+ All Categories
Home > Documents > 2013-14; Volume 50; Issue 3; March 2014

2013-14; Volume 50; Issue 3; March 2014

Date post: 26-Apr-2017
Category:
Upload: falconquill
View: 218 times
Download: 3 times
Share this document with a friend
16
Fort Worth Country Day March 2014 Volume 50 Issue 3 S enator Wendy Davis, a former FWCD parent currently serving her sixth year in the Texas Senate, is currently run- ning for Texas governor. As the frontrunner for the Democratic party, Davis will likely face Attorney Gen- eral Greg Abbott, the Republican favorite, in the upcoming gubernatorial race. The election will take place November 4, 2014. Davis is running for governor mainly because she feels that the decisions made in Austin do not adequately reflect the views of most Texans. “I really believe that the voices of every- day people in Texas are being left out of the conversation at the Texas Capitol,” Davis said. According to Davis, rather than taking input from average Texans, the Texas gov- ernment instead relies heavily on the input of lobbyists in Austin. “I feel distressed to see how powerful some of our high paid lobby groups are in the Capitol,” Davis said. Besides the lack of adequate representa- tion of normal Texans, Davis has also been frustrated with the overall political climate in Austin. “There is a great deal of partisanship at play in the Texas Capitol,” Davis said. “An atmosphere where people operate as Democrats against Republicans or vice versa really isn’t in the interest of doing the best work.” If Davis becomes governor, she hopes to fix this prominent issue. “I am hoping to show that we can work in a very bipartisan way, and it is my inten- tion to no longer throw divisive issues on the table that push parties into their corners only to come out fighting,” Davis said. While Davis has been aware of these is- sues in the Texas government for some time, it was not until recently that Davis made her decision to run for governor. “I made my final decision probably around September of this year when it William Newton reporter Texas Sen. Wendy Davis Runs for Governor Former FWCD parent Wendy Davis seeks election as governor Gubernatorial Candidate’s Viewpoints (Information gathered from each candidate’s campaign website.) Wendy DaviS (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT) GREG ABBOTT (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT) - Davis supports a strong public education system because she believes the best way to help Texas is to invest in its future. - Davis promises to strengthen Texas’ infrastructure and protect working Texas families. - Davis is against “insider deals, special interest tax breaks, and favors for political cronies” that are prominent in the Texas Capitol. - Abbott promises to fight against Obamacare because he believes it creates unconstitutional taxes and is detrimental to the Texan economy. - Abbott is an advocate of protecting Texans’ rights to bear arms. - Abbott supports “championing conservative values and religious liberties that define Texans.” looked like there would be a path for me to [become governor],” Davis said. Davis also hopes to give public schools across Texas better funding and support. “The first and most important change [if I am elected governor] would be to reprioritize our focus on public education,” Davis said. Davis has always been a strong proponent of public education, and it was on this topic that Davis made her first major stand at the Texas Capitol. “The first time I really stood strong for something that took a lot of courage for me to stand for was in 2011 when I filibustered the cuts in public education,” Davis said. “We still have so much to do to make sure that students who are falling through the cracks have the resources they need...to suc- ceed,” Davis said. In 2013, Davis staged another filibuster - this time against the strict abortion regula- tions the Texas government tried to impose. During this filibuster, the Senator stood up and spoke for nearly eleven hours without eating, drinking, or even using the restroom. Although Davis takes pride in this stand, she is trying to focus her campaign on larger issues, such as education, so that her campaign isn’t too narrow. As a former FWCD parent (Davis’ daugh- ter Dru graduated in 2007), Davis still has several memories from Country Day. The Senator said her favorite part about being an FWCD parent was watching her daughter’s several field hockey and basket- ball games. Davis also offered some advice for the FWCD juniors and seniors that will be eligible to vote in the upcoming gubernato- rial race. “I would invite them to think outside par- tisan fringe,” Davis said, “and to really lis- ten to what they think is best for the future of the state and who they think is going to best deliver what will take our state to the next great place.” Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, a candidate for Texas governor, aends an education roundtable in Arlington, Texas. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT) Wendy Davis poses with her daugh- ter, Dru Davis ‘07, who graduated Fort Worth Country Day in 2007. Photo courtesy of Flight 2007.
Transcript

Fort Worth Country Day • March 2014 • Volume 50 • Issue 3

Senator Wendy Davis, a former FWCD parent currently serving her sixth year in the Texas Senate, is currently run-

ning for Texas governor. As the frontrunner for the Democratic party, Davis will likely face Attorney Gen-eral Greg Abbott, the Republican favorite, in the upcoming gubernatorial race. The election will take place November 4, 2014. Davis is running for governor mainly because she feels that the decisions made in Austin do not adequately reflect the views of most Texans. “I really believe that the voices of every-day people in Texas are being left out of the conversation at the Texas Capitol,” Davis said. According to Davis, rather than taking input from average Texans, the Texas gov-ernment instead relies heavily on the input of lobbyists in Austin. “I feel distressed to see how powerful some of our high paid lobby groups are in the Capitol,” Davis said. Besides the lack of adequate representa-tion of normal Texans, Davis has also been frustrated with the overall political climate in Austin. “There is a great deal of partisanship at play in the Texas Capitol,” Davis said. “An atmosphere where people operate as Democrats against Republicans or vice versa really isn’t in the interest of doing the best work.” If Davis becomes governor, she hopes to fix this prominent issue. “I am hoping to show that we can work in a very bipartisan way, and it is my inten-tion to no longer throw divisive issues on the table that push parties into their corners only to come out fighting,” Davis said. While Davis has been aware of these is-sues in the Texas government for some time, it was not until recently that Davis made her decision to run for governor. “I made my final decision probably around September of this year when it

William Newtonreporter

Texas Sen. Wendy Davis Runs for Governor Former FWCD parent Wendy Davis seeks election as governor

Gubernatorial Candidate’s Viewpoints(Information gathered from each candidate’s campaign website.)

Wendy DaviS

(Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)

GREG ABBOTT

(Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

- Davis supports a strong public education system because she believes the best way to help Texas is to invest in its future.

- Davis promises to strengthen Texas’ infrastructure and protect working Texas families.

- Davis is against “insider deals, special interest tax breaks, and favors for political cronies” that are prominent in the Texas Capitol.

- Abbott promises to fight against Obamacare because he believes it creates unconstitutional taxes and is detrimental to the Texan economy.

- Abbott is an advocate of protecting Texans’ rights to bear arms.

