore these defend women’s rights and demand equality articles that are just trying to get publicity of the sexes. I’ve heard quite a few people, and a reaction from the feminist audience, girls in particular, exclaim in disgust, “No, they’ll (hopefully) stop bothering us like an I am NOT a feminist!” As if being one was annoying child. some embarrassing outfit to be left in the Now, to clarify, I am not saying that closet. Why? When the word “feminist” is

said, there is often a lot of assumed baggage that comes along with it. Feminists are usually seen as outspoken, aggressive, no-I-will-notshave, how-dare-you-open-that-door-for-me women. While there may be a few who fall under that category, the general assumption of all feminists having that persona is false. That being said, just because the rest of us are not as upfront with our beliefs, does not mean that we are any less passionate. According to the World English Dictionary, a feminist is “a person who advocates equal rights for women.” So, in theory, all of us should be proud feminists.

Unless, of course, you fall under the category of its relative acronym: male chauvinist and/ or misogynist.

Ladies and gents, feminists of the world (er, Greenhill community)—we must stand up and demand equality and respect of both sexes. Let’s stop messing around with the immature kids and start helping them grow up. Generations before us have begun to create a play, all we have to do is take the ball and run with it.

That Saturday morning I simply did not want to get out of bed.

I am certainly not a morning person, but I have tutored at Gooch Elementary for months now and I was sorely hoping the feeling would disappear. I love mentoring my fourth grade girl at Gooch, becoming good friends with her

and making tangible progress in her academic knowledge. Every question she gets right gives me as much pride as I tell her she should feel in her accomplishment. This surprisingly heavy responsibility of tutoring a child and becoming invested in her success is one of the reasons I attend the three-hour tutoring sessions held every Saturday morning. I look forward to it.

Except on that frigid January morning, when getting out of bed felt like more effort than I had to spare.

The girl I tutor told me the last time we met that she would not be there that morning, and given that I had already woken up late I was seriously considering not going. I could go back to bed, wake up a couple hours later, eat a leisurely, hot breakfast, watch some

Friends reruns, and maybe even be productive and cross off some items on the to-do list. I could use my newly acquired morning anyway I wished.

But I got out of bed and started the car.

Because echoing in my mind was every ‘thank you’ and pleasant request for more help that the Gooch faculty often says to volunteers.

Yes, I would not work with the girl I had built a relationship with, but even if I was paired up with a girl I did not know, that girl needed my help just as much.

I tutored at Gooch that morning with another fourth grader and, unexpectedly, we hit it off. English did not come as easily to her as math did, so I counterbalanced the long periods of mathematics with games of hangman on our miniature whiteboard.

The occasional breaks with subtle academic undertones made the minutes pass by fast as we poked fun at what words we got wrong and what words we guessed right. It was her first time coming to Saturday school and I was glad I was able to make it a positive experience for her. One of the teachers approached us while we were doing long division and asked if she could sign the girl up to my roster, since they were short on tutors. I happily agreed and now have two wonderful girls to look forward to mentoring every Saturday morning. I was thrilled with this new arrangement as I sat with my new young scholar and she shared with me the poetry she wrote for class while we waited for her parents to pick her up. I can say now that it was definitely worth getting out of bed that morning.

know I’d worry about it if I put it off until later, and I can’t fall asleep unless I know that my school work is done, my backpack is packed, and everything is ready to go in the morning.

Along with this mindset, of course, comes a tendency to worry. My dad used to tease me about it when I was little; he’d call me Wemberly, a reference to Kevin Henke’s children’s book Wemberly Worried. In the story, Wemberly frets about all of the possible things that could go wrong on her first day of school — only to discover that kindergarten isn’t so bad after all. Like Wemberly, I’m a worrier; it’s just a part of the package.

In many ways, this mentality is a good thing: It keeps me responsible and productive.

But sometimes I want to be like the dog.

So recently I came up with this to-do list— a happy to-do list, as I like to call it. I take

out a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle of the page. On one side, in a cherrycolored Sharpie, I write down all of the things that I need to do. All of the stressful things, the things that I don’t want to do but have to do anyway.

And then I uncap a sunny orange Sharpie and begin the other half of my list. On the opposite side of the page, I write down things like “eat ice cream” or “watch an episode of Friends” or “read for fun.” For each stressful task written in red, I match it with a fun one in orange.

Some days, I still feel like Wemberly: stressed out, worried, overwhelmed. But, more and more often, I’m trying to capture that carefree delight of the dog. It’s a work in progress. Accomplishing a lot while also being blissfully happy can be a challenge. But I’m getting there.

