Woodward Academy Vol. 119 Issue 1
DRUG DILEMMA 8
ADDRESSING THE DRESS 12
CANCELLED 16
EXCHANGE EXPERIENCE 18
Maddy Cronin ‘20 and Jake Waddell ‘20 cheer in the stands as the football team beats Grady High School 35-7. Photo by Megha Gupta ‘20.
Editors
Staff Writers
Editor in Chief - Aspen Andrews ‘20 Editor in Chief - Naomi Censullo ‘20 Senior Writer - Jack Pressgrove ‘20 Senior Writer - Josie Pickett ‘20 Butterknife Editor - Anna Landgraff ‘20 Social Media Editor - Maya Packer ‘22
Alexis Rodgers - ‘21 Alina Noorani - 21 Carly Breland - ‘21 Chloe Lomax ‘22 Dylan Jordan ‘21 Elizabeth Mary Yu - ‘22
Grace Ross - ‘21 Jackson Fryburger - ‘21 Sebastian Skinner - ‘21 Yasmin Khan - ‘21
The Blade is the student news publication of Woodward Academy. Volume 118 Issue 1
The Cut
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Woodward Academy 1662 Rugby Ave College Park, GA 30337
The Scoop - Aspen Andrews Find out what developments are new around the school and College Park.
Dressing Up Debate - Jack Pressgrove Discover how the debate team confronted the issue of the team’s dress code.
Insight Into Sports Managing - Anna Landgraff Learn more about the responsibilities of sports managing.
Feature
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Drug Dilemma - Naomi Censullo Be in the know about the policies and procedures behind drug testing and the reasoning behind its implementation.
Culture
12 14 16 18
Addressing The Dress - Grace Ross and Yasmin Khan Take a look into uniform changes and how they came into action.
WA Grows - Naomi Censullo Learn how students help feed the College Park community.
Cancelled - Kyndall Dunn Should an artists’ lyrical content or actions affect the popularity of their music?
Exchange Experience - Jack Pressgrove Learn what it’s like to be a high schooler 8,000 miles away from home.
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EDITORS’ WORD A
s opinionated teens in America, we have had a tumultuous year observing from the outside a multitude of great political and social changes. Teen advocacy has been on the rise in the recent years, and our voices are being heard more than ever before. Students have also made a clear effort to speak up and advocate for change here on campus. The student handbook changed as the administration considered student opinion on a variety of topics. “Addressing the Dress” opens the floor for discussion about our uniform. Our uniform policies have evolved slowly since the Academy was established in 1900, then known as Georgia Military Academy. Last year, students voiced concerns over several aspects of the uniforms. Gender and racial inequality in some uniform policies has been on the minds of students, and these inequalities have been resolved as students expressed concern. Four years ago, feedback and concerns from parents and administration elicited a change in drug testing policies. In 2016, The Blade began researching the drug policy and what caused a need for hair testing. Through yearly surveys since then, we learned how drug issues have changed throughout the years. “Drug Dilemma” discusses these
How to send a
LETTER to THE EDITOR
changes in policy, clearly states for students what is expected of them from school officials and the repercussions they face if they ignore these rules as well as the impact hair testing has had. “Cancelled” discusses the difficulty of separating the art from the artist. Continued examination of controversial artists including Tekashi 69, Cardi B. and R. Kelly make some concerned with their questionable actions and lyrics. Where do we draw the line about what media we consume? Some of the pieces in this issue have been worked on for years to gain information and insight. While sometimes that can be frustrating, our priority is reporting the most accurate information that we can. The Blade has been working with faculty and administrators to make sure that we can provide the most accurate and complete information possible. As students grow up, they realize that their opinions matter. These articles show how the choices we make and the questions we ask affect the world around us, and how we can work together to incite change. - Aspen Andrews and Naomi Censullo
Julia D u
One of the missions of The Blade is to cover pressing issues confronting our community. We try our best to include a diverse array of perspectives in our coverage. However, we realize that as a staff of only thirteen people, it is impossible for us to represent the voice of every student and faculty member. We have decided to introduce a Letter to the Editor section in each of our issues. A Letter to the Editor is a letter that a student or faculty member sends in stating any additions, issues or concerns they have with an article or general opinions about a schoolrelated issue. If the letter follows the established guidelines, it may be published in the next issue of the magazine. Letters will not be rejected based on editorial preference, only if guidelines are not met or too many letters are received. Guidelines: Limit to 200 words If applicable, state the article of concern, and keep the focus on your concern/issue/addition with the article. End the letter with your name and grade level. Note: Anonymous letters cannot and will not be published. If relevant, introduce any background information about you or your issue in the letter. Check your school email for a verification email. If you would like, leave a phone number for verification instead. Methods: Google Form (tinyurl.com/BladeLetter) Drop off in Room W113 Email to wastpress@gmail.com
The Scoop serves up fresh news from Woodward and the College Park area.
by Aspen Andrews illustrations by Mansi Patel ‘20
Atlanta’s Aerotropolis Aerotropolis is a work in progress to expand and improve the live, work, play environment surrounding the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the TriCities area. “The Flint River runs underneath the airport, so there is an effort to develop the aerogreenway study,” Dr. Stuart Gulley, Woodward President and Chairman of the Board of AeroATL, said. “It’s all playing off the Flint River and how we can make that a much more attractive place to go to hang out, bike and walk. Trails will be identified that will be much like the Atlanta Beltline. The plan is that eventually one of those trails will connect to the Atlanta Beltline.” By 2030, Aerotropolis is planned to be an inclusive environment for people throughout all of Atlanta. More information can be found at aeroatl.org.