- Abbott supports “championing conservative values and religious liberties that define Texans.”

looked like there would be a path for me to [become governor],” Davis said. Davis also hopes to give public schools across Texas better funding and support. “The first and most important change [if I am elected governor] would be to reprioritize our focus on public education,” Davis said. Davis has always been a strong proponent of public education, and it was on this topic that Davis made her first major stand at the Texas Capitol. “The first time I really stood strong for something that took a lot of courage for me to stand for was in 2011 when I filibustered the cuts in public education,” Davis said. “We still have so much to do to make sure that students who are falling through the cracks have the resources they need...to suc-ceed,” Davis said. In 2013, Davis staged another filibuster - this time against the strict abortion regula-tions the Texas government tried to impose. During this filibuster, the Senator stood up and spoke for nearly eleven hours without eating, drinking, or even using the restroom. Although Davis takes pride in this stand, she is trying to focus her campaign on larger issues, such as education, so that her campaign isn’t too narrow. As a former FWCD parent (Davis’ daugh-ter Dru graduated in 2007), Davis still has several memories from Country Day. The Senator said her favorite part about being an FWCD parent was watching her daughter’s several field hockey and basket-ball games. Davis also offered some advice for the FWCD juniors and seniors that will be eligible to vote in the upcoming gubernato-rial race. “I would invite them to think outside par-tisan fringe,” Davis said, “and to really lis-ten to what they think is best for the future of the state and who they think is going to best deliver what will take our state to the next great place.”

Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, a candidate for Texas governor, attends an education roundtable in Arlington, Texas. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

Wendy Davis poses with her daugh-ter, Dru Davis ‘07, who graduated Fort Worth Country Day in 2007. Photo courtesy of Flight 2007.

NEW

S2

FALC

ON

Q

UIL

L

THE

MAR.2014

Editor in ChiefZane Lincoln

Managing EditorTyler Steele

Copy EditorConnall McCormack

Advertising/Business EditorKatie Anderson

Sections EditorMimi Ryan

Photography EditorAlex Doswell

Online EditorGarrett Podell

ReportersRoss Biggs

Olivia LincolnWilliam Newton

Kate NolanBrianna OrdoñezNatalie RosenthalAbby Steinsieck

AdviserLisa Wallace

Fort Worth Country Day 4200 Country Day Lane

Fort Worth, TX 76109(817) 732-7718 ext. 411

[email protected]

The Falcon Quill Onlinewww.falconquill.org

The Quill is published six times a year by the Upper School journalism class. The

opinions expressed herein are those of the staff and do not necessarily reflect that of the student body, adviser, faculty or staff. Guest columns, letters to the editor and

articles are welcome, but submissions are subject to editing and submission does not

guarantee publication.

The Quill accepts advertising from public and private enterprises, given its

appropriateness for young audiences. The Quill reserves the right to either accept or

deny any advertisement.

FALCON QUILLNEWS BRIEFS

FWCD Students Achieve national

merit Status

The Falcon Quill congratulates the five FWCD seniors (John Callaway, Kathy Hwang, Hannah Kelly, Jack Livingston and William Nober) that

progressed from National Merit semifinalist to the finalist stage. The students will now compete against 15,000 stu-dents nationwide for 8,000 National Merit Scholarships.

texas Gay marriage ban struck down

U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia struck down the Texas ban on gay marriage recently, declaring the ban to be “state-imposed inequality.” Attorney Gen-

eral Greg Abbott has vowed to appeal the decision, signifying that a long road lies ahead to legalizing gay marriage in one of the nation’s most conservative states.

boston marathon ramps up security

In anticipation of the first Boston Marathon since the April 15, 2013 bombings that killed three and injured 264, the organizers of the marathon have announced stringent

new security policies designed to prevent another attack. Bags, strollers, costumes, large containers and bulky clothing are all banned in an attempt to prevent copycat attacks.

SPRING BREAK BEGINS, THIRD QUARTER ENDS

Friday begins spring break and brings the third quarter to a close, marking the beginning of the final-stretch run of the school year. Look forward to an extra-long

break as school will also be out on Monday, March 17 due to a faculty inservice. Seniors, only 70 days to go!

New BYOD policy:Estimated Cost of

Device Per Student Computer: $499

(Will vary based on model) Briefcase/Case: $100

Software: $80 Total: $679

FWCD TO IMPLEMENT NEW BYOD POLICY

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, Upper School students in grades 10-12 will be required to come to school with an appropriate mobile device.

Appropriate devices will include laptops (PC or Mac), Chromebooks and tablets such as iPads. Devices must be outfitted with a battery that lasts the whole day, a WiFi card, an internet browser, and a word processing software. All students must have a protective case or briefcase for their devices. Special note: a smartphone will not meet the BYOD requirements. Estimated costs for each student are outlined below:

DECISION COMING SOON ON GPA SYsTEM CHANGES

After several months of deliberation, a decision is com-ing soon regarding changes to the grading system at FWCD. A committee consisting of students, faculty

and administration deliberated and worked constructively for several months to make the best decision possible. Look for the final decision in a letter from Head of School Evan D. Peterson later this week.

Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott vows to defend the gay marriage ban in Texas. Photo courtesy of Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Tele-gram/MCT

Jack Livingston ‘14, Kathy Hwang ‘14, William Nober ‘14, Hannah Kelly ‘14 and John Callaway ‘14 all ad-vanced to the National Merit Finalist stage. Photo courtesy of FWCD

FWCD to offer new mson classes for

2014-2015

Next school year, FWCD will offer several new Malone Schools Online courses after a successful first full year of participation. Course offerings will include Ad-

vanced Abstract Math, Advanced Computer Programming, Advanced Topics in Chemistry, Ancient Greek, Arabic I and II, Art History: From Venus to Vera, BioEthics, Chinese V, Contemporary Topics in Music History, Critical Reading and Argumentation, Etymology of Scientific Terms, Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Island of Misfit Texts: Studies in the Sui Generis, Meteorology, Modern Physics, Multivariable Cal-culus, and Topics in Ottoman History. Sixteen schools from all across the United States participate in the program.

OSCAR WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Oscar winners for 2013 were announced on Sunday, March 2. Matthew McConaughey won the Best Actor award for his role as Ron Woodroof in “Dallas

Buyers Club”, Cate Blanchett won best actress for her title role in “Blue Jasmine,” Alfonso Cuaron won best director for “Gravity,” and “12 Years a Slave” won best picture. Leonardo DiCaprio was once again left Oscar-less after being nominated for best actor as Jordan Belfort and best picture for “Wolf of Wall Street.”

RUSSIA, UKRAINE BRACE FOR WAR

The eastern European nation of Ukraine teeters on the brink of civil war after protesters ousted presi-dent Viktor Yanukovich, who was forced to leave

the country but maintains that he remains the country’s leader. Russia has ramped up its military presence in the area, sparking international concerns of a takeover. The international community fears Russia will use the poten-tial civil war as a false pretense to invade and reclaim its former territory. President Barack Obama and the United States government are currently exploring diplomatic and economic options for intervention.

HONOR COUNCIL FILING CLOSES FRIDAY

The deadline to file as a candidate for the 2014-2015 Honor Council is this Friday, March 7. Candidates will give speeches on March 20 and elections will

be held the same day. The Honor Council, which consists of one representative per grade in addition to a senior president, is responsible for upholding the school’s Honor Code and reviewing any Honor Code violations.

NEW

S3

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

UnderConstruction

University Park Village goes through renovations, including new stores and a change of location for Starbucks

Natalie rosenthal reporter

The open-aired University Park Vil-lage includes Fort Worth’s most charming boutiques and appetizing

cafes, and is located in central Fort Worth. The 30 plus tenants are filled with local favorites like McKinley’s Fine Bakery and Café, Blue Mesa Grill, Fran-cesca’s Collection, and Lululemon Athletica, making University the perfect place for anyone to dine or enjoy a day of shopping. Since 1986, it has expanded to its current size, and included the most prestigious restaurants, clothing stores, home décor shops, and entertainment. The well- loved Barnes and Noble Booksellers, which closed on December 31, 2013, is in the process of becoming four new stores, and the Starbuck’s is moving locations a few stores down to the former Menchie’s frozen yogurt spot next to the Apple Store. No leases have been signed for the Barnes and Noble locations yet.