a function of the amount of time I spend menacing way of evaluating my mathematical watching the Food Network. Not to mention skills, I thought of it as a chance to showcase that I can tell you how much two Tacos of the my abilities. I gladly found the limit of f(x) Month, chips, and a drink as x approaches infinity, I cost at Torchy’s Tacos down eagerly stretched my brain to the cent, which of course to calculate a left-hand For Riemann sum, and I really varies based on the month, me, there’s tried my hardest to graph a January being the most expensive and December something pair of polar coordinates on being the cheapest. energizing about the Cartesian plane. Each So yes, I am a bit odd was a new puzzle the time crunch problem in several ways, but perhaps to solve, a new challenge to and high stakes meet, a new opportunity to most of all because I don’t hate exams. of an exam.” display my understanding For example, I think of the concepts. back to my precalculus Don’t get me wrong, it exam last February. While most of my peers wasn’t an easy exam for me. By no means was showed up to take the test with their faces still every problem a breeze. Believe me, I’ve made buried in their notes cramming in last-minute better grades before. bits of information, I came in well rested and But that’s not the point. relatively excited. I don’t mean to say that I was For me, there’s something energizing more prepared than any of my classmates; in about the time crunch and high stakes of an fact, I probably wasn’t. exam. It’s less a matter of mathematics and But rather than thinking of this exam as a more a matter of general problem solving:

when confronted with a question you aren’t sure how to answer, and with limited time to come up with something, how do you figure it out? The hardest problems are often the most fun to solve, because they require us to MacGyver our way out of tricky situations in such a manner that can only take place in the intensely challenging yet intellectually stimulating environment that is an exam.

I could look at every mid-year and final exam I take as a hellish experience, a barrage of teacher-imposed assessments, multiple hours of math problems, my correct completion of which counts for a large chunk of my grade in the class. I could see it as just a week full of difficult tests.

But personally, I’m looking forward to exam week, to taking my Calculus test, to trying my best to solve that integral, to seeing if I can maneuver my way out of a mental jam. I think it’s actually going to be kind of fun.

Is that weird?

Gooch Times

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Remembering to be happy

On a recent trip to the dog park, I noticed an old man standing in the middle of the field with a tube of bubbles. As he unscrewed the cap, the dog’s tail began to wag with full force.

The man drew the wand up to his mouth, puckering his lips, and the dog raced towards the middle of the field. Giant bubbles floated across the park, carried by the wind, and the

dog leapt into the air, gleefully attempting to pop them. When the bubbles were gone, the dog looked expectantly towards the man with a sort of doggy smile.

Throughout that afternoon, the duo continued their bubbly routine. And soon, everyone began to watch the dog leap into the air to pop the bubbles, having the time of his life.

I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness lately. There are some people who, like the dog, can be made happy by the simplest things in the world. They are the ones who can find wonder and magic in the everyday, the ones who can spin an ordinary moment into a memory to be cherished For me, it’s not quite so simple. I’m the type of person who measures happiness by the amount of work I accomplish. I like to spend Friday nights doing homework because I

Food for thought

Would it be weird if I told you I kind of enjoy final exams? I’m sure most of us appreciate the later starts and a week off from classes, but I’m talking about the exams themselves. I find them fun, in a way.

I guess my penchant for final exams isn’t the only weird thing about me. After all, I’ve been teased before for listening to such eclectic XM radio stations as “’40s on 4,” “Heart and Soul,” and “Caliente” to get my oldies, groove, and Latino music fixes, respectively. There’s also the fact that my best subject in QuizUp is “Herbs and Spices,” which is probably

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Order Up

wednesday, february 5, 2014

Situated near the bustling intersection of Beltine and Midway, we are in a food-lover’s heaven, surrounded by an abundance of restaurants to choose from. The Evergreen decided to explore a few that will satisfy your cravings at any time of day.

Breakfast

Lunch

After-School

Whether you have first-period break or want to grab a bite to eat before a late start, Benedicts on Belt Line is the perfect breakfast place to satisfy your early-morning cravings.

From hot cakes to hot chocolate, this family-friendly restaurant has it all. I opted for the “Strawberries are Forever” pancakes with a glass of orange juice. As I waited for my meal, I noticed that they devoted an entire room to squeezing oranges for their orange juice. Clearly I had made the right choice. My food came quickly. Fluffy and sweet, the pancakes were a delicacy, and the orange juice couldn’t have been better. I left feeling full, satisfied, and ready to take on the school day. For their menu, visit www.benedicts-restaurant.com

Right next to Benedicts is a little Vietnamese place by the name of Pho Que Huong. It’s tucked away in a corner and quite difficult to see, but its food is stellar. This small restaurant is a perfect lunch or even dinner place to go to if you’re in need of a quick meal.

I was seated quickly and ordered the Curry Chicken Rice Noodles (Pho cari ga) and one order of the Grilled Barbeque Meatballs (Nem nuong).

My food came out in 15 minutes. The Pho was spicy but delicious, and the meatballs were not your classic BBQ meatballs. They were fried and incredibly flavorful; I found myself wanting more. With its small staff of three waiters and its tiny size, it feels like a hole-in-the-wall discovery. For their menu visit www.phoquehuong.com

I don’t know about you, but after school I always have an appetite. We work hard for eight hours a day, so I think it’s safe to say that we deserve an after-school snack. About five weeks ago, “iHeart Kolache” opened near Smoothie King right down Midway.

I’ve always enjoyed a good Czech Kolache, so I decided to check this place out myself. This little shop has a variety of options for the Kolachelover. With the sweet-tooth I have, I ordered the raspberry kolache and cream cheese kolache. Sadly, neither of them really blew me away.

The cream cheese one had too much cream cheese on it, and the raspberry one didn’t quite taste like raspberry.

But I’m all about second chances, and I only tried two of their many kolaches. Try one for yourself at:

4800 Belt Line Rd Dallas TX, 75254

4826 Belt Line Rd Dallas TX, 75254

13901 Midway Rd Farmers Branch, TX 75244