midtown oasis
Crosstown Concourse opens its doors
Running with the Boys Allison Newman Sets the Pace
Once in a Blue Moon
Rare solar eclipse thrills viewers
The
Lodge
St. George’s Independent School Collierville, tn Vol. 2, Issue 1 GryphonLodge.com @ NewsGryphs
Sept. 25, 2017
PHOTOGRAPH BY MERRYN RUTHLING
L THE
o
D G E 2 the Lodge
ABOUT US
STAFF
The Lodge is dedicated to serving as an authentic voice for the students of St. George’s Independent School. We at the Lodge strive to be an open forum for student expression, to act in the best interests of the student body and to embody the principles of journalistic excellence. The Lodge is affiliated with the Tennessee High School Press Association and the National Scholatic Press Association. The Lodge is funded by advertisers, donors and St. George’s Independent School and is published once every six weeks during the school year by schoolprinting.com. The Lodge prints and distributes 300 copies of each issue to 700 students and faculty on the St. George’s Collierville campus. Bylines indicate the primary writer(s) of each article, and additional contributors are indicated in the shirttail. The Lodge provides free advertising for student clubs, events and activities and paid advertisements for local businesses. The Lodge welcomes letters to the editor and article submissions. To submit a letter, article or request for advertising, email our staff at thelodge@sgis.org.
Editor-in-Chief
Carolyn Lane ’18
Managing Editor Annie Murff ’18
Editors
Annika Conlee ’18 Lauren Purdy ’18 Merryn Ruthling ’18 Caroline Zummach ’18 Emma Bennett ’19
Designers
Katelyn Grisham ’18 Kaitlyn Bowman ’19 Will Brown ’19
Photographers
Alice Crenshaw ’18 Laura Beard ’19
Illustrator
Emily O’Connell ’18
Web Editor
Spence Burford ’18
Reporters
Hudson Beaudry ’18 Connor Lambert ’18 Emma Pounders ’18 Omar Yunus ’18 Evan Dorian ’19 Rainey Zaugg ’19 Andrew McDowell ’19 Cary Robbins ’20
Advisor
Dr. Margaret Robertson
TABLE OF CONTENTS ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
PETER PARKER’S DAY OFF
MIDTOWN OASIS
NEWMAN SETS THE PACE
HOG AND HOMINY GETS IT RIGHT
SILVER LININGS
4
14 6 12 17 18 the Lodge 3
[
]
NEAR-TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ENTHRALLS GRYPHON SPECTATORS DESPITE STORM
I
“
Story by Evan Dorian and Rainey Zaugg Photography and Design by Katelyn Grisham
t doesn’t happen every day,” junior Lindsey Pepper said of the recent solar eclipse. And she’s right. The eclipse that occurred on
passes in front of the sun, off center and only a portion of the sun’s disk is obscured.” At peak visibility in Memphis, the moon eclipsed 94% of the sun, but those
“
met because of the inclement weather, upper school history teacher Dr. Marianne Leung believes the storm made the experience more memorable.
BUT NOW TO
ACTUALLY SEE IT
WHEN YOU THOUGHT MAYBE POSSIBLY WE COULDN’T, THAT’S
”
PRETTY EXCITING.
Aug. 21 was the first in the new millennium to move across the entirety of North America, and St. George’s students, thanks to the efforts of faculty and administration, had front row seats. A mood of uncertainty fell over the campus as heavy rainstorms rolled in around noon, and students suspected their chances to see the eclipse were slim since peak visibility would occur at roughly 1:25 p.m. According to NASA, a partial eclipse occurs “when the moon
4 the Lodge
who hoped to view the eclipse were unsure if the storm would pass in time to get a good view. Students waited under awnings where astronomy teacher Mr. Mike Smothers’ telescope was covered with a tarp to protect it from the storm. Faculty and staff worked to keep order in the midst of the confusion that ensued, and the students were rewarded for their patience when the clouds parted, revealing the partial solar eclipse. While not all expectations were
“Because it was cloudy and rainy and the worst possible conditions, it was even more exciting to actually see it than if we would have had an hour of [visibility],” Dr. Leung said. “But now to actually see it when you thought maybe possibly we couldn’t, that’s pretty exciting.” Eighth-grader Madeline Lee had hoped for more from the eclipse. “It was overhyped,” Lee said. “It was pretty cool at first, but it was so small, so it wasn’t as exciting as it seems.”