Barnes and Noble Bookstore closed down in December 2013. Bookstores have recently been struggling be-cause of the competition amid the growth of e-books and tablets. Even though the University Park Village and Downtown Fort Worth locations are closed, there still exists a Barnes & Noble on Hulen Street, near Hulen Mall. Photo by Alex Doswell ‘16

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Ro-deo came to town and unfortunately, so did the flu. So far there have been

at least 33 confirmed deaths in Texas; 21 oth-ers were reported across the U.S. Every year around 5-20 percent of U.S. residents get the flu. In December, there were more cases than in past years, but now the amount of cases is well below last year’s. Some of the symptoms can include fever, sore throat, chills, head-aches, or vomiting. Although it seems like there are more younger people affected by the flu this year, FWCD nurse Lori McCormack said that the media is focusing on the deaths of younger people more this year than in the past. These people who have died from the flu have also had underlying health issues; since the flu attacks the immune system, it can make people more susceptible to other diseases. “People that are not vaccinated are more likely to get the flu or other diseases so we recommend that everyone should get a flu shot,” McCormack said.

Kate Nolanreporter

Flu OutbreakFlu poses threat to those

without vaccine

Cateringand PartiesWhether you’re planning a big celebration or a small get-together, let Blue Mesa Grill bring the flavors of the Southwest and seamless professional service to your event.

Three levels of catering service - full service, set-up service or "no frills" pick up or delivery. Party planning and rentals Private and semi-private dining rooms in all locations

MENUS STARTING AT$10 FOR LUNCH

($8.50 BOX LUNCHES)AND $14 FOR DINNER

FORT WORTHUniversity Park Village1600 South University Drive817.332.6372

ARLINGTONI-30 at Collins550 Lincoln Square682.323.3050

Catering& Party Menus

SaddleFEAT

UR

ES4

FALC

ON

Q

UIL

L

THE

MAR.2014

If you asked Isabelle Potts ‘14 if she would be able to walk again two years ago,

the answer may have been two things: uncertain and grim. On December 8,

2012, Potts got up just like any other day and headed to the barn to compete in Waco, Texas at its annual Christ-mas Horse Show. She didn’t wake up that morning thinking that she would come mere centimeters from paralyzation. Jumping for Potts has always been something she loves to do, something fun, something natural; however, something was off that day.

“The takeoff distance [for my horse] was miscalculated, which messed up my jump and ended up throwing me off,” Potts said.

Like any injury, Potts’ required rehab, lots of rehab. “It was horrible,” Potts said.

Sometimes injuries can put your life on hold. This was no exception. Potts was out of school for roughly a month and couldn’t do any physical activity for three months. Eager to start riding again, she was at the barn just four months after the poten-tially life-threatening injury and just one month after being cleared for physical activity.

“My physical therapist and I made my back stronger through strength exer-cises, which helped prepare me really well for getting [back] on a horse,” Potts said.

Completely focused on how quickly she got back to riding, Potts nearly forgot to tell me about the medici-nal side of her recovery. “I was on lots of medication for about two-to-three months and slowly decreased my dose as time went on,” Potts said. “I was on over ten types of drugs.”

Some athletes view an injury as a sign to slow it down, maybe even to take a break. Having such an important part of the body as the back injured is nothing to treat casually, how-ever, Potts worked up to her pain threshold every day to get back into healthy form as soon as possible. “After four months when I started riding again, I took it step by step,” Potts said. “I rode

as much as I could comfortably.” She never viewed her injury as a

sign to hold herself back when rid-ing, but rather as motivation to get back to where she was before she got hurt. Just three weeks after she started practicing, she entered in her

first competition. “I started showing again three weeks

after I started riding again,” Potts said. Although the severity of Potts’ injury

was alarming, she took it as a blessing in disguise.

“I look at my injury as a good thing in the sense that it let me branch out socially and learn how to balance my time between riding and hanging out with friends,” Potts said. Just a little over two years after her ac-cident in Waco and ready to start her senior year healthy again, Potts returned to riding, but not without a few changes. “It’s really confusing actually,” Potts said. “Now, I ride at the same barn in Weather-ford. I have a different trainer now, though. Before my injury, I was trained by a Native Texan, however, when she married her hus-band, he became my new trainer.” On December 13, 2014, something unthinkable happened in Waco at the same event. It’s not uncommon for riders to buy

Zane Lincolneditor in chief

Back in theand sell horses fairly frequently; Potts, having just bought a new horse from Denmark, planned on riding that same horse at the Christmas Horse Show. The horse had to be transported from Denmark to the United States by plane and then put into quarantine to prevent the horse from becoming sick due to the new environment. “Because the horse was only in the U.S. for a week, I didn’t have time to get to know the horse, and the first day of showing I messed up on the last fence of the course and got caught between the wall and the horse, which resulted in my broken arm,” Potts said. Even though the broken wrist has set her back a little, Potts is still able to compete. “I was only out for a month and a half,” Potts said. “Cur-rently, I’m on a show circuit for 8 weeks in Palm Springs, California.” In fact, Potts is currently riding in the HITS Desert Cir-cuit in Thermal, California. That’s a mouthful. Traveling is easy when it’s over a break; however, when you are going to and from California every weekend during a school year, it’s a different story. “I fly back and forth every weekend and talk to my teach-ers in advance in order to stay caught up,” Potts said. Even though it’s second semester of her senior year, Potts is enrolled in five APs. “It’s been hard trying to keep up with school and showing at the same time, but I’m learning how to get it done,” Potts said. Just like her first injury taught her how to balance time, this injury has interestingly been linked to learning how to balance school life with a demanding athletic life.

Isabelle Potts ‘14 rides leisurely through the schooling ring before competing in a classic round at the show grounds in southern California. “[Riders] warm up and jump a little before going into the show ring,” Potts said. Classic rounds usually entail higher prize money purses, but also mean stiffer competition. Photo by Olivia Potts

“The hotel is amazing,” Potts said. “For my birthday, the manager had a balloon and a dessert tray waiting for me in my room after I got off the plane and got to the hotel. It was really nice after a day at school and an afternoon flight.” Even though the show is in California, Potts still has to work just as hard. Sometimes, her days are actually longer than they would be if she were in town going to school. “I don’t have much time to relax at the hotel because I leave for the barn at around 6:30 or 7:00 and stay there all day until about 7:00 at night, but it’s beautiful there and I’m able to enjoy California,” Potts said. Just as a baseball player may have two-to-three bats or a tennis player may have five-to-six rackets, equestrian riders sometimes have more than one horse to ride, depending on the events in which they ride. “I have two horses there; one of them is six years old and the other is the same nine-year-old horse that came from Den-mark,” Potts said. These horses, along with her talented coach and inestimable motivation, could yield extremely rewarding results. “At the end of the eight weeks, there is a qualifying million-dollar Grand Prix, to which my trainer has already been invited,” Potts said. “Hopefully in about two or three years, I can be good enough to qualify for it.” Needless to say, Potts has come a long way in just two short years. She’s gone from being a few centimeters from paralyza-tion to competing in circuits that could ultimately make her the highest-earning student at FWCD. Maybe injuries aren’t always bad; sometimes, they can be a blessing in disguise, as was the case for Potts.