Coffee To-Go Drip-Thru is a coffee shop which opened on Virginia Avenue in December of 2018. “A Woodward parent from Henry County posed the idea that DripThru explore a second location
in College Park,” Christy Dean, a Drip-Thru employee, said. “We did, and here we are. Drip-Thru Coffee in College Park opened in December of 2018. The Woodward community was supportive from the start and has motivated us to explore new product ideas and flavors.” The business has taken off as a drivethrough coffee hub for students and teachers within the College Park community.
have a healthy Woodward community and by extension, a healthier world.” This position is new and made possible by an endowment from longtime board member Ron M. Brill. With Ms. Jennifer Knox’s position change, she plans to strengthen and better the school community.
Sustainability Initiative The Graduation Distinction in Sustainability is a new recognition for students who are interested in improving sustainability around the world. Those who attempt and complete the requirements of this new program will have the words “Distinction in Sustainability” read after their names as they receive their diplomas.
New Ethics Position Ms. Jennifer Knox recently took on the position of Director of Character Development & the Ron M. Brill Chair for Ethical Leadership Development. The purpose of this position is to strengthen and support Character Education, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “This new position allows me to not only help art students, but to expand this work to support the academy, faculty and students as we navigate this increasingly complex world,” Ms. Jennifer Knox said. “This work allows me to support ways for us to cultivate the awareness and skills necessary to engage ethically with discernment, conviction and purpose so that we can
“This [program is] geared towards students who like science and want to make the world a better place,” Ms. Maria Touhy, science teacher, said. “[They will] help find solutions to problems such as plastic pollution.” Inside their diplomas, students with this distinction will get a certificate attesting to their accomplishment. The new Distinction program began this year.
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Dressing Up Debate W by Jack Pressgrove illustration by Darby Cornelius ‘20
Photo by Naomi Censullo ‘20
hile dress codes have traditionally been divided between male and female sections, the debate team adopted a dress code that is completely gender-neutral in 2017. After the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) took a big initiative towards accessibility and inclusivity, debate coaches Ms. Maggie Berthiaume and Mr. Bill Batterman strived to adhere to the NSDA’s recommendations, including a genderneutral dress code. Thus, Batterman and Berthiaume began the process of creating their own gender-neutral dress policy, which included talking to a few debate coaches from other schools that had already amended their dress codes. For the most part, they simply took the existing dress code and got rid of the gendered sections. “It was pretty easy,” Batterman said. Berthiaume believed that it was unnecessary to have male and female sections in the debate dress code. “It didn’t make sense to us to divide our dress code by gender when [debate is] not a gender-divided activity,” Berthiaume said. Rather than having two separate sections for male and female, the new dress code consisted of a list of professional dress, giving students the ability to choose from those selections. “Some of the examples are probably things that someone who identifies as female is more likely to wear, and some of the examples are things that someone who identifies as male is more likely to wear, but there’s not any reason that it has to be that way,” Berthiaume said. Because all students do not conform to male or female, Berthiaume and
Batterman wanted to ensure that those students did not feel uncomfortable by having to delegate to a certain gender. “We don’t think it’s necessary for a student to have to ascribe to a particular gender, or for us to make any decisions for that student about their gender in order to represent [us] in debate,” Berthiaume said. The coaches said that there are many benefits to making the debate dress code gender-neutral, including giving students a wider selection of options to wear. Another pro, according to Berthiaume, is that the debate dress code will serve as a symbol that separating dress codes by gender is not always necessary. “Ideologically, we should think very carefully when we have to draw those lines,” Berthiaume said. Through the new dress code policy, Berthiaume and Batterman hope to create a more safe, inclusive and comfortable environment for transgender and non-binary students. “[Our main goal was so] that a student who was trans or non-binary would not have to come to us to request a specific exemption from the dress code,” Berthiaume said. “It didn’t seem like someone should have to declare that in order to get dressed for debate.” As school administrators prepared to alter parts of the uniform last school year, Batterman and Berthiaume said they were not opposed to making the school uniform gender neutral for all students. “I think that there are enough students who aren’t comfortable with the dress code as it is currently divided, [and] that we should give some really serious thought as to why we divide it that way and whether that’s necessary,” Berthiaume said.
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Sports managers provide assistance to athletic teams in various ways, depending on the sport. Managers typically earn a varsity athletic letter. A manager’s duties range from keeping score to giving the players water and other necessities. Managers allow a team to do their best in their sport without worrying about little details.
Miller Daly ‘20
What sport do you manage? How long have you been doing it? Volleyball. I have been doing it for two years now. Why did you pick this sport? I really liked the players on the team, and my older brother managed. He talked to me about how much he loved it. Did you do the sport just to letter? Why or why not? I was offered a letter last year for managing, but I refused. How do you interact with the players? During practice, I encourage the girls and make sure they stay focused. I also sit on the sidelines with them during the games. What are the pros and cons of managing? I absolutely love the team, and it is a complete blast. The only real downside is the constant mental abuse the girls put me through. (Editor note: we are sure he’s kidding). What do you think you bring to the team? I think I bring the energy to the team. During the games when there is a lull in energy and concentration, I am on the sidelines cheering the girls on getting hype.