While Lee wasn’t thrilled to see the eclipse, some students didn’t even have the chance, including junior Surabhi Singh. “My mom read a bunch of articles on people who got blind,” Singh said. Singh spent the event indoors because her purposefully-unsigned permission slip prevented her from viewing the eclipse, but she said she didn’t miss much because of the weather. Fear of eye damage is nothing new. Mr. Smothers was not allowed to view the 1979 eclipse, and neither were his classmates. His school was overly conscious of the risks associated with looking directly at the eclipse, even with protective eyewear. He was glad to see this one. “Even with the clouds and the rain and all that, I’ve seen several partial eclipses before, but I’ve never seen that much coverage
before,” Mr. Smothers said. “I would’ve loved to see the whole thing uninterrupted, but even what we were able to see was amazing for me.” Mrs. Amy Bourdeau, a parent of three St. George’s students, said she appreciated the school’s thoroughness regarding safety and communication. “It was an opportunity for everyone at SGIS to witness the event and learn about its significance,” Mrs. Bourdeau said. She appreciated the effort the administration made to make the event as enjoyable as possible for the students. Many students remained in Collierville to witness the eclipse, but others travelled to the path of totality. Junior Cooper McCreery travelled to Nashville to witness the total eclipse and was shocked to see the city go dark at 1:30 p.m.
“
Having read “Total Eclipse” by Annie Dillard for Dr. Margaret Robertson’s AP English Language and Composition class, a short story about Dillard’s own eclipse experience, McCreery felt prepared. “I wasn’t really sure how excited I was for the whole eclipse thing until I read the story,” McCreery said. “It really made the eclipse a lot more mysterious.” While opinions differed about the eclipse, some members of the St. George’s community enjoyed it so much they are already preparing for the next solar eclipse in 2024. “Seeing [the eclipse] was something you can’t really describe,” McCreery said. “I definitely want to experience that again.” Cary Robbins contributed additional reporting to this story.
SEEING
[THE ECLIPSE] WAS SOMETHING YOU CAN’T REALLY
”
DESCRIBE.
Opposite page, left to right: Junior Kate Murphy welcomes the coming eclipse; Upper School Dean of Students Kalyn Underwood and Upper School math teacher Mr. Will Whipple watch the eclipse. This page, clockwise from top left: Seniors Bart Mueller and Griffin Hancock create a large splash by jumping into a puddle; Art teacher Mr. Danny Broadway stares at the rainfall and waits for the eclipse; Senior Lathan Spadafora stands in the rain and tries to find the eclipse amongst the clouds; A cluster of high school boys gathers to view the eclipse through their glasses. bacKground PhotograPhy by mr. miKe smothers and KateLyn grisham
the Lodge 5
Midtown OASIS
a new hub for a growing midtown
T
Story by Merryn Ruthling Design by Kaitlyn Bowman
he revitalized Crosstown Concourse building is hard to miss – and not just because it’s a 1.5 million square foot building towering over Midtown’s skyline. Abandoned for 17 years, the Sears Crosstown Building reopened its doors Saturday, Aug. 19 to showcase a mixed-use urban village centered around health care, education and the arts. Before the renovations, the Crosstown building was littered with debris and suffered from a crumbling infrastructure, shattered windows and graffiti-covered walls. Yet on its opening day last month, the newly restored building’s vibrant atmosphere attracted thousands of visitors. Among them was senior Alice Crenshaw. “I saw it while it was still vacant, and I could not imagine it looking nice at any point,” Crenshaw said. “The transformation was so dramatic. The structure is
still the same, but now there are really pretty new add-ons. There were people from all different walks of life at the ceremony, and it was super high energy. It just felt joyous and happy.” The opening ceremony featured a dedication from Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Shelby County Mayor Mark Lutrell, development partners and performers including Susan Marshall, 8ball, MJG and Winchester and the Ammunition. On Aug. 27, 1927, the original Sears Crosstown building opened as a catalog order plant and retail store and welcomed almost 30,000 shoppers on its first day of business, according to Crosstown’s website. More than 1,000 people were employed to staff the retail store and process the 45,000 orders that came into the catalog center each day. Yet as the mail-order business decreased and population depletion in the city’s urban core caused Sears to focus on their Poplar and
Perkins location, the business at the Crosstown building slowed, and it closed in 1993. The building was then left vacant for nearly 20 years. The inspiration for revitalizing Crosstown began with a conversation that hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of Memphians have had over the last 20 years: what if something amazing could come out of the historic Sears building? According to a recent article in the Memphis Flyer, two people who had this conversation were art historian Mr. Todd Richardson and video artist Mr. Christopher Miner. They decided to act and co-founded Crosstown Arts in 2010 as a nonprofit arts organization that would serve as the building’s developer. Richardson described the process that followed as having numerous difficulties. “The biggest challenge we had was to get people to see beyond what they see,” Richardson said. “This was a building the size of
“I SAW IT WHILE IT WAS STILL VACANT, AND I COULD NOT IMAGINE IT LOOKING NICE AT ANY POINT.