FEATUR

ES5

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

THROWIN’ IT BACKUpper School teachers take a trip down memory lane and share their favorite moments

KATIE ANDERSONads editor

US Math teacher Ravi Pilllalamarri gathers around his two sisters and his mother to celebrate a family birthday with a banana cake. Photo courtesy of Ravi Pillalamarri

US History Department Chair Brian Farda poses for his portrait in his senior year of high school. He attended Irving Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas. “I played football and participated in track and field all four years of high school,” Farda said. Photo courtesy of Brian Farda

US Modern and Classical Languages teacher Bob Booth rides his bicycle in a race in Mexico. He lived in Mexico for a few years of his life, and bicycling was a pastime of his while he was there. Photo courtesy of Bob Booth

FEAT

UR

ES6

FALC

ON

Q

UIL

L

THE

MAR.2014

1. My dream school is Texas Christian Univer-sity, which is approximately five minutes away from my house.2. If I were to have only one meal for the rest of my life, it would be Kraft macaroni and cheese. I would like to say I’m good at making macaroni, but I’m not. My mom makes it for me, and she does a good job. 3. If I could get on any TV show, it would be the Bachelor. My favorite Bachelor is Arie or Jef with one F. My favorite Bachelorette was Emily which is a coincidence because Jef won on Emily’s season.4. I have an out-y belly button. 5. Kanye West’s “Stronger” describes my work ethic because it motivates me to be bigger, better, faster, stronger. Rihanna’s “S&M” is a close second. 6. I got the name Branson from my great grandmother. It was her maiden name. I was supposed to be named William and have the nickname, Will, but a few minutes before I was born, my grandmother convinced my mom to name me Branson. 7. I once got a pedicure as a dare. 8. This is my second consecutive year as stu-dent class president. I love it, so I’m running again in 2014 for junior class president. 9. North Dakota and Kansas would be the states that I would get rid of if I had the power to. They’re just worthless.10. Blake Lively, Matt Damon, and Dean Barker would be at my dinner table if I could have any three people. 11. If I could be in a championship game in any sport, it would definitely be jousting. 12. Confession: I’m addicted to Carmex lip balm.13. I was always getting in trouble when I was little. I was a brat. When I was 5, my parents put a fence around the pool so I couldn’t swim without them watching me, but I jumped the fence anyway. I’m a bit of a monkey.14. I would go to Holland Hall if I didn’t go to FWCD, and I had to go to another school in the SPC. Go Dutch!15. If I were to die tomorrow, I would want to spend my last day skydiving in the Fiji Islands. 16. The best teacher I’ve ever had at FWCD is Mrs. Dugan in third grade. I almost cried when she left. 17. My favorite social media account is Twitter because it allows me to keep up with all of the celeb gossip and get updates on how my friend’s lives are. Follow me @bransonnelson518. I’m a Flappy Bird addict. It allows me to challenge myself in ways I never imagined. I have a condition, and I should probably get checked out. My high score is 69. So close to 70.19. If my house caught on fire, and I could only take three things: I would take my mom, my dad, and my dog, Lucy. Notice I left out my sister Madison (Nelson ’14). 20. I speak Spanish and English. If I could learn another language, it would probably be an African tribal language. 21. My favorite holiday is Ground Hog’s Day. I think it’s really overshadowed. That’s a pun, get it?22. I would rather get attacked by a shark than burn in a house fire. House fires are too common. I would probably make the news if I died in a shark attack.23. My role model is Dean Barker. I think he’s a man that every boy should aspire to be.24. I have a few talents, but my best talent is Membean. I actually really enjoy doing my Membean minutes and taking quizzes. I once joked on my Twitter that Membean minutes are 90 seconds long, but they aren’t. People believed me.25. Alex Doswell is my favorite Quill writer. She’s also my bestie. And I’m not just saying that because she’s interviewing me right now.

Branson Nelson:25 things you don’t know about me

Alex Doswell photo editor

Think you know everything there is to know about the sophomore class president? Think again.

1. Singer and producer Kayne West’s song “Stronger” is Nelson’s favorite pump up song. “Stronger” appeared on his 2007 album “Gradua-tion.” “There’s no song like “Stronger.” It gets me pumped up for everything from basketball games to my Membean quizzes,” Nelson said. Photo courtesy of Hahn-Khayat/Abaca Press/MCT 2. Nelson and his older sister, Madison Nelson ‘14, and older brother, Parker Nelson ‘10, are all smiles for their 2013 Christmas card. The Nelsons always send out a Christmas card of the three siblings every year. “Branson can never take the Christmas card picture seriously. He’s always goofing off, but it makes it funnier,” Madison Nelson ‘14 said. Photo courtesy of Madison Nelson ‘143. Nelson sports his Halloween-themed pedicure that he got done as a joke this past Halloween. Caroline Cameron ‘16 dared him to do it in a game of “What are the Odds.” “I didn’t think he’d go through with it, but he did and it was really funny,” Cameron said. Photo by Caroline Cameron ‘164. This year, Nelson asked his “bestie” Alex Doswell ‘16 to Homecoming by spelling out “Homecoming?” with field hockey sticks and a box of JRae’s cookies. He asked Doswell ‘16 this way because of her love for field hockey and JRae’s cookies. “Going to Homecoming with Branson was fun because he can make people laugh so easily,” Doswell said. Photo courtesy of Alex Doswell ‘16 5. Holland Hall is one of the two SPC schools in Oklahoma. Nelson visited there for the first time during basketball season when the Falcons played the Dutch. “If I could go to another school in the SPC besides FWCD, I would to Holland Hall because the girls are hot,” Nelson said. Photo courtesy of Holland Hall 6. In this cartoon drawn by JR Torres ‘15, Nelson is shown devouring a mountain of macaroni. His love for macaroni cannot be surpassed. “I’ve had some pretty good macaroni in my life, but nothing beats the Kraft mac n’ cheese my mom makes for me,” Nelson ‘16 said. Illustra-tion by JR Torres ‘15

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

““

FEATUR

ES7

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

Mimi Ryan section editor

As Kristin Robin-son ’16 sits in her light blue room,

strumming her 6-chord acoustic guitar, writing lyr-ics that fall off her lips, she confesses that her music career is “challenging but rewarding.” Robinson is a triple, even quadruple, threat: a songwriter, singer, actor, and a dancer. “I don’t know about dancing, but music is a big part of my life,” Robinson said. Robinson started at a young age, taking piano lessons in kindergarten. In fifth grade, she began musical theater at Casa Mañana and befriended fellow thespians that she has kept up with since she quit in eighth grade. Robinson began playing the guitar and writing songs of her own in the eighth grade and started to play the ukulele her fresh-man year. Just last year she began seriously thinking about her career, and what better way to start her career off strong then by composing the music and playing the guitar on stage for the FWCD Theater Department fall produc-tion of “Almost, Maine.” “When [FWCD dance and theater teacher, Natalie Bracken ‘05] told me that she wanted to add music in the play, I thought it would be a great chance for me to combine writing music and pushing myself. This opportunity would give me a chance to perform and show my stuff,” Robinson said.