Perrin Sorrow ‘20
What sport do you manage? I manage varsity baseball. How long have you been doing it? I have managed since my freshman year. Why did you pick that sport? I picked this sport because both of my brothers play baseball, and my dad used to play too. I have grown up watching the game, and I knew I would enjoy helping the team out and supporting one of my favorite sports. Did you do the sport just to letter, why or why not? No, I did not begin managing just to letter. I thought it would be fun since I knew and loved the sport. How do you interact with the players? I love all the players! They become brothers to me, and I love joking around with them and just hanging out. What are the pros and cons of managing baseball? The pros to being a baseball manager are not only getting to support the boys but also challenging myself to new things like taking the book (the book where the player’s statistics are kept) or announcing over the loudspeakers. It’s helped me broaden myself for life outside of baseball managing. The con is that it is actually a lot of work. Sometimes it’s hard to balance games and school work, but these challenges help me become a better me. What benefits do managers provide? I bring positivity to the team when someone’s feeling down. Baseball is such a mental sport, so sometimes just surrounding someone with happiness and maybe a joke can change the game in their head.
Tess Dunkel ‘20 What sport do you manage? How long have you been doing it? I have managed boys lacrosse since my freshman year. Why did you pick that sport? I initially chose to manage because I had two older brothers on the team, and I thought it would be a fun activity to get involved in. Did you do the sport just to letter, why or why not? I didn’t manage to letter because I had already lettered before I started managing. What are the pros and cons of managing lacrosse? Some of the pros of managing are meeting new people and being involved in the games. There are not many cons except for far away games and late games on school nights. What do you think you bring to the team? I try to bring a positive and encouraging spirit to the lacrosse team.
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Drug Dilemma by Naomi Censullo
A look into the science behind drug testing and how school testing policies have evolved over the years
H
igh school–a time of firsts. Your first drive, kiss, heartbreak and for some–your first hit. In a society where alcoholism and drug use is promoted in pop culture, one may find it difficult to let the blunt pass by without giving it a try. Whether it was your grandparents in the 60s or your parents in the 80s, drug use has long been associated with a right of passage in adolescence. Although it may seem like a long-standing program, student drug testing is a recent implementation. Concerns from parents, current students and alumni about drug use in society pushed administrators to institute random urinalysis testing of students in 2013 in an effort to protect students, according to Dean of Students Anthony Thomas, who is in charge of discipline for students with positive test results. As a response to students who reported that the urinalysis test still allowed loopholes for use of illegal substances, the administration instituted random hair testing along with the preexisting urinalysis in 2016. “[Nurse Cheryl Minor, Ms. Sherry Boyten, former counselor, and I] were just a few of the people involved,” Dean Thomas said. “There was a table of 20-30 adults which consisted of Upper School administration, teachers, parents, doctors, lawyers, DEA agents and board members. We went through a laundry list of schools and companies who were already testing and settled on Spec Group Inc, who does our urine testing, and Sigmatics, who does our hair testing.” According to Dean Luke Underwood, the purpose of hair testing is to end student drug use and provide a valid excuse for students who feel peer pressured. Dean Underwood said many alumni wished they had help saying no in high school and felt as though the school should provide a reason students could utilize to say no to drugs without feeling backlash from their peers. In 2017, through a set of “unexpected and unusual circumstances,” the school caught six underclassmen participating in either the sale, purchase, possession or use of Xanax on campus, Dr. Stuart Gulley, President, said. The news spread quickly throughout the community. It surprised members of the community that students as young as freshmen and sophomores participated in drug use at all, let alone while at school. The administration decided to start the drug testing process in the eighth grade to combat drug usage early on.
“The longer the delay of experimentation with drugs and alcohol occurs, the less likely for damage to the brain,” Dr. Gulley said. “This drug testing effort to us, in addition to the education, is a very responsible way to try to protect that brain development for students by hoping they will say no to drug use.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug use as a teen greatly affects the development of the body and the way the brain finishes growing. Starting drugs as an adolescent greatly increases the chances of addiction as an adult. “We felt that if we really were serious about [the drug testing program] being a deterrent in giving students a legitimate reason to say ‘no,’ then we had nothing to lose by adding the hair testing as a supplement to the urine testing,” Dr. Gulley said. In 2013, the most common drug used by new illicit drug users, 54.1 percent of which are under the age of 18, was marijuana, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA designates marijuana as a “gateway drug,” defined as “a habitforming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs.” Implementing both urine and hair tests may seem inefficient since they both screen for the same drugs, but there are differences between the tests. “With the urinalysis, there is a smaller window for active drug use whereas with follicle testing, it is about six months,” Dean Underwood said. “If you do anything in the six month period, it is going to show up in that hair follicle. That was the point, to take away that loophole of two months in summer.” Hair testing cannot detect drug use within the 5-10 days prior to the test because hair has yet to grow a substantial amount during
Parents have the option to opt-in to additional testing for alcohol and nicotine for their children. If they choose to optin, the results of the alcohol and nicotine testing are sent only to them and not to the school and will not factor into a student’s disciplinary record.