THE
TRANSFORMATION a Father, daughter and son LooK out a window on oPening day at the crosstown concourse. the grand oPening incLuded PerFormances both inside and outside the buiLding. PhotograPh by aLice crenshaw.
<
6 the Lodge
After 17 years standing vacant, Crosstown Concourse promises to become
WAS SO DRAMATIC.“
< a trianguLar
baLcony Juts out into the atrium.
the
worKers hung more
12,000 Liner Feet oF cabLe raiLthan
ings in the buiLding that couLd stretch From the concourse
to the Pyramid. PhotograPh by aLice crenshaw.
a dramatic sPiraL stair case
< a FamiLy wanders
down a haLLway Lined by Photos oF the buiLding’s
history. the sears crosstown buiLding
originaLLy oPened on
aug. 27, 1927. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing.
>
comPLiments the eXisting architecture.
rePairs were stiLL ongoing eVen aFter the concourse’s grand oPening. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing.
doZens are >
siLhouetted against
the windows oF the
concourse buiLding. worKers instaLLed
new windows that
were twice as energy
eFFicient as the win-
dows in homes during
the renoVation. PhotograPh by aLice crenshaw.
< windows oF the ParceLs aPartments oVerLooK the atrium. the aPartments were designed to occuPy Four FLoors oF the concourse. PhotograPh by aLice crenshaw.
the Lodge 7
the Empire State Building that had been empty for 20 years in Memphis. It was in the middle of the recession, so, where do you start and could [anything] ever happen?”
“IT FEELS LIKE
I AM LIVING IN A
CENTRAL HUB
OF THE CITY.”
an art instaLLation adorns the > interior oF the crosstown concourse. on oPening day, Visitors were inVited to eXPLore the Various attractions on the 14 FLoors oF the buiLding. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing.
8 the Lodge
Visitors sociaLiZe outside the crosstown concourse. the buiLding nationaL register oF historic PLaces. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing. we serve several hundred customand more,” Sisson said. “Workers per day just in lunch business. ing together in the same space, Our variety of groceries also is in my opinion, only strengthens much wider in range, so we are partnerships and support between organizations.” Memphis Teacher Residency ORKING works to recruit, train and support teachers, so they can provide TOGETHER IN THE students in Memphis with a higher level of education. Because CrossSAME SPACE ONLY town is a unique vertical urban village, Sisson is able to spend STRENGTHENS four days a week in a classroom with a mentor teacher, take gradPARTNERSHIPS AND uate classes to earn her Masters in Urban Education, get certified to SUPPORT BETWEEN teach within a year, live, eat and shop all within one building. ORGANIZATIONS “It feels like I am living in a central hub of the city,” Sisson able to satisfy customers looking said. “Because of MTR’s residenfor a place to buy everything they cy model, the whole 2018 cohort need to cook a healthy meal with lives in Crosstown together and local products.” takes classes at the MTR offices, Overall, the transformation of so it feels a bit like a big, really Crosstown from the dusty, moldy nice college dorm.” and dark space it was five years Businesses also find that they ago to the “oasis” it has become have an easier time operating out today reflects the collaborative of Crosstown. Mr. Peter Schutt, spirit of many individuals who father of alumna Robert Schutt of the class of 2014 and owner of the wanted to achieve something great. grocery the Curb Market, made As former mayor of Shelby the leap to relocate for several County and Memphis A. C. Wharreasons. ton Jr. said in “Crosstown Con“I decided to move to Crosscourse,” the building has a legacy town because I know the building owners and developers and wanted for the generations of Memphians to support their bold investment in to come. “We know that the buildings Memphis. Almost as importantly, I needed a bigger location in order may be the emblem, but there is to stock a larger inventory, to have something even greater than the emblem itself and it is the love a full butcher shop and to have a full-sized kitchen, none of which I and respect that Memphians hold for the character of our city,” Mr. had room for at the Cooper Street Wharton said. “Crosstown tells location,” Mr. Schutt said. “Now that story more than any other.”