Kristin Robinson ’16 plays guitar in the fall play “Almost, Maine.” Robinson wrote and played the background music in the play as well as performed in the scenes. Photo courtesy of FWCD Theater Department

A New Set of Strings

Kristin Robinson ‘16 represents the falcons with Mad-die Jiongo ‘14 at the first cheer competition at the Dal-las Cowboys Stadium in November. Photo courtesy of Kristin Robinson ‘16

Remember when we were little and we didn’t want to go to bed? It was always five more minutes and one more cartoon. Or when we put up a fuss at naptime? A lot of hollering about not being tired

before we collapsed into tiny beds clenching world-wary stuffed animals? Boy, wouldn’t we like those days back. Insomnia is a problem in many teenagers and adults. The Center for Dis-ease Control even called insufficient sleep “a public health epidemic.” Sleep for teenagers is extremely important. A good night’s sleep helps our memory, our focus, and our moods. Most people drink caffeine to stay awake, which is

all well and good, yet if you try to fall asleep it takes six hours for caffeine to completely wear off. Teenagers have also become very connected to their devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) but using those devices keeps our brains awake and makes it impossible to fall asleep. “When kids can’t turn their brains off it can be an indicator of depression and anxiety,” US Counselor Ginger Robinson said. There are four main symp-toms of insomnia: difficulty falling asleep, waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep, waking up too early, and feel-ing tired when waking. Acute insomnia is usually in times of high stress while chronic insomnia is usually caused by anxiety or depression, accord-ing to WebMD. At Fort Worth Country Day we have many sleepless nights, studying for tests and writing paper. “It has a cumulative effect,” Nurse Lori McCormack said. “Students pull all-nighters to finish work and then can’t make it through the next day.” Most teenagers have some type of sleep disorder, for example sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleep deprivation. Our bio-logical clocks are off and it’s dif-ficult for most to even get asleep before eleven o’clock. Teenagers need about nine hours of sleep a night which is unlikely for most. The best things to do is stay off your devices just before you go to sleep, keep your room cool and quiet, and establish a bed and wake time to regulate your sleep.

Sleepless in Fort Worth

abby steinsieckreporter

Nurse and guidance counselor explain causes of not getting enough sleep and effects on school life

1. No caffeine after five at the latest. If you can help it, no caffeine after noon or for some it’s best not to drink caffeine at all. 2. Stay off your com-puter before bed; an hour before would be nice if you can manage it. 3. Deep breathing can help some, it helps get oxygen to the brain and relax you. 4. Exercise mid-after-noon, not too close to bedtime, though it re-leases adrenaline that will keep you awake. 5. If sleep problems persist you should talk to Nurse McCormack or Ginger; there may be something else at play.

Tips to Help You Sleep

Robinson put in a lot of her time and talent into this play and she wanted it to be good. She began writing the music in June and finished in September. She wrote 8-10 one-minute songs that were played in between each scene, each song named according to the scene they went with. Along with strumming her guitar between scenes, she also played the role of Sandrine, a newly engaged girl who comes across her ex-boy-friend, Jimmy (Coleman Walker ’15), who is still in love with her. If she gets the opportu-nity, Robinson hopes to write more songs for school plays in the future. Robinson seems to be all music all the time. She sings randomly and constantly and loves to sing her own songs. Her favorite food is the macaroni and cheese from Panera Bread and she loves to watch Joseph-Gordon Levitt play the role of Tom Hansen in “500 Days of Summer.” Her favorite place to hang out is Brewed, while listening to artists like The Eastern Sea and Corey Kilgannon, who recently followed Robinson on Twitter, and she’s thrilled. Robinson definitely wants to work in the music industry when she gets older, if not singing, then producing. “It’s a great way to express myself and cre-ate something that is mine,” Robinson said.

Kristin Robinson ‘16 uses musical talents to add to FWCD Theater Department

When kids can’t turn their brains off it, can be an indicator of depression

and anxiety.

-- US Counselor Ginger Robinson

CEN

TERS

PR

EAD

8FA

LCO

N

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

Zane’s Pick“Pure Heroine”

Tyler’s Pick“The Walking Dead”

Alex’s Pick“The Hunger

Games:Catching Fire”

Katie’s Pick“Grey’s Anatomy”

Connall’s Pick“Let’s Be Still”

Garrett’s Pick“Night Visions”

Mimi’s Pick“Ferris Bueller’s

Day Off”

Zane’s Pick“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”

Editor’s PicksThe editors of the “Falcon Quill” offer their top picks for best album, TV show, and movie

Other Picks

Albums“Evil Friends” - Portugal, The Man (CM) “Tha Carter IV” - Lil Wayne (ZL)“Bangerz” - Miley Cyrus (KA)“Believe” - Justin Bieber (KA)“Ready to Die” - Notorious B.I.G. (TS)“Nevermind” - Nirvana (TS)“All the Little Lights” - Passenger (AD)“Midnight Memories” - One Direction (KA)“AM” - Arctic Monkeys (CM)“No Strings Attached” - *NSYNC (MR)“Born To Die” - Lana del Rey (MR)“Overexposed” - Maroon 5 (GP)“Unorthodox Jukebox” - Bruno Mars (GP)

Movies“Pearl Harbor” (ZL)“The Town” (ZL)“The Notebook” (KA)“The Heat” (KA)“The Godfather” (TS)“Shawshank Redemption” (TS)“Frozen” (AD)“Sweet Home Alabama” (AD)“Almost Famous” (CM)“Friday Night Lights” (CM)“She’s All That” (MR)“Because of Winn Dixie” (MR)“Man of Steel” (GP)

“Now You See Me” (GP)

TV Shows“Sherlock” (TS)“Seinfeld” (TS)“Royal Pains” (ZL)“Celebrity Apprentice” (ZL)“Vampire Diaries” (KA)“Pretty Little Liars” (KA)“Desperate Housewives” (AD)“Revenge” (AD)“Mad Men” (CM)“House of Cards” (CM)“Saved By The Bell” (MR)“90210” (MR)“Chuck” (GP)“Modern Family” (GP)

9

MAR.2014

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

CEN

TERSPR

EAD

SPO

RTS

10FA

LCO

N

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

Sochi Stories: America’s AngelsGarrett Podellonline editor

USA’s Ted Ligety wins gold in the men’s giant slalom during the Win-ter Olympic Games in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014. Photo courtesy of (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

USA’s Alex Deibold is carried by teammates after winning the bronze medal for the Men’s Snowboard Cross for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. Photo courtesy of(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/MCT)

Ted Ligety didn’t medal in Vancouver. Since that defeat, Ligety has risen to become three-time defending world champ and best slalom skier in the world. The victory was a dominant one as he finished half a second ahead of the pack. This medal also

happened His teammate and decorated Olympian, Bode Miller declared to the New York Times, “[Ligety] is one of the best slalom skiers in history.” Since he won a gold medal in Turin in 2006 as well, Ligety became only the second all time Alpine Skier to win two gold medals. At this point, it’s safe to say Ligety is at the top of the Alpine skiing mountain.