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that time, a problem urinalysis testing Once the sample is bagged and sent to the companies claim these methods have no solves. lab, a two-tiered testing process begins. effect on the outcome of the test. An important thing to know about If, after the first test, the sample comes There have been multiple accounts the drug tests is that they do not test for back positive, it will be tested again for of students saying they simply skipped specific drugs like cocaine or marijuana. confirmation. their scheduled hair test. According Instead, the test looks for key components For students with braids and weaves, to Dean Thomas, if it is clear that the of illegal drugs. For marijuana, the test hair sample collection is tricky because the student is trying to evade the test, then it is looks for the presence of THC. Students required amount of natural hair for testing considered a positive strike against them in that use CBD oils and items like that is more difficult to acquire. the testing protocol. may still be in danger of testing positive “There are usually areas where there is For positive drug tests, there is a because although CBD should not contain natural hair, typically at the root,” Dean mandatory two-strike policy. The first signifigant amonts of THC, some CBD Thomas said. “We have had students who strike leads to counseling with a qualified products contain trace amounts of THC have had their hair unbraided and braided substance abuse specialist who may that might show up on the test. In order again. We just make that adjustment on determine that rehab is necessary. A to prevent a possible positive test, students a case by case basis. It may be that if the doctor must give the student a clearance are advised to not use any CBD products. weave is planning to be removed soon, we in order to return to school. Those with a A nicotine and alcohol test has recently wait until then. We are reasonable about positive result are randomly tested at least been added, and parents can choose to opt it.” three times a year for the remainder of into those tests. There have been some false rumors their high school career. The second strike In terms of the selection of students for circulating that not every sample is sent results in an immediate dismissal from the drug testing, the deans do not make the list to the lab in an effort to save money. school. of students, but a third party hired by the According to Thomas, every hair sample “We are just trying to help kids get drug testing company. The deans through here, so they can go to send a list of current students to and be very successful,” “You should be able to be here, college this third party company, and they Dean Underwood said. be safe and not worried about use computer software to randomly Surveys were sent out in 2016, generate a list of names of students when the hair testing commenced, drugs. [High school] should be a in 2018, after to be tested. That list is sent to the two years of school, and the selected students are place where you can come and be implementation, and in 2019, three tested. The same process is followed years after implementation. The a kid.” -Dean Underwood for the drug testing of teachers. anonymous surveys asked students’ While reporting on this article, opinions on drug testing, the I heard much confusion from students taken is sent, tested and confirmed to prevalence of drug use at Woodward and questioning whether the deans are in ensure that nothing falls through the whether or not they have used or would control of this selection process. Contrary cracks. consider using drugs. Approximately 25% to commonly held beliefs of students, the Dean Thomas said drug testing of the student body responded to each deans do not pick and choose suspicious helps students “make proper decisions,” survey. The results showed that reports of students to be tested; it is a random luck of although he said he can assume that drug use more than halved in less than two the draw. students have tried to find ways to years. While the decrease in reported drug The cost of hair testing is another topic continue using drugs without testing use could be attributed to many factors, many students question. How expensive positive on the urine test. there seems to be a positive coorelation is it and does it have any effect on the Since The Blade started writing this between hair testing and reduced drug use. tuition? The answer to that is: not at all. piece, many students have asked questions “You should be able to be here, be According to Dean Thomas, the majority about the drug testing process and safe and not worried about drugs,” Dean of the cost of drug testing is covered suggested ways they thought worked to get Underwood said. “[High school] should be by insurance, and the price difference around the testing. By using psychedelics a place where you can come and be a kid.” between the hair test and urinalysis test or designer drugs that supposedly do not Addie Riviere ‘20 said the school does is extremely small. Dean Thomas said he show up on a regular drug test or special a great job preventing drug use by scaring was not at liberty to state specific prices. shampoos or pills to create a false negative, the students to not do drugs, especially The steps for hair testing prevent any students try to find any way to cheat their those who keep in mind the repercussions contamination and thus, a false positive or way out of a positive. It is not proven, of their actions on their peers and family. negative on the test. Per Quest Diagnostics but many websites articles explain that “If I were to get caught, it would be policy, another hair testing company, damaging the follicle is the best way to very embarrassing for the faculty, my peers industry standard dictates the sample be pass the test. Natural damage occurs to the and especially my parents to find out,” collected as easily as possible and with the follicle through normal daily routine like Riviere said. “And I think that us learning least amount of contact with anything that brushing or shampooing your hair, and about drugs–knowing how it affects our could affect the testing. An approximate further damage can be caused by coloring, bodies and how it is really not good for our 1.4 inch long sample of hair is needed bleaching and cutting your hair. Although health–prevent us from doing drugs for to perform the test accurately, and it can some websites claim this damage is a way multiple reasons.” be taken from anywhere on the scalp. around the testing, verified hair testing
DID YOU KNOW? Urinalysis testing can detect drug use within the past 5-10 days whereas follicle testing can test for drug use within the past six months.
in
2016
5% of students surveyed had been hair tested
in
2019
47% of students surveyed had been hair tested
How It
Works
The science behind the efficacy of hair testing is simple. “A hair drug test uses a hair sample, typically from the hair’s root, to screen for drug use,” according to the website for Concentra Lab. “When someone uses drugs, the substance is absorbed into the bloodstream. Because each hair follicle has a blood vessel to feed the hair growth cells, the drugs are carried from the blood into the hair follicle. Traces of drugs can then be detected in the hair follicle.” Hair testing companies test for illegal substances using panels that can be customized to what the company or school is looking for. The panels do not test for the specific drugs but for key components of drugs such as cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, PCP and marijuana.
88%
said they had not used drugs
95%
said they had not used drugs
The history behind this article... This article started four years ago the when hair drug testing policy was first instituted. It was passed from staff member to staff member, so we could follow its impact on student drug use. Starting in 2016, the entire student body was sent an anonymous survey that has been sent out every year since. The survey questioned students about how they felt about follicle testing, whether or not they have or know someone who has used drugs and if drug testing would deter them from using in the future. The deans, President Stuart Gulley, and other administrators and faculty were interviewed multiple times over the course of four years. A special thank you to the late Erin Edwards ‘17, who started this work, and the staff writers who continued it: Nija Packer ‘18, Maddie Ledet ‘18 and Jayden Khatib ‘19.