<
By 2012, the co-founders had managed to get commitments from eight local tenants who would lease 600,000 square feet of the building. These tenants included Church Health, Methodist Healthcare, Gestalt Community Schools, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, Memphis Teacher Residency, Rhodes College and Crosstown Arts. Today Crosstown also houses a variety of other organizations along with these founding tenants. Faculty alumna Mrs. Mim Brown works with Pyramid Peak Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit based in Memphis that recently relocated to Crosstown. Since beginning her work there, she has started to notice changes in the Crosstown community. “It’s an oasis and is bringing a lot of people and commerce to a part of the city that was pretty barren,” Mrs. Brown said. “It’s revitalizing the inner city.” According to the documentary “Crosstown Concourse,” the construction of the building alone has created 1,000 construction jobs with $36 million in wages. Once completed, there will be an
estimated 800 new permanent jobs with $50 million in wages. Since 2013, home values have increased 61 percent, security guards that patrol the premises have created a safer environment and an estimated 3,000 people come and go from Crosstown each day. These dramatic changes may be in part due to the range of businesses and groups located inside Crosstown. Crosstown Concourse is jam-packed with retail stores, restaurants, office spaces, health clinics, a grocery, a YMCA, a developing charter high school, an art center and over 250 apartments. Some of these organizations, operating out of as many as 11 different buildings, benefited from relocating to a more central location. “It’s great to have so many nonprofits in the building who are all trying to do good work in our city,” Mrs. Brown said. “It creates a positive energy and allows for easy interactions among like-minded professionals. I think Crosstown is the beginning of something wonderful in our city.” Ms. Emma Sisson, a St. George’s and Dartmouth alumna who recently moved back to Memphis to work for Memphis Teacher Residency, agrees. “It seems to me that being in Crosstown allows us to be in close quarters and community with other organizations like Choose 901, Church Health, Tech901
has been Listed on the
“W
,
.”
< mJ urban baLLet PrePares
to PerForm at the
crosstown con-
course on oPening day.
other Per-
Formers incLuded
susan marshaLL, 8baLL, mJg and winchester and the ammunition. PhotograPh by aLice crenshaw.
Light streams in From behind two crosstown > concourse banners. in the Process oF restoring the crosstown buiLding, 3,200 window sections were instaLLed, more than the white house and the u.s. caPitaL combined. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing. < three Vistiors eXit the concourse near a waLL oF PLants. ten miLLion Pounds oF metaL From the originaL structure were remoVed and recycLed. that is 10 Pounds For eVery resident oF sheLby county. PhotograPh by merryn ruthLing.
< Visitors LooK oVer the raiLings in one oF the
buiLdingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three atria.
the
renoVated buiLding measures
1.5 miLLion sQuare Feet. Phocrenshaw.
tograPh by aLice
the Lodge 9
Photograph by Andrew McDowell
Pho
to gr ap
hb y
Co
ac
h
Ma
ry
Lou
Joh
ns
Photograph by Laura Beard
Photograph by Laura Beard
Photograph by Omar Yunus
Athletes in Action
By Caroline Zummach, Omar Yunus, Spence Burford, Lauren Purdy, Andrew McDowell, Evan Dorian and Cary Robbins; Design by Carolyn Lane
Clockwise from top left: FOOTBALL: Sophomore Isaac Smith avoids a defender in the game against Evangelical Christian School. The varsity football team started off the season with a 34-20 win over Center Hill High School. The team has encouraged a large turnout in the student section with the help of the Bleacher Creatures. The football team is making adjustments this year in order to adapt to the loss of seniors last year and having fewer players than usual. “We are learning more about ourselves, getting better,” senior and captain Nick Bourdeau said, “and I’m excited going forward.”
BOYS GOLF: Senior Henry Christopher begins his swing. The varsity boy’s golf team is swinging into the season with hopes of reclaiming the championship. The team recently placed second at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes tournament, beating one of their top rivals, Houston High School. Senior captain Winston Margaritis pushes towards the title. “One of the challenges I have faced this season is getting the team mindset to be that we will still have work to do to win another state championship, even though we have been dominant in the past,” Margaritis said.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: Junior Jack Graddy runs during an exhausting workout at Shelby Farms. Boys cross country is looking hopeful this year, according to the team’s captain Lucas Williamson. “This is the strongest the cross country team has ever been,” Williamson said. Though the team has not won a meet yet, Lucas says that the team is “finally getting back into shape,” starting their speed training and preparing for future meets. Lucas believes, with confidence, that the team will be in shape and ready to put up a fight at regionals.