Deibold

Idaho and Utah have a fight to pick. Where is now Olympic gold medalist Sage Kotsen-burg from? He was born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho but raised in Park City, Utah, famous for its ski hills. Either way, Kotsenburg embodies the stereotypical snowboarder dude

mold with his blonde locks and his chill, go-with-the-flow-attitude. America is proud to have him. That attitude ended up winning him gold, as he attempted the winning trick, the 1620 Japan, for the first time ever in the middle of his event. When asked about the enormity of being the first American athlete to medal on Russian soil with a trick he had never attempt-ed, he simply said, “I just winged it…I had never done the trick before, there’s just no other place to do it.” Such an outlook should be adopted by all athletes because some have shed tears of sadness over receiving bronze. Sage Kotsenburg lives life with a golden outlook and now has a gold medal.

In the previous Winter Games in Vancouver, he was board technician, a fancy term for snowboard mechanic. This time, Alex Deibold ended up on the podium. Yes, Deibold pulled off the stereotypical rags to riches

transformation from a board junkie to bronze medalist in the snowboard cross. Even the finish was a miraculous one. He and teammate Trevor Jacob jumped at the same time on the second to last jump and as they both slid across the finish line. Deibold discovered his victory as the results flashed on the video board. When you think about it, Deibold’s victory would be like one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s pit crewmembers turning into a driver and win-ning the Daytona 500. Deibold is a symbol of American perseverance.

USA’s Meryl Davis and Charlie White win gold in the ice dancing competition during the Winter Olympics at the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, Russia, on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014. Photo courtesy of(Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/MCT)

White & Davis

The first time Charlie White and Meryl Davis danced with each other was when Charlie was eight, and she was nine. At ages 26 and 27 respectively, they were able to pull off a feat never accomplished in the history of our great nation: a gold medal in

couples ice dancing. Even more impressive, White and Davis defeated Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the defending champs from the Vancouver games. The controversial thing is the two pairs happen to have the same coach, Marina Zoueva, as both couples train in Detroit with her. Weir and Virtue believed that their coach favored the American team this team around, complaining that Zoueva spent an inordinate amount of time with the Americans. No matter the complications, Davis and White were able to win gold for Team USA.

Ligety

Sage Kotsenburg of the United States makes his first run of the finals on his way to gold in the Men’s Slopestyle in the 2014 Winter Olym-pics in Sochi, Russia. Photo courtesy of Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/MCT

Kotsenburg

Illustration by J.R. Torres ‘15

SPO

RTS11

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

SPO

RTS

12FA

LCO

N

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

Crosby Lipscomb - BaseballCrosby will be a huge asset to the FWCD baseball program season. This will be his fourth year as a varsity player in the Upper School, while he also did serve two years while in middle school. Last season play-ing pitcher he had the ERA, the earned run average, of 3.06. But while out on the field he game out with a .468 batting average. These accomplishments and more are what made him the MVP last season. “He’s a guy that I hope all of our younger players latch on to and really strive to emu-late,” Coach Brady Benoit said. Lipscomb will this season serve as pitcher. He is also committed to playing at Sewanee next year.

Reign Parker - Girls Golf“[She] has made us a better team,” Coach Dean Barker said. Parker will now be playing her fourth season in the girls golf-ing program, while she has been playing since childhood. As this will be Parker’s last season play-ing with FWCD she says that she does plan on coming back to watch next year’s team.

Brandon Evans - TrackBrandon is a sophomore runner who has been a part of track since he was in seventh grade. Last year, he broke the record for the triple jump. He also partici-pates in the 100, 200 and long jump. One of his favorite things about track is being with Kyle O’Brien and arguing with him every day.

Tyler Steele - LacrosseThis season will be Steele’s fourth playing in the Upper School. Lacrosse being a sport that needs agility and strength, practice is very important to improve and this deter-mination has been noticeable by not only coaches but as well by other teammates. The lacrosse team plans on coming back bigger and better, continuing to “face-off and get-off ” becoming a win-worth team. Steele will be playing in the defensive posi-tion.

Shane Markwardt - Boys GolfThis will be Shane’s last season playing with FWCD. In the past few years it is noted that the golfing program, led by coaches Bill Arnold, Dean Barker and Bill Baker, has improved tremendously. “The quality of the program is partly due to Shane’s participa-tion,” Coach Bill Arnold said of Markwardt ‘14. This year’s golf team hopes to build on

Spring Sports Athlete Highlights

Steele ‘14 runs down the lacrosse field. He has been a member of the team for three years, and will conclude his last season as captain. Photo by Bailee Wal-lace ‘14

Adele Elkind ‘16 throws a pitch during practice. She is an athlete at heart, being a member of both the varsity Track & Field and varsity softball teams. Photo by Bailee Wallace ‘14

Athletes to watch as the spring season beginsBrianna ordoñez and olivia lincolnreporters

Podell ‘15 hits a fore-hand against his Trojan opponent at TVS. Podell, who has been a member of the team since freshman year, is now the oldest player on the boys team; the team has no senior boys. Photo by Chloe Pyron ‘17

last year’s success and be a highly competitive team in SPC.

Garrett Podell - Boys TennisPodell will be starting his third season of varsity tennis this year. Since he was nine, he has enjoyed playing the game. He is excited to be a team captain this year. This will be a very nostalgic season for him because it is his last year here at FWCD. He will be returning to his home state of Georgia, but he plans on continuing to play tennis during his last year of high school. Even though he will be leav-ing FWCD, Podell said, “County Day sports

have helped me become the person that I am today and it’s a blessing to be able to play tennis and have a break from schoolwork and studying.”

Adele Elkind - SoftballElkind is a sophomore varsity softball player. She is a pitcher, but she also plays centerfield. She is very experienced, as she has played every year since she was seven years old. She enjoys the sport because “the competi-tion and criticism make a better all around player.” She also plays on a team outside of school, the Firecrackers.

Lipscomb ‘14 jogs to first plate after being walked by the TVS pitcher. Lipscomb plays second base and is considered to be a very valuable asset to the team. Photo by Bailee Wallace ‘14

Brandon Evans ‘16 sprints during the 100-meter dash; he is known for performing well in this event, being the fastest runner on the team in this event. Photo by Lauren Wagner ‘14

SPO

RTS13

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

Imagine a college student attending school and earning a diploma without the ability to read or write. Sounds crazy, right?