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Addressing the Dress
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ast year, there was a lot of confusion surrounding the dress code and uniform requirements and enforcement, a primary issue being skirt length. There was also talk of alterations to the hair rules for boys and the addition of UGGS to the formal winter uniform. In order to accommodate the needs of students as well as the requirements of the dress code, the administration brought in ten young women and ten women faculty members to investigate the issues with the current skirt and find solutions. The committee investigated the problems many female students had with the skirt, both in its fit and comfortability. The committee took these problems to uniform supplier Sue Mills, and inquired about other options and styles available. Along with ensuring the new skirt met dress code requirements, the administration wanted students of all body types to feel comfortable and confident in the new uniform. In order to make certain that students’ needs would be met, females of all ages, heights and sizes modeled the skirts during the selection process. Each of the twenty females on the committee was then asked to go out and interview ten or more female students, all of whom shared their personal thoughts about the current uniform skirt. After conducting the interviews, the committee reached the conclusion that the current skirt lacked many features that students desired. For example, many students said they wanted pleats, pockets and a soft cotton liner in the skirts. Another incentive to choose new skirts for the Upper School was to separate the Lower and Middle School look from the Upper School one. “[The skirt] was designed to be more mature and more professional,” Ms. Ronda Zents, Assistant Principal, said. Even though the process of choosing the new skirt was intended to meet the needs of the student body, there has been some backlash regarding the length of the new skirt. “One comment when our freshmen girls started to try on the skirt was that it was longer than the current [one],” Ms. Zents said. “It’s not meant to be longer, past your knees or anything that seems drastically different, but it is a longer style going into the more mature, professional look that was desired.” Along with the uniform changes came new rules. According to Ms. Zents, male faculty are no longer expected to distribute hours or other forms of punishment to female students because
of their skirt length. There is a new committee of women faculty members who will address dress code questions regarding skirts. The skirts are not the only new additions to the uniform. UGGS have also been added to the dress code, advocated for by Izzy Wheeler, a senior. “[People] hadn’t really told me they wanted to [be allowed to wear UGGS],” Wheeler said. “We had an assembly, and [the administration was] talking about the new uniform. Afterwards, I walked up to them and said that [since] we can wear a [specific] color of rain boots, can we [also] wear UGGS?” The UGGS are only to be worn as apart of the formal winter uniform and with tights, in order to ensure students are not abusing the privilege and only wearing the boots during appropriate weather conditions. “During the winter uniform period of January and February, [both male and female] students can wear the classic II short boot in the colors of brown, black and gray,” Ms. Zents said. Knock-offs of the boot that have the same look as UGGS have also been approved. “I would hear people complain, but nobody ever said we should seriously do something about it,” Wheeler said. “So when I asked, nobody had mentioned UGGS to [the administration] before.” The requirements of the uniform extend beyond clothing, however. Braids, often worn by people with natural hair, are an easy style option that promotes hair growth, keeps hair clean, is easy to manage and is currently on-trend. Nonetheless, the handbook prohibited braids for male students, despite the hairstyle being allowed for girls. Black male students felt as though this rule targeted them because of their individual preferences. Khalil Battle ‘21 was unaware that braids were not allowed on out-of-uniform days. When he was called out by a dean, he was confused. “My hair looked neat, and it wasn’t derogatory or offending anyone,” Battle said. “I even got several compliments from teachers, so I did not know why I needed to take them out.” Battle said getting his hair braided is a form of self-expression. He believed that the handbook rules unfairly targeted AfricanAmerican males. “If I can change my hair up, it’s not only because I am able to be diverse but is also because females are allowed to,” Battle said.
by Grace Ross and Yasmin Khan illustration by Farron Edmonds
“Males should be allowed that same option, and it shouldn’t be taken as inappropriate when they do so.” Michael Taylor White ‘20 has also worn braids. White noted that faculty told him that boys that wear braids will not be able to keep their hair clean, or that it is simply not a “nice” look for preparatory academy male students. White completely disagrees with this feedback. “What people say in the media is that boys with braids are not adept to learn, but I don’t see how a hairstyle determines whether or not you are able to learn better than anyone else,” White said. He also believes that no one should make rules based off of personal preference. “It’s [possible] for rules to have been created [to] suppress black creativity,” White said. “When you look at all the rules, ask yourself who those rules are directed towards.” White, passionate about the matter, decided to take a proactive approach against the handbook rule by meeting with Dr. Stuart Gulley, school president. White’s conversation with Dr. Gulley ultimately led to a change in the hair requirements for male students. The rule is no longer in effect this school year and has been omitted from the handbook. This not only allows boys to wear braided styles, but also sets a new standard for outdated handbook rules. “One of the things that took me by surprise was that [Dr. Gulley] said the hair-braiding rule predates him–he wasn’t here when that rule was decided,” White said. “The reason that the rule was created was because no one thought men would be braiding their hair.” White thinks he made substantial progress. Since no one had previously spoken out against this rule, he feels a sense of accomplishment. “Everyone was afraid to talk to authority figures,” White said. “But, the thing is, they’re not here to shoot down our ideas. In reality, a lot of them want to help and make us have a better learning environment.” In this case, White’s meeting with Dr. Gulley garnered White’s desired result. “I appreciated that Michael cared enough about the topic to make an appointment to see me to discuss it,” Dr. Gulley said. “I shared with Ms. Marcia Spiller our conversation. At the time, she was chairing a task force of students and faculty to examine the uniform requirements, and she indicated there was some
desire to respond to the concern Michael had raised. After the task force’s deliberations, the decision was made to remove the sentence prohibiting men from having braids in their hair, which, to me, is an example of our willingness to examine the uniform requirements, especially as cultural practices change.” As societal and cultural norms change, our school changes with them. In order to see desired improvements, students can advocate for their wants and needs, just as White, Wheeler and others have.