P ho
to g
ra
ph
by
Al
ice
Cr
en
sh
aw
Pho
to g
ra
ph
by
Al
ice
Cr
en
sh
aw
VOLLEYBALL: Junior Abby Walker serves in a game against Briarcrest. With a new head coach, Coach Sami Gruse, the volleyball team started off the season with a loss against Harding, but they carried on to beat Rossville Christian School, St. Mary’s Episcopal School and Northpoint Christian School. Junior Lindsey Pepper thinks teamwork will be the key to success. “We cooperate really well, and the chemistry on the court is good,” Pepper said. “We have talent all around.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Sophomore Sarah McDonald participates in a grueling cross-country practice at Shelby Farms. The girls’ cross-country team is off to a running start this season, and the team expects to improve and win as the season progresses. “The girls look like [they] have the ability to do well,” junior Rachel Umansky said. She looks forward to seeing if the team is capable of winning anything at regionals. Umanksy thinks the “encouragement among the team” is the most rewarding aspect of the season, reinforcing that the team’s potential is propelling them forward. GIRLS SOCCER: Junior Ann Wallace Scott chases the ball down the field in a game against Arlington High School. The varsity girl’s soccer team is coming out of the gate kicking this year and facing some of their toughest opponents such as Houston High School and Briarcrest Christian School early in the season. Junior Ann Wallace Scott thinks the team is looking strong. “We are looking good. We definitely had a rough patch with Briarcrest and Houston,” Scott said. “But I think it made us closer as team and hopefully we will get back to the state championship this year.” GIRLS GOLF: Junior Victoria England finishes her swing at practice. The varsity girl’s golf team has made strides despite having only two girls on the team. They have maintained their solid record of 24-5 this season, along with one tie. England has learned that having the right mindset has the most impact on the duo’s success. “Even though there are only two of us on the team, we have so much fun,” England said. “Practicing is important, but if you aren’t prepared mentally, it won’t help you.” CHEER: Senior Anna Harbert gets the crowd excited at the football game. The cheer team is conditioning to prepare for their competition season by practicing every day and is finishing each week by cheering for the football team. “It’s just really exciting to be able to see how everyone’s doing and how everyone’s improving everyday,” Harbert said. “We have a younger team now, and everyone’s picking up so fast.” Photograph by Alice Crenshaw
Running with the boys 12 the Lodge
freshman Allison Newman sets a new pace for girls cross country
S
By Caroline Zummach and Annie Murff
he ran with varsity as an eighth grader. She broke the girls’ 5k record within three weeks of starting her freshman year. If track were in season, she’d have the 3200 record, as well. Oh, and she swims, too. Allison Newman has running in her blood. Her father, Mr. Mark Newman, coaches the varsity boys cross-country team and is an Ironman athlete. “I’ve grown up with this team with my dad. I’ve been a part of it since I was four or five,” Newman said. “It awesome to see how far it’s come and being able to actually be a part of it now is a great feeling.” Now, not only is she a part of the girls team, but she regularly trains with the boys as well. Captain of the boys’ team Lucas Williamson has known Allison since she was in the sixth grade and claims he has always known that she had the potential to excel.
“I’ve always known that she was going to be doing these workouts when she was a freshman on the team with the guys,” Williamson said. “It was never a doubt in my mind that she was going to be the fastest girl that we’ve ever had at this school.” When it comes to running with the boys’ team, Allison sees it as a way to help the team as a whole. “I don’t want to look like a bad teammate to the girls being like ‘Oh, I’m too good for that, so I’ll just run with the guys,’” Allison said. “But this makes me faster, which helps the girls’ team get better, like win regions, get higher places at state. It helps me, but it also helps the girls’ team too.” Her cross country coach, Mrs. Lesley Brainard, appreciates the hard work Allison puts into herself and the team. “She’s a great asset to the team,” Coach Brainard. “She is very humble but a very hard worker. She’s having success because she’s putting the work in for it, and I think all of her teammates see that. She’s a good role model for everyone else to work harder.”
Newman says she feels like part of her role is to push the team to do better, and being female sometimes helps her do that. “Nobody wants to be beat by a girl, guys especially,” Newman said. “It helps me but it also helps them in a way because we just push each other.” As driven as she is, Newman isn’t primarily motivated by breaking records. “It’s not something I focus on. I just see it as a bonus,” Newman said. “I just want to do whatever I can do to get better, to help our team and do it for fun.” Allison’s leadership and humility is a source of pride for her father. “She’s not opposed to helping people out and urging them on and cheering for them,” Coach Newman said. “I’m really proud of her for that.” Looking to the future, Newman is not sure whether she wants to run or swim in college. She is considering both, but she has four more years of high school to continue competing. “The great thing about Allison
being so competitive at a young age is that SGIS gets to look forward to four years of watching her improve on her already outstanding performances,” Coach Brainard said. Annika Conlee and Cary Robbins contributed additional reporting to this story.
“I just want to do whatever I can do to get better, to help our team and do it for fun.”
cLocKwise From toP LeFt: Freshman aLLison newman catches her breath aFter running a series oF sPrints at Practice. newman broKe the st. george’s 5K record within the First three weeKs oF the cross country season; Freshman aLLison newman and Freshman maggie wiLson begin an 800-meter sPrint during Practice at sheLby Farms. newman, wiLson and soPhomore sarah mcdonaLd began running with the boys team at the beginning oF the season; Freshman aLLison newman runs with the boys cross country team. boys cross country caPtain Lucas wiLLiamson neVer doubted that newman wouLd be one oF the Fastest cross country runners at st. george’s. design by caroLyn Lane; PhotograPhy by aLice crenshaw
the Lodge 13
“
Holland’s Peter Parker blends both the average teenager and the superhero.