Welcome to the world of college athletics. In order to participate in their sport, college athletes must remain in good academic standing with the university. However, it’s difficult for athletes to maintain these stan-dards when they’re used to receiving special treatment in the classroom in exchange for performance on the field. Enter academic counselors and tutors. A former football player for the University of North Caroli-na, Michael McAdoo, alleged in an interview with a Raleigh, N.C. newspaper that the school’s academic advisors enrolled him in four classes that never physically met. One course, “Blacks in North Carolina,” was filled exclusively with mem-bers of the football team. McAdoo was removed from the team in 2010 after it was found that tutors wrote three of his term papers. The allegations don’t stop there for UNC. Mary Willingham was a learning specialist at North Carolina who interviewed with CNN regarding academic fraud. She conducted a study of 183 athletes who played football or basketball between the years of 2004 and 2012, and concluded that 60 percent were incapable of reading beyond an eighth grade level, and 10 percent couldn’t read beyond a third grade level. This is especially astounding at an institution like North Carolina, an institution held in very high regard for its academics. These allegations raise the question of fairness in admit-ting athletes who, in all honesty, don’t belong on a college campus. Is it fair to give spots at competitive universities to athletes who are below commonly accepted standards of literacy? Further, is it fair that universities can purport that their athletes shouldn’t be paid because they’re being compensated with an education? Enrolling players in classes that give out free grades, hold little to no meetings and accept academically dishonest work does not qualify as providing an education. However, scandals are not exclusively a collegiate issue. Curie High School, Chicago city champion and the second ranked basketball team in the nation, is currently the focus of an investigation into academic misconduct. Curie forfeited its city title and all of the season’s 24 wins after public school officials concluded that Curie fielded seven academically ineligible players. Chicago public schools require athletes to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to continue participating in sports, a requirement not met by some of Curie’s key players. High schools like Curie that are highly competitive athletical-ly have a strong tendency to prioritize sports over classes, cre-ating an environment that fosters disregard for schoolwork. The foundation laid here continues into the college ranks, at schools such as North Carolina and Oklahoma State. “Sports Illustrated” magazine published a startling report that included sections on pay-for-play, academic fraud, drug use and sexual misconduct that were allegedly rampant with-in the Oklahoma State football program. Thirteen former Oklahoma State players admitted to committing academic violations while at the school, and 16 other former players were accused of the same violation by former teammates. Fath’ Carter played for the Oklahoma State University Cow-boys from 2000 to 2003, and told SI that “the philosophy, the main focus [of the program], was to keep [the best players] eligible through any means necessary. The goal was not to educate but to get them the passing grades they needed to keep playing. That’s the only thing it was about.” Dez Bryant, current Dallas Cowboy, was also embroiled in the controversy. Bryant achieved second team All-Big 12 academic honors his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, an award that former players and personnel alleged he never should have received. One former coach told SI that “he wasn’t supposed to be there. There’s no way he could do the college work.” As shocking as the report is, it’s highly unlikely that Oklahoma State is alone in committing such misconduct. Such behavior that’s rampant throughout the country consistently produces players that are intellectually inept. However, many of them go on to incredible success in the NFL, some still without proficient ability in reading or writing. Among the most popular benchmarks for measuring overall intelligence in the athletic community is the NFL’s Wonderlic Test. Administered to all potential players at the annual scouting combine, the test consists of 50 questions to be an-swered in 12 minutes. A score of 20 is typically indicative of average intelligence, and a score of 10 indicates literacy. No-tably low scores include first round pick Morris Claiborne’s score of four, Frank Gore’s score of six, and Tavon Austin’s score of seven, according to Bleacher Report. This is a trou-bling trend that places a significant amount of blame on the nature of college sports and the universities themselves. It’s clear that college athletics, and organized athletics in general, are in desperate need of serious reform. However, raising standards of admissions for students entering a university on an athletic scholarship could very well decrease the quality of competition at the Division 1 level. But if left alone, it’s certain that the system will become increasingly corrupt. The most plausible solution would be to attack the root of the problem: the special treatment that athletes receive.

Glorified in our society, athletes are led to believe that they can do no wrong, and that their status guarantees them special academic treatment. In order to bring them up to speed, it must be made clear to athletes, beginning in high school, that performance on the field does not free them from responsibilities in the classroom. By changing the culture of high school sports in this manner, universities would more than likely be dealing with more intelligent players and there-fore be less compelled to commit academic fraud. However, a long road lies ahead in the quest to fix this broken system.

Connall Mccormackcopy editor

The World of Division I Collegiate Athletes:Just how smart do they have to be?

Try Your Hand at the Wonderlic:

Sample questions from the NFL’s benchmark of

intelligence

1. Paper sells for 21 cents per pad. What will four pads cost? 2. How many of the five pairs of items listed below are exact duplicates? Nieman, K.M. Neiman, K.M. Thomas, G.K. Thomas, C.K. Hoff, J.P. Hoff, J.P. Pino, L.R. Pina, L.R. Warner, T.S. Wanner, T.S. 3. Are the words hire and fire A. Similar? B. Contradictory? C. Not Related? 4. Which number is largest? A. 32.000 B. 23000 C. 32.00 D. 3.200 E. 230.00 5. There are 12 more apples than oranges in a basket of 36 apples and oranges. How many apples are in the basket? A. 12 B. 15 C. 24 D. 28 E. 36 6. When rope is selling at $0.15 a foot, how many feet can you buy for sixty cents? A. 10 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 E. 2 7. The eighth month of the year is A. October B. Angust (sic) C. September D. May E. August

8. Which number in the following group of numbers represents the smallest amount? A. 6 B. 0.25 C. 0.7 D. 1 E. 0.33 9. The boy plays baseball. All base-ball players wear hats. The boy wears a hat. Assuming the first two state-ments are true, is the third statement A. True? B. False? C. Undetermined? 10. A train travels 20 feet in 1/5 second. At this same speed, how many feet will it travel in 3 seconds? 11. In the number 743.25, which digit represents the tenths place? A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5 E. 7

5 Highest All-Time Scorers 1. Pat McInally, Harvard- 50 2. Mike Mamula, Boston College-49 3. Kevin Curtis, Utah State-48 4. Benjamin Watson, Duke/Georgia-48 5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Harvard-48 5 Lowest All-Time Scorers 1. Morris Claiborne, LSU-4 2. Darren Davis, Iowa State-4 3. Edward Prather, Mississippi State- 5 4. Frank Gore, Miami-6 5. Oscar Davenport, UNC-6

NOTE: Sample questions obtained from ESPN.com and proprofs.com

SPO

RTS

14FA

LCO

N

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

NICKNAME CROSSWORD Match up some of Edward Hudson’s 14 best nicknames for FWCD faculty and students with this crossword

Alex DOSWELLphoto editor Across

3 Emily Wilkinson ‘149 Tyler Steele ‘1410 Sydney Wood ‘1411 Mr. Pillalamarri 13 Stephen Nolan ‘1614 Ms. Cipolaro15 Ben Sankary ‘1417 Mimi Ryan ‘1619 Jack Livingston ‘1420 David Burton ‘1621 Will Waltrip ‘1424 Will Kirtley ‘1425 Edward Martin ‘1726 Malcolm McDonald ‘1427 Philip Herd ‘1729 Isabella Burnette ‘1530 Mr. Dickey33 Joe Breedlove Jr. ‘1734 Hayden Redmon ‘1435 Patrick Nolan ‘16

Down1 Lauren Wagner ‘142 William Kleinheinz ‘154 Austin Westermann ‘165 Jeff Avena ‘156 RussellPadfield‘157 JR Gideon ‘149 Michael Bowman ‘1412 Mrs. Alvear13 Garrett Podell ‘1516 Nikhil Magan ‘1518 Akeira Warner ‘1420 AldenGriffin‘1422 Jesse Tipton ‘1423 Ms. Wakeland26 Mr. Cordell28 Caleb Rooker ‘1431 Isabella Chiefallo ‘1436 Will Belton ‘1437 Samantha Hubbard ‘14

PERSP

ECTIV

ES15

FALC

ON

QU

ILL

THE

MAR.2014

“Dentistry, like Falconry, depends upon skill. Your smile, like the

Falcon’s Quill, needs tendering.”

Hulen Family Dentistry4900 Overton Ridge

817.370.0065FEATURING

Zoom In-Office Whitening System

JESSICA H. BRIGATI, D.D.S

Tyler’s TeepeeWhy is everyone so judgmental?

Tyler Steelemanaging editor

Discrimination is a common theme that’s discussed worldwide by people of all races and religions. America is notorious for being a discriminatory and medieval thinking society when it comes to certain lifestyles. It’s embarrass-

ing, sometimes, to realize we’re part of a society who will condemn whole sections of people for the way they live their life. It’s absurd that anyone would try and tell someone else the way they are living is an ‘abomination’ or that they’re ‘detrimental to mankind’. While I may not live the way some others do I don’t think it’s fair or just for us to pretend that we know the best way to live.

Many are condemning Michael Sam, former Missouri defensive end, for being an openly gay football player, but the question is, why? It shouldn’t matter what he is be-cause his sexual orientation plays no role in his ability to play and perform on a football field, yet he’s being ridiculed against. There is no reason one human being should be scorned for things that they’re incapable of controlling. “I just wish you guys would just see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player,” Sam said in a press conference at the NFL combine. This is the same sort of ridicule Tim Tebow experiences due to being very open about his religious beliefs. He never tried to force his own religious beliefs upon some-one or tried to advertise his beliefs. It takes courage to be so famous, but be comfort-able being who you are in front of millions of people. Being yourself should never be

a struggle, but in modern day America our flaws are subject to the criticism of those around us. We all claim to not judge someone else before knowing them, yet we judge all those who surround us before they say a word to us. We as humans draw conclu-sions of one another based on the way we dress or the way we look which I believe to be our biggest flaw. If society ever wants to evolve we must take the necessary steps to better accept people for who they are. Michael Sam coming out as being gay is one of the most courageous things I’ve seen someone do. It shouldn’t be an issue what he is, but we still live in a society where coming out as gay isn’t easy because public acceptance isn’t universal. Sam said that no teams asked about his sexual orientation and that they were more concentrated on his ability to play linebacker. At 6 feet 2 inches and 255 pounds, Sam, a defensive end at Missouri, has the profile of a linebacker. The NFL is a business that is supposed to attract and employ the best of the best in football. To believe that teams would pass on an effective player and athlete because he’s openly gay is ludicrous. It’s time for everyone to stop using their religious beliefs and inability to understand how one man could love another as an excuse to ridicule another. Everyone is their own person and deserves respect, regardless of the way they live their life. None of it matters because at the end of the day we’re all human and are all destined to become something.

Former Mizzou defensive end, Michael Sam, celebrates a sack against the University of Florida on October 19, 2013. Photo by Shane Keyser/MCT Campus

Deion Sanders, former NFL player, tweets his support of Michael Sam and his courage to open up to the world. Photo courtesy of Tyler Steele ‘14

Go to www.falconquill.org today!

PER

SPEC

TIV

ES16

FALC

ON

Q

UIL

L

THE

MAR.2014

Rants and Raves

Flappy Bird

Flappy Bird This app is a simple, but nicely designed game that is helpful in boring situations. It’s

widely known and is great way to pass time in your free period or during the free time

after announcements. Some apps try to be complex and over the top, but often times fail

at their intended goal. It’s highly addictive and had a rapid rise to stardom in the app

store. Unfortunately, it has been removed from the app store, but it’s worth it to borrow a

friend’s phone if they have it downloaded.

This is single-handedly the most annoying app in the history of

all apps. The creator did everything in his power to make me

want to jump off of a bridge. The mere existence of this app

is causing me to have nightmares on a daily basis. The number

of times I’ve received a score of zero is unmeasurable and has

resulted in my newly-discovered insomnia. Someone please stop

this app from destroying my life.

Tyler steele

managing editor

Construction Everywhere

There is construction on every facet of Fort Worth and despite

it being a positive thing for the future it is extremely frustrating

trying to drive around. It seems like the road work on Bryant

Irvin has taken a millenia to finish and has no intentions of being

done anytime soon. With 90 percent of people in Fort Worth

(real stat) pressing their brakes for no reason construction makes

driving much more nerve-racking. There is no specified date of

completion, but I anticipate there being construction until the

day comes that Garrett Podell doesn’t smile.

My True Love J-Law

Everyone has someone they adore in their life. Jennifer Lawrence is the closest

thing to perfect. Some don’t believe in fate or destiny, but those people are wrong.

It was foretold in my dreams that one day I would find and marry Jennifer Law-

rence. She would carry me to early retirement and be my trophy wife for all to be-

hold and be jealous of. It’s not a question of ‘if ’ I marry her it’s when and where.

Until that time I’ll be waiting for the much anticipated date of May 16, 2014.

Tyler Steele ‘14, poses for

his senior photo session

in downtown Fort Worth.

Photo courtesy of Tyler

Steele ‘14

Jennifer Lawrence backstage

at the 71st Annual Golden

Globe Awards show at the

Beverly Hilton Hotel. Photo

by Lawrence K. Ho/MCT

Campus

The main menu of an extremely popular app, Flappy

Bird. Although removed from the app store it is still

widely played by those who downloaded it and kept it

on their phone. Photo courtesy of Tyler Steele ‘14

Down: 1. Lew 2. Willy 4. Manatee 5. Jeffe 6. Rusty 7. Giddy 9. Big Mike 12. Alvs

13. Podiddly 16. Nasquil 18. Cookie 20. Bean 22. Tippy 23. Peginator 26. Cordiddly 28. Rooster

31. Chief 36. Tub 37. Slam Across: 3. Em Wilk 9. Buffalo 10. Swood 11. Ravdog 13. Pumpy

14. Chip 15. Sank 17. Mems 19. Khaleesi 20. Bung 21. Walt 24. Kirtus 25. Flounder 27. Pherd

29. Izzy 30. Sack 32. Commander 33. Peanut 34. Redman 35. Citrus

Crossword Answers from page 14

Seniors Can’t Stay in the

Boundaries

Don’t get me wrong, I love my classmates. They’re all a great bunch of

people, but they need to go back to driving school and take another lesson

on how to park. Every day I pass by an open spot to park in, but I cannot

because the other car is invading the spot like it’s World War III. If the

seniors could do all of us the kindness in parking in one spot, it would be

greatly appreciated. Also, senior parking says senior parking. Don’t park in

a teacher’s spot.

Senior Mary-Madison Arnold’s ‘14 Jeep Wrangler

is small enough to fit into the parking spot, but she

couldn’t seem to park in between the lines. Photo by

Alex Doswell ‘16


Recommended