It’s Not Just Us... Students all across America have been raising questions about dress codes and how they affect our identities. Laura Orsi, a student in Little Rock, Arkansas, created the PasstheSkirt movement, a social media page and website aimed at connecting students to document their own uniform stories in order to start a national conservation around race and gender issues in dress code policies. Woodward is just one of many schools where students have been working to make change by modifying the dress code to make it more inclusive. “It goes back to our origins as a military school,” Dr. Jon Merrill, principal, said. “As the school has transformed through the years, the uniform has transformed with it.” Uniforms serve as a unifying force for independent schools, reminding students of their school allegiance. “Tradition is good, but [it] can be modified,” Dr. Elizabeth Burbridge, social studies teacher, said. “The demographics of the school have changed dramatically in the last 15 years. We need to address that fact, but also, in the country as a whole, the idea of dress code and business wear has changed dramatically in the last 20-25 years.” –Aspen Andrews
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by Naomi Censullo Photos by Brendan Bagwell
Photo by Aspen Andrews ‘20
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hick-fil-A biscuits and soda cups in hand, students meandering from the parking lots rapidly increase their pace as the 8:15 bell resounds across campus, signaling the start of the day. Behind Carlos Science, this bell is a cue for Student Leadership Board and WA Grows leaders Brendan Bagwell ‘20 and Arun Rama-Krishnan ‘20 to take off their gloves and put away their shovels. These students and many other WA Grows members work morning and night to keep the beds full of spinach, arugula and squash. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes in order to keep the gardens alive and producing. With a mission of benefiting the community, WA Grows is an integral way the school gives back to the surrounding College Park area. A fairly new subset of the Student Leadership Board, WA Grows started two years ago, taking over the vacant garden beds once used for academic purposes. “The opportunity arose for a new service and educational opportunity to engage WA students in discussions about service, sustainability and the ways fresh produce can positively impact a community,” Ms. Marianne Lecesne, math teacher and the faculty sponsor of WA Grows, said. A completely separate entity from
Garden Club, WA Grows students receive service hours for coming out during lunch or tutorial to assist with the planting or watering of the garden beds. WA Serves members can sign up to help on Helper Helper. Volunteers plant, water, weed, pick and maintain the beds throughout the growing seasons. Club members plant vegetables according to their growing seasons and the predicted date of the last harvest. Right now, they plan to move several different types of vegetables outside to replace the squash and zucchini that have already been harvested. The plants are in a constant rotation of planting, picking and replanting in order to maximize the amount of produce grown and then donated. “All produce grown by WA Grows is donated to Love Beyond Walls and Family Life Ministries,” Bagwell said. “We have donated over 265 lbs of squash and zucchini along with green beans and other vegetables to Family Life Ministries so far this year and have received fabulous feedback from the beneficiaries that obtain food from them.” Under the leadership of the Student Leadership Board and with the support of the science department, WA Grows made some vital changes in order to
Growing A Following Active on social media, the WA Grows regularly posts Instagram updates on the garden beds, possible service opportunities and gardening jokes to nurture interest of the students following the account. Brendan Bagwell ‘20 created these posters using classic posters as a way to garner more attention for the Instagram.
produce more food for donation. “At the beginning of the year, I told myself that I would change the entire outlook and effectiveness of WA Grows,” Bagwell said. “Last year, WA Grows grew plants in two to four grow beds at most, and the greenhouse looked like storage. The greenhouse has been [underutilized] year after year, and with help and resources from Ms. Lecesne, Arun and I were able to completely change the appearance and functionality of the greenhouse thus making WA Grows one of the most impactful service projects at Woodward Academy.” Members are constantly striving to better the greenhouse and maximize efficiency. “Arun and I set up a sprinkler system inside of the greenhouse using old sprinklers that hadn’t been used for years and PVC pipes in every bed,” Bagwell said. “In addition, we have experimented with a variety of methods of germination to find out for ourselves what the fastest method of growing certain types of plants is.” The group’s vision for the future success of WA Grows does not stop there. They set up an active Instagram account, @wagrows, to network and spread awareness about the gardens.
The account posts weekly updates on the status of the beds, the number of donations made and gardening memes. The life growing in the beds mirrors the love growing amongst the WA Grows members for the environment and their surrounding community. It is an opportunity to experience a tangible product of hard work and dedication. “My involvement in WA Grows helped me make unlikely friends and build closer, more meaningful relationships with teachers who I did not expect to,” said Rama-Krishnan. “It opened my eyes to the impact of service and how I made a new community with people I serve with and for.”
Ms. Lecesne and Brendan Bagwell tend to the beds in the greenhouse.