”
Peter Parker’s Day Off
“Spider-Man: Homecoming” reintroduces the boy behind the mask Story by Connor Lambert Design by Will Brown Illustrations by Emily O’Connell
D
irector Jon Watts’ blockbuster “Spider-Man: Homecoming” swung into theaters this summer and smashed expectations. Despite doubts that a third reboot of Spider-Man could yield something new, Watts breathed new life into the franchise by focusing on the teenager first and the superhero second. “Homecoming” picks up Peter Parker’s story where it left off after his showdown with Captain America and his merry band of misfits in “Captain America: Civil War.” Parker (played by actor Tom Holland) has returned to New York and wants nothing more than to drop out of school and become
14 the Lodge
an Avenger. Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey, Jr.), Iron Man and mentor to the young webslinger, wants him to lay low and just be a “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” However, Parker wants Stark to treat him as an adult and sets off to prove himself worthy of his great power. I couldn’t have been more excited when Marvel announced they were making a Spider-Man movie set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having been a huge fan of the Marvel movies since the first “Iron Man.” “Spider-Man: Homecoming” feels like a sigh of relief in a world where superhero-franchise fatigue is always a worry. Holland’s Parker blends both the average teenager and the superhero. His energy can be felt throughout the movie, and his wit-
ty quips rival those of Stark. One of my biggest worries about the film was that having such a titan as Robert Downey, Jr. as a supporting character would overshadow Holland and the other actors. However, I could not have been more wrong. Downey stays on the sidelines for most of the movie, giving Holland room to shine. But what really makes this film special is its commitment to being a teenage coming-of-age movie. To get ready for his role, Holland spent some time undercover at a high school in New York. This led to some relatable high school moments, like asking your crush to homecoming and how to handle your first high school party. In the “Amazing Spider-Man” movies, Andrew Garfield played Parker but he looked more like a 30 year old acting than like a high school-
er (he was, in fact, 28). Whereas Holland, 20, actually feels like a teenager. This extra step goes far and above anything the previous movies did to create a teenage Peter Parker. Spidey is only as good as his villain, and Michael Keaton is able to, without going into spoilers, make the Vulture relatable. Keaton’s Vulture isn’t set on world domination but just trying to scrape by for his family in a superpowered world. This makes him seem more like a misdirected man than a moustache twirling villain. He’s the perfect match for more relatable Parker. Overall, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” stands not only as the epitome of Spider-Man movies but also as the “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” of our generation.
The “Gal” we’ve been waiting for
“Wonder Woman” offers a new kind of superhero Story by Emma Pounders Design by Will Brown Illustration by Emily O’Connell
W
onder Woman has been my favorite superhero since I was a kid. I had a lunch box with her picture on it and a book about her that my mother read to me. Even today, my mom talks about the original 1970s television series starring Lynda Carter and how much of an inspiration it was for the women of her generation. Naturally, when I first heard news of a Wonder Woman solo film, I was ecstatic, and I am happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. We got a taste of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in the 2016 DC blockbuster “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” but this new feature provided the audience with so much more. Director Patty Jenkins’ film broke the traditional mold of patriarchal heroism and gave fans the superheroine we’ve had our hearts set on. As a connoisseur of all things superhero, I enjoy a well-done origin story, and this one hit the mark. Growing up on the hidden island of Themyscira, Princess Diana, or Wonder Woman, learns the history of her people, the Amazons, who were created by Zeus to protect mankind and kill the god of war, Ares, if he was ever to return to earth. Diana is a fighter, born and
“
raised, adept at archery, sword fighting and horseback riding. After American pilot and intelligence operative Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes his plane near her island’s coast, she decides to enter the fray of World War I to locate and kill Ares before he wreaks more havoc on the European continent. Wonder Woman’s journey takes her and her ragtag team of Ally sympathizers all the way to the Western Front. The superhero world is full of strong women, but until now, they have always seemed to take a sideline position to their male counterparts. That isn’t to say that representation has been 100 percent lacking. Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow entered the scene in 2010 in “Iron Man 2,” and more recently, The CW’s “Supergirl” and Netflix’s “Jessica Jones” have gained popularity as female-led television shows. But the thing that sets
Gadot did a terrific job balancing Wonder Woman’s innocence with her intelligence.
“Wonder Woman” apart is the quality of Gadot’s performance. She portrays Diana with a certain fierceness and absolutely refuses to be overshadowed. Gadot brought to the table not only the naivete you’d anticipate from a nonnative thrust into a foreign war but the strength expected from a woman with battle in her blood. She did a terrific job balancing Wonder Woman’s innocence with her intelligence (including her knowledge of hundreds of languages). The
”
thing I appreciate most about this film is that Wonder Woman was not portrayed as strong simply to make a statement. She was not a chick filling a role a man could have taken on. Additionally, I enjoyed that, to Diana, her presence as an influential female wasn’t anything revolutionary, given she had grown up surrounded by empowered women. In her mind, she was only fulfilling her duties. On the surface, “Wonder Woman” is a superhero movie, complete with Princess Diana’s iconic “Lasso of Truth” and “Bracelets of Submission,” yet underneath the spectacular battle scenes and explosions lies a story of one person’s growth and a message to girls around the world, young and old alike, that they can do anything they put their minds to and that they are strong enough to overcome any odds.
UNIQUELY YOURS.
(901) 249-6970
16 the Lodge
Hog and Hominy gets it right
T
Story and Photography by Blair Smithwick
ucked into the Brookhaven circle beneath the Clark Tower in East Memphis, Hog & Hominy offers traditional Italian dishes with a southern twist. Options range from wood-fired pizzas to award-winning burgers. Owners Mr. Andy Ticer and Mr. Michael Hudman, known as some of the best local chefs, have created multiple trending restaurants in the Memphis area. Hog and Hominy offers a homey, animated feel with an open kitchen and a quaint outdoor patio. The atmosphere is lively and youthful, paired with a hip playlist. It’s the perfect place for a night out with friends, but it can often get pretty noisy, so it’s not the best option for a first date. The staff is incredibly kind and accommodating to all your needs. Because of its growing popularity, tables are often stacked fairly quickly, so be sure to make a reser-
vation, especially when you have a party of three or more. Now on to a more serious topic: the food. The first step is to always order a Spiced Iced Tea. What is it? A deliciously spicy, gingery tea with a single orange peel to add some flair. It tastes like Christmas in your mouth. Take caution, however, because it’s quite sugary. I advise you to order only one, or you will be bouncing off the walls. For a starter, try the Poutine, a popular Canadian dish of french fries topped with cheese curds and a light brown gravy. It’s the perfect dish to satisfy that “hangry” feeling you get after waiting for your table, envious of all the full bellies who are already seated. For the main course, pizza is the obvious way to go. The restaurant offers numerous unique pies cooked in their wood oven that cannot be found anywhere else in town. “The Prewitt” was my selection for the night, topped with tomato sauce, Fontina cheese,
scrambled eggs and sausage. It’s a pie for a starving athlete, without a doubt. Another recommended pie for cheese-lovers is the “Quattro Formaggi,” which consists of four deliciously melted cheeses and nothing else. The dough is the most enjoyable part. Perfectly chewy, it offsets the predominant topping. The restaurant serves their pizzas with a cutter, so customers have the freedom to cut their slices as they please. If you can never get enough chocolate in your life, I suggest finishing the meal with Carol’s Delightful Smile: a slice of chocolate pie with a pudding consistency, an Oreo crust, and topped with Whoppers. The chocolate is not too rich, and it is delightfully fluffy with a slight crunch from the Whoppers. After a night of full of delicious flavors, when we got the check and the waitress told us she hoped to see us again, I didn’t hesitate to say, “You definitely will.”
707 W Brookhaven Cir, Memphis, TN 38117 Open for Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch Prices: $12.00 to $15.00. Atmosphere: young, homey Noise level: lively, often noisy Specialities: Poutine, Spiced Ice Tea, Pizza
the Lodge 17
OPINION
Silver linings in our darkest hours
M
Story by Connor Lambert Illustration by Emily O’Connell
“
ay the shadow of the moon fall on a peaceful world.” These hopeful words were the last spoken during the 1979 eclipse as ABC News Anchor Frank Reynolds signed off on his coverage. Thirty-eight years later the shadow of the moon has fallen upon a world that would perhaps fall short of Reynold’s wish. Yet for all the division in the world, people still gathered in unity to watch this extraordinary celestial event. The eclipse gave us a moment as a society to recognize the vast inferiority of our problems and the vast expanse of the final frontier.
Most probably saw this moment as a beautiful display of the universe and that it surely was, yet it was a great display of humanity as well. From sea to shining sea, the sun raced, and in each place the shadow touched, people stood captivated. This mood was captured at St. George’s as well. Senior Griffin Hancock reflected that the rain and the storm obscuring a view of the eclipse helped turn the theme of the event more towards school unity rather than the actual eclipse. The mood wasn’t dampered by the rain but rather amplified. As I looked around during those few minutes of the eclipse, I saw the world hold its collective breath as a shad-
ow fell, for at least a moment, on a peaceful world. These past months, it’s felt like Americans have been at each other's throats. From the typical partisan bickering between Democrats and the Republicans to Democrats continuing to turn on each other over the 2016 election and Republicans failing to show a united legislative front, the animosity has been exhausting to watch. This discord has descended from Washington and has infected an already hyper-polarized America, and the recent clashes between hate groups and counter protesters show the visceral hate that permeates our society. Yet, it seemed that Mother Nature would not let us remain in our divided states.