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CANCELLED an opinion by Kyndall Dunn
R. KellyW
ith the #MeToo movement in full swing, we’ve seen a few famous men face reprecussions for their bad behavour, namely Harvey Weinestein, R. Kelley and Matt Lauer. Where do we draw the line between supporting public figures and their art and acknowledging their problematic behavior? Within the music community, artists find themselves tangled up in controversy and their careers in hot water. Nobody’s favorite artist is safe. Because we live in the digital age where information is stored forever, we have instant access to artists in a manner that was not previously possible. While this phenomenon can be fascinating, for many artists, it has proven to be a nightmare. Access to artists’ lives allows listeners to make an important choice. In 2014, numerous videos surfaced of pop singer Justin Bieber as a 14-year-old sharing racist jokes with his friends and remixing his song “One Less Lonely Girl” with the “n-word.” Rapper Eminem has repeatedly used homophobic slurs (the “f-word”) in his verses. Despite his ironically unapologetic apology where he said he thought of the “f-word” as saying “punk,” he still has a successful career, as does Bieber. It’s puzzling. In 2018, R&B singer Sabrina Claudio’s career was just beginning to take off when her old Twitter account from 2014 packed with racial slurs including the “n-word” and offensive comments including, “F*** it, I’ll be a black girl for Halloween,” was exposed. As someone who supported Claudio’s career, her comments felt like a slap in the face. Countless other artists have had their words come back to haunt them. As humans we are always evolving and growing, and I believe that people have the capability to learn from mistakes and change accordingly. However, many artists give off an ingenuine vibe. The unfortunate trend of half-hearted iPhone Notes apologies is the equivalent of
Tekashi 69
Justin Bieber
slapping a Band-aid on a bullet wound. It starts to feel like artists are apologizing not because they care, but because their income is threatened. However, not all artists are impacted the same. Some musicians have been able to maintain their popularity despite controversies. Rappers Kodak Black and Tekashi 6ix9ine have both faced sexual misconduct charges. In 2017, Black was indicted for a first-degree criminal sexual assault charge involving a teenager. 6ix9ine faced a sexual misconduct case in 2015 when he was seen in a video with a naked 13-year-old girl while he was 18. Their crimes are drowned out by their chart success. Black had two top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100, and 6ix9ine had a top 10 hit “FEFE.” Many people choose to play their music despite their history with sexual misconduct. Their increasing popularity reveals the sad truth that many people do not empathize enough with victims of sex crimes. One of the most notable abusers is R&B singer R. Kelly, who sang his way into the hearts of millions of fans with hit songs including “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition (Remix).” At my family barbecues, it was almost guaranteed that by the end of the night we were “stepping in the name of love.” In response to Lifetime’s recent TV special “Surviving R. Kelly,” people were collectively disgusted by R. Kelly’s actions. However, one video of R. Kelly urinating on a 14-year-old girl has been available since 2002. In 1994, as a 28-year-old he married 15-year-old Aaliyah, and he fabricated documents to say she was 18. This information had been available for decades, but people ignored it because he was talented. It is scary how much power we can give an individual when we support their artistry despite their faults. Some fans argue that listeners have become overly sensitive and hypercritical of artists.
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Kodak Black
Sabrina Claudio
Yet, a large percentage of the time, artists’ actions are a quick Google search away. If we turn a blind eye to their problematic actions and support their music, we place the artist on an undeserved pedestal. Some people believe they can separate the music from the artist. In a Blade survey of 230 students, approximately 59% of respondants shared this sentiment, but that belief is flawed. Separation is inherently ignorant and harmful. On Twitter, @QGotNoRings said: “It’s a privileged position to say you separate art from artist when the abused can’t separate trauma from their person.” When you decide to support an artist’s work without acknowledging who they are, you boost the artist’s popularity, making them invincible. This creates a culture where accountability takes a back seat to commercial success. As media consumers, we have a responsibility to be aware of who we stream because our support translates directly into
domestic abuse, to watch rapper Sheck Wes rise to overnight fame with his song “Mo Bamba.” Major streaming platforms like Spotify have given listeners an option to mute all music from a specific artist. You can support victims like Skype by taking advantage of this feature which stifles artists’ success. Radio personality Ebro Darden faced backlash for addressing Black’s sexual assault allegations in an interview for Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” show, which caused Black to leave the interview. Some listeners wanted Darben to stick to discussing Black’s music. But, it is delusional and irresponsible to ignore the elephant in the room. Darben’s actions were exactly what we should expect of radio hosts and journalists. Speaking about sexual assault charges should not be worse than having sexual assault charges. Enough is enough. There are implications to separating artists from their music. We silence R. Kelly’s underage victims each time
Speaking about sexual assault charges should not be worse than having sexual assault charges.”
minem
money and power. Although major streaming services like Spotify only pay artists around $0.006 to $0.0084 per stream, the numbers add up quickly when a song gains momentum. A song with 40 plus million streams earns between $280,000 and $390,000. Being entertaining should not erase an artists’ homophobia, misogyny, racism or abuse. There are steps listeners can take to address the problem. Singer Justine Skype spoke about how hard it was for her, as a victim of his
we celebrate his music. We invalidate domestic violence survivors when we decide a catchy beat is more important than their truth. We ignore people of color when we support artists who slander and use racist language. If we stop rushing to defend and support artists that are harmful, we can begin holding them accountable. Willful complacency can no longer be acceptable because it spawns artists who capitalize off of listeners’ ignorance.
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Exchange Experience by Jack Pressgrove illustration by Mansi Patel ‘20
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avigating high school can be scary and difficult. With the additional hardship of being from a different country and speaking a different language, these four years can be even more stressful. Nevertheless, international students Katty Geng ‘20, Felicia Lan ‘22, Lissandra Li ‘20, Stan Shi ‘20, Jacky Wang ‘21 and Harry Zhao ‘20 have successfully transitioned into American high school life. While they appear to be like other high school students, they have unique experiences and challenges because they are over 8,000 miles away from their family and childhood friends.
What is your home city like?
KG: “Beijing is more like New York than Atlanta, but the weather and environment here are better.” SS: “Shanghai is a big city. The people there are not so friendly. You never really know a lot of people.”
Why did you decide to enlist in an exchange program?
LL: “My parents wanted to send me to America because there is very high pressure in Chinese high schools.” KG: “In my old school, we really focused on academics, and the students are very stressed all day. So, I thought it would be better to go to America to experience another culture.” HZ: “I just wanted to experience new things like being in a strange environment and meeting new friends.” SS: “There are a lot more opportunities here because not a lot of students can go to good colleges in China. It’s very competitive.”
What was the application process like, and why did you choose this school?
KG: “There are agencies in China that will help you find what school fits you. I chose Woodward because I heard that it was very diverse, and I liked the campus.” LL: “To apply for the exchange program, you have to get a high enough score on a language exam [TOEFL Test]. The agency told me about Woodward, so I researched the school and thought it was a good school for me.”
What was your school in China like, compared to here?
Harry Zhao ‘20 sits atop a mountain top in Xi’an, China. Photo courtesy of Harry Zhao.
Stan Shi ‘20
Lissandra Li ‘20
Katty Geng ‘20
FL: “In China, middle school was very stressful and had a lot of work. When we had a lunch break, lots of us would sleep because we were so tired.” LL: “The school was all day in China from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. with mandatory study hall after school. American students have a lot more time to do sports and other activities, but Chinese students do not have the free time to develop their own interests. A lot of students take extra academic classes after school.” KG: “I have more time to do stuff I like here because my school in China started at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. The
Jacky Wang ‘21
Harry Zhao ‘20
Felicia Lan ‘22
school here is very big. When you first [arrive], you don’t know anyone. It’s very hard for you to adapt to class. You have to force yourself to talk.” HZ: “In America, students can balance school and activities, but in China, I did not have time to play.” SS: “The biggest difference between my old school is that there is a lot more interaction here. There are a lot of courses to choose from, activities to do and more students to work with.” JW: “At Woodward, students will change classes and the teachers will remain in the office. In China, the teachers change classrooms, and the students remain in their one room.”
What is it like being away from your family for so long?
Are there any noticeable difference between American high school students and Chinese ones?
What do you miss most about home?
KG: “Relationships here are more open and intimate. In China, teenagers don’t really have sex before high school.” HZ: “In China, lower school and middle school students would not do the bench-press or squats. They would only study. But here, in the gym, I see lower school and middle school students doing the bench-press and squats even better than me.” SS: “People here are more friendly. You don’t get to talk to strangers in China, but here, you can always find someone to talk to. I can relate to teenagers more here because teenagers in China usually only care about getting better grades.”
Were you nervous before coming here, or were there any big changes to your life that upset you?
JW: “I was nervous if I was going to be able to communicate well enough and make friends.” FL: “Coming in, I was really confident because I had taken a lot of classes and felt prepared.” LL: “It was hard transitioning in transportation. In China, I had a lot of freedom because I was able to take [a rideshare app] everywhere and use the high-speed train to go to other cities by myself. Here, I am not able to take Uber by myself because my host family worries about my safety.”
LL: “For me, it is not hard being away from them because I am very independent.” KG: “It’s not that hard because you can still talk to them, and my host family is very supportive. They make me not feel homesick.” SS: “I have to take care of myself. I don’t want to cause too much trouble for them, so I have to do a lot of stuff by myself.” FL: “My mom calls me every night. Every night she calls, and every night we get in a fight. At first, I missed home, but after that, I got so busy that I didn’t have time to think about that.” LL: “I miss the food. The first thing I did when I got home was eat.” FL: “I miss the diversity of Chinese food. Because my host family is Indian, they don’t eat beef or pork.” HZ: “The food in China is very different. Here, there is a lot of junk food, but I do really like Chick-fil-A.” JW: “I miss how convenient my life was in Shanghai because I used to use the subway a lot. I feel like it is much safer to use the subway and Uber in China than here.
What do you enjoy most about being here?
JW: “I enjoy the football games here – they are very exciting.” HZ: “My favorite thing to do in Atlanta is to go to Buford Highway for the most authentic food in Atlanta.” FL: “I really like my teachers here. They’re really nice. My Chinese teachers obviously favored the smart kids. Also, I like the Global Connections Center because we can talk about things that the American students don’t understand.”
What are your plans after high school?
LL: “I would like to return to China after college, but it depends on the opportunities I am presented with.” HZ: “In China, everyone admires American degrees. It’s easier for you to get a job.”
When you returned home for Christmas and summer break, were there any reverse-cultural shocks? LL: “When I went back to China, I missed the dishwasher and the [central heating] a lot because in the winter, I was very cold at home.” HZ: “When I go back, sometimes I [subconsciously] use English words, and my friends can’t understand what I’m saying.” JW: “When I went back, it was weird because China bans many social media like Instagram.” FL: “I can’t really get what my old friends are talking about, and they can’t get what I’m talking about. So, there’s a little bit of a difference between [myself] and my old friends.”
Lissandra Li ‘20 tours the Forbidden City of Beijing, China. Photo courtesy of Lissandra Li
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