As Hurricane Harvey battered Houston, Texas, people again came together in a moment of national unity. From Louisiana came the Cajun Navy, a group of volunteers who used their airboats to rescue people during Katrina and now in Houston. From Boston came truckloads of supplies and relief aid. Even California, which has banned state-funded travel to Texas because of that state’s anti-LGBT laws, activated their own National Guardsmen to conduct rescue operations in Houston. Whether is it the appreciation of the eclipse or the solidarity in the face of natural disasters, it seems that national unity is not dead, and America’s best qualities come to light in its darkest hours.
OPINION POLICY: The Lodge opinion section is a venue for the free expression of student views at St. George’s Independent School. The opinions represented in this section are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Lodge staff or of the St. George’s community at large. The Lodge strives to be an open forum for the thoughtful and deliberate exchange of comment and criticism and therefore welcomes letters to the editor. Letters to the editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper, should not exceed 300 words and must be signed and accompanied by a verifiable email address. These letters will not be printed if the content is judged obscene, violates the privacy of others or encourages physical disruption of school activites.
18 the Lodge
OPINION
Editorial:
Let’s use our voices
J
unior Timber King’s day begins like that of many other St. George’s boys. He wakes up, gets dressed in khakis and a polo then drives to school, where he catches up with friends before attending his first period class. But, unlike many male students, King’s routine also includes putting on a pair of earrings, a staple of his everyday style. Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, King – as a boy – was not allowed to wear earrings while at school even though, according to the St. George’s Handbook, his female counterparts were permitted to do so. We at The Lodge want to formally thank the school’s administration for altering this aspect of the dress code to al-
low for both cultural diversity and gender equality. This change was one specifically requested within the pages of The Gryphon Gazette, now The Lodge, by alumna – then senior – Regine Miller. In her op-ed, “Double the Standards, Double the Controversy” published on Sept. 16, 2016, Miller argued that not permitting boys to wear earrings ignored the fact that they were part of African-American culture and that some successful men, like Mr. Will Smith, wear them. The administration took the time to listen to what she and others had to say, a privilege not offered to students at many schools but given freely here at St. George’s. This is not the first time our administration has been willing to engage with our student
body. After Mrs. Kalyn Underwood was officially named as the new Upper School Dean of Students in May of 2016, she scheduled time to meet with students and talk about changes they wanted to see. This discussion led to new rules being implemented in the 2016-2017 school year, including the expansion of the cell phone policy, which allowed upper school students to use cell phones freely in hallways, lounges and the lunchroom. Additionally, Student Government President Bennett Matson and Head Prefect Winston Margaritis regularly attend meetings with members of the administration, from Head of School Mr. Ross Peters to Assistant Director of Student Life Mrs. Emmy McClain. For Matson, these meetings, both
unofficial and official, occur nearly every day. But with an administration that’s prepared to hear our opinions, we as a student body have the responsibility to engage in meaningful and respectful conversations. We can’t tell ourselves that “that’s the way things are and there’s nothing we can do about it,” or just rant to our friends about the dress-code or other school rules. We have to realize that change does not happen by us shouting our complaints into a void and hoping someone hears them. Instead, we must take our concerns directly to those who have the power to make those changes official. St. George’s is our school, so it’s time for us to use our voice and make it the best school it can be.
Staff editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. The following count represents our editorial board’s stance on this editorial. As always, letters to the editor in response to the editorial are encouraged. The Editorial Board: Carolyn Lane, Annie Murff, Annika Conlee, Lauren Purdy, Merryn Ruthling, Caroline Zummach, Emma Bennett, Katelyn Grisham, Kaitlyn Bowman and Will Brown
Agree: 10/10 Abstain: 0/10 Disagree: 0/10
CORRECTIONS AND RETRACTIONS: The Lodge strives for accuracy in all articles. However, mistakes are sometimes made. When this happens, you will see corrections here. Last year, May 2017, Page 11: Houston High School soccer coach Mr. David Wolff was incorrectly identified as Mr. Daniel Wolff. Last year, May 2017, Page 12: Senior – then junior – Annika Conlee was not listed as a writer for the story “Committed.” The by-line should have read “Caroline Zummach, Annie Murff, Kaitlyn Bowman, Dawson Smith and Annika Conlee.”
the Lodge 19
CONTACT MR. MCCLAIN OR EMAIL SGGO@SGIS.ORG FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION