Toby Barrett

St. Mark’s School of Texas — The ReMarker Newspaper

NSPA Writer of the Year Statement

I really do believe that the best stories in the entire world are only as good as the people
in them. Think about that one story that took you by surprise, that gave you goosebumps, that
made you forget you were reading a story at all — I’m willing to bet that a uniquely remarkable
person in that story transcended the writing.
So, as a writer, my goal has and continues to be to honor those with stories to tell. Not to
shy away from hard topics, but to embrace them — to put a face, name and voice to subjects our
community cared deeply about.
This year, we took on no shortage of these controversial issues, many of them being
points of high contention within our community. Specifically, the Delta Variant, Texas’
“heartbeat bill” (Senate Bill 8) and Governor Abbott’s investigation of gender-affirming care for
minors raised eyebrows in the community.
We never let a story print that we had not planned meticulously or edited down to the
letter. We spent hours and hours carefully researching, emailing, debating. Making sure every
fact included could be backed up. Hours shifting sentences, marking numerous style rules in red
pen. And, most importantly, hours upon hours of finding people to bring the story home.
Lawrence Scarbrough, a wildly intelligent nurse at a nearby hospital, who detailed the
horrors of working in a pandemic ICU. Olive Maurstad, an alumnus of our all-boys school, who
personalized the transgender experience in Texas. Naz Soysal and Eleanor Lockhart, seniors at
our sister-school, who brought new perspectives on abortion to our student body. And so forth.
People like these make the stories, as much effort as we put into fact-checking and
syntax. Sitting down with them, getting to pick their brains, putting their words to paper — that
was always our number one priority.
Meeting these people always brought me great joy. I’m honored to have been able to
return the favor with a few words here and there.
 the
e REMARKER Friday, September 24, 2021 • St. Mark’s School of Texas • Volume 68, Issue 1

COVID-19 | The Delta variant

‘I didn’t have anything left.’

left.’
You’re probably thinking: Not another COVID-19 story. Well, honestly, we’re tired
of writing about it. But, the sad truth is, COVID is still with us. And it’s more
dangerous than before. The Delta variant has shown us we are not out
of the woods. Frontline workers and the school itself are having to
re-think approaches to keeping our community safe. Here are
stories from those who face the battle head-on each day.

T
uesday, Aug. 25, 2021, there
were 98 patients in the
emergency room of Baylor,
Scott & White Medical Center
in Irving.
The emergency room only had 50
beds. In each lay a patient.
All 98 were suffering from the same
illness: COVID-19.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever
heard of that in my entire 30 years of
working at this hospital,” Nursing
Administraion Manager Lawrence
Scarbrough said.
That Tuesday, Scarbrough rushed to
the emergency room to help a patient
on the edge of death: a bedside nurse
had pressed an emergency code button
that summoned 15 team members into
OVERWORKED
Nurses and
the room from all over the hospital —
physicians are nurses, doctors, even anesthesiologists.
at a breaking “We worked, and we worked,
point, with
ICU wards and and we worked on this one patient,”
hospital beds Scarbrough said. “I saw five different
filled to absolute
capacity during nurses doing chest compressions —
the second they had to trade out because they
wave of
COVID-19. were becoming so exhausted.”
After inserting a tube into the
patient’s lung for respiration, staff
prepared a defibrillator.
One. Two. Three shocks.
A heartbeat returned for an instant.
Then, it disappeared for good.
continues on page 4

STORY Austin Williams, Toby Barrett, Peter Orsak ARTWORK Cooper Cole

Plans for hybrid gym-natatorium move forward; to replace Hick’s Athletic Center
by Will Pechersky
Following the tornado in October 2019,
Headmaster David Dini and the school
began planning to replace the Hick’s
Athletic Center, which was levelled
completely.
In replacement of the area, the school
hopes to build a multiple story building
with a gym and a natatorium as two
of the most prominent features. Before
construction can begin, the school has to
take certain logistical steps.
“We had to get a recommendation
from the planning and zoning
commission,” Dini said. “That had to go
to city council, and then city council had
to approve those revisions. It required
a long process, which was finally
completed in June.”
With the recent construction of the
Winn Science Center, the school has
experience in progressing through the
many parts of the building process.
“We’ve had a committee that’s been
meeting for over a year on this project,”
Dini said, “So we’re now at the point
where we’ve got architectural candidates,
but then you have a lot of other vendors
too — we’ll have to have a contractor, the
firm that will build the building. There
are a variety of other partners that we’ll
have to have on a project like that, much
like we did with the Science Center.”
To account for other future needs of
the school, detailed planning regarding
the athletic center and its surroundings is
needed beforehand.
“In this case, there are a lot of moving
parts because of the building’s location
on the campus,” Dini said. “The tennis
center around it, the alley that ends into
the property, the fence line on Orchid Ln.
and any potential future development on
the north end of campus.”
Athletic Director Sean Lissemore is
also playing a role in the decision-making
process of developing the new center.
A natatorium, basketball courts, tennis
courts, a locker room and storage stand
out as some of the initial hopes for the
center and the construction around it.
“What we’ve been trying to do is to
reach out to our coaches and staff to
get feedback on some of these ideas,”
Lissemore said, “and we’ve actually been
on some site visits to look at different
natatoriums — Highland Park, Jesuit —
to really start broadening our horizons.”
Lissemore hopes to make
improvements that put the school in a
position for future growth and success.
“The main mission is to provide
a facility that meets and exceeds our
school’s programmatic needs, addresses
present and future needs for physical
education and supports all of our athletic
programs,” Lissemore said. “So the
ultimate goal is to think about the long-
term objectives of our programs over
time and what we’re trying to accomplish
in support of the overall mission of our
school.”

03cr 14september 11 26new head coach

news & issues 2
discovery & stem 9
life & 10600 10
critical
itical race
inside indepth 14
arts & culture 17
ratings & reviews 19
A look at both school
and individual faculty
Remembering the
attacks 20 years later in
History instructor Harry
Flaherty takes the helm of the
editorials & opinions 20
health & sports 23
opinions on the theory. commemoration. football team this year.
4 news & ISSUES the remarker
september 24, 2021
the remarker
september 24, 2021 news & ISSUES 5
COVID-19 | The Delta Variant | continued from page 1

‘THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN’ Amidst family loss,

Gonzalez advocates
for public health
by Peter Orsak
As summer months approached and cases began to drop, parts of the world primed for COVID-19’s permanent fade. But, low
vaccination rates, the rolling back of restrictions and the rise of the delta variant have filled ICU beds and stressed healthcare workers.
really be the case.”
Doerge reasserts Dini’s appreciation M ore than half a dozen family members.
Now a statistic.

W
E MAY SEE LIFE AND DEATH A LOT,” LAWRENCE
SCARBROUGH SAID. “BUT THIS WAS A YOUNG PERSON.
PROBABLY AT THE BEST PART OF THEIR LIFE. I SAT THERE
THINKING, THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN.”
HALF AN HOUR PASSES, AND THE EMERGENCY
CODE BUTTON IS PRESSED AGAIN TWO ROOMS OVER.
THE SAME NURSES, THE SAME DOCTORS, THE SAME ANAESTHESIOLOGISTS
SHOW UP.
AFTER 13 HOURS, SCARBROUGH DOESN’T HAVE THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL OR
EMOTIONAL WHEREWITHAL TO EVEN CHANGE HIS CLOTHES WHEN HE GETS
HOME.
“ALL I COULD DO WAS LAY ON THE SOFA AND STARE STRAIGHT UP AT THE
CEILING,” SCARBROUGH SAID. “I DIDN’T SLEEP. I DIDN’T NAP. I DIDN’T EAT. I’M
NOT TRYING TO SOUND TOO OVERDRAMATIC, BUT THAT WAS WHERE MY LIFE
WAS AT THAT MOMENT.
I DIDN’T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT.”
Every single one of those 98 patients had COVID-19. Every single
one was fighting for their lives.
Every single one was unvaccinated.
Retired Blue Cross Blue Shield infectious disease specialist Dr.
Charlie Haley calls it betrayal.
“We all have to protect each other,” Haley said. “That’s part of
what society is about. And there are a large number
of people who, for whatever reason, have delayed
getting vaccinated. Doctors feel betrayed, and they
probably feel like they’re involved in a futile effort
trying to save people who didn’t take the simplest
precaution to protect themselves.”
For school nurse Julie Doerge, the feeling is one of
frustration.
“I think this is where the heat comes from for the
medical people — frustration that there is an answer
— and the answer is the vaccine,” Doerge said. “To
take all these supplies and time and personnel for
people not willing to do the one thing that would keep
them out of the hospital — it’s frustrating.”
And, for many, this frustration is too much to
handle.
“More and more nurses are deciding to retire
for school vaccination rates. Part of the 660,000 lives lost — just in the
“One of the reasons why we’re United States. 4.5 million worldwide.
just got a big raise because they’re losing nurses. There have been probably doing well in school with so few For Cecil H. and Ida Green Master Teaching
people leaving this profession all the time recently, which is sad. Chair Scott Gonzalez, the past year and a half
Many are jumping ship.”
cases is because we have a high vaccine
has provoked intense feelings of frustration
rate, we’ve worn our masks and we’ve
Hospitals, scrambling to cover shifts but spread thin on available done our testing,” Doerge said. “Those
and pain.
“I was angry,” Gonzalez said. “I was really,
nurses, now resort to cash incentives for overtime work. are the three factors that keep you in really angry. We knew, and we had been
“I was talking with my daughter today,” Doerge said. “She said if
somebody volunteered to work tonight, they’d receive $1,500 on top
between the 11th and the 25th percentile informed not to engage in certain behaviors,
of case flow, as opposed to some of the and we continue to see people doing that.”
of both their pay and their night differential.” other big schools that have none of those But these weren’t just people to Gonzalez
Schools around the country, too, things. They’re up to 90 percent of cases –– they were his uncles and aunts and cousins.
experience the consequences of nurses being The very people who Gonzalez says made him
put under intense pressure.
right now.”
While the eligible group of students the man he is today.
“School nurses have been exhausted, and for vaccines makes up around two These were lost traditions, lost stories, lost
they don’t want to do it anymore,” Doerge thirds of the enrolled student body, the
memories –– gone in the wind.
said. “I think that’s super sad. And, we had a But now, Gonzalez is hopeful. He’s
shortage before the pandemic even began.”
remaining third faces more risks — risks
lived a full and happy life, packed with
that have not been ignored.
Despite the hours of lost sleep, Scarbrough “Our administrative team and
accomplishments, travel and family.
“This isn’t the Civil War,” Gonzales
believes this part of COVID-19 has brought out JULiE DOERGE our medical advisory committee are said. “My house isn’t blowing up. There
the best in his colleagues.
“We have nurses with husbands and wives who don’t work a lot
constantly having conversations, aren’t people marching through the streets,
especially surrounding questions like, threatening to take my livelihood and my
of overtime,” Scarbrough said. “They work their shifts and go home ‘What are hospitals like Children’s family. Are a lot of people dying? Yes. Is much
every day because they want to have a work-life balance. Well, I’ve Medical Center facing?’” Dini said. of it avoidable now? I believe it is. I think
seen a lot of amazing things happen. People who might not have “Those conversations have created COVID is here to stay, but I think if I’m careful
stepped up on a regular old day two years ago are doing so when it’s decisions: Lower School students can’t be and respectful of others’ lives, it’ll all be okay.”
really critical.” vaccinated yet, so we chose to have them
Regardless, the pressure does not subside. According to Haley, For Gonzalez, this frustration comes
spread out in the Great Hall during lunch,
however, increasing vaccination rates will alleviate it. from a place of love. Many of his relatives
eating further apart.” have foregone the vaccine and ignored mask
“The way this situation will end is with everyone either The commitment to a common mandates, leading to their untimely deaths.
vaccinated or naturally immune,” Haley said. “The virus will still purpose Dini has seen around campus The firsts of these deaths were the most
be here. It’ll probably stay forever. It will become what we call has given him great confidence for the difficult to cope with: his dearest aunt
an endemic disease, but it won’t be serious. Once you’ve been school’s success in the coming year. and uncle. One of his fondest memories is
vaccinated, it will be another case of the common cold. Maybe more “I’m most grateful that our spending a long weekend out boating on Inks
serious, but it’ll probably just be another virus that we can cope with.” community has remained unified,” Dini Lake with his uncle.
For Haley, this starts with encouraging unvaccinated people to said. “People have differing opinions “I knew them since I was a child, and
get their shot. about how we should go about certain I know their children who are my age,”
“If you know any unvaccinated people, you need to try to Gonzalez said. “And it was tough because ––
things, but when we’ve said, ‘Here’s
address their concerns, and help them want to get vaccinated,” because they’re really good people.”
where we’re going to be, here’s what
Haley said. “You often need to address their specific reservations. In fact, his uncle was there to help take care
we’ll focus on and here’s how we’ll go of him when he needed it most.
For instance, some people believe that this vaccine has reproductive forward,’ the overwhelming response has “My father died when I was young, and
consequences. There’s no evidence to support been, ‘Okay. Here we go. Forward.’” my uncle was always loving and kind and
that, but just saying that there’s no evidence
supportive,” Gonzalez
to support it may not help — you may need to STORY Austin Williams, Toby Barrett CELEBRATION Scarbrough stands with Cindy Schamp, president of Baylor Scott said. “I don’t like to
go find something and share it with them.” ARTWORK Cooper Cole & White Medical Center-Irving on his 25th anniversary of working for the hospital. use this word with
other people, but he
The school’s decision to return to many was really cool. That
normalities has been questioned in the by the was a really sad loss.”

97+
early or to look for another line of work, simply community. With infection numbers that
numbers 45
Not long after,
Gonzalez lost a pair of

80+
because the hours and the effort they’re having to look similar to September 2020, why did DAViD DiNi school districts shut down in-
HEAT CHECK School nurse Julie Doerge takes the put forward right now are exceptional,” Haley said. administrators choose to push for normal? person classes due to COVID cousins to COVID-19. SCOTT GONZALEZ

0.2
temperature of senior Grant Jackson in her office. Then, a few months
“I read a report yesterday that estimated the state of “There were a lot of different factors. First and foremost, digesting percent later, two more older relatives. Finally, in the
California is 40,000 nurses short of where they want to be. You can’t all the information from lived experience,” Headmaster David Dini
of eligible past month, another cousin.
train 40,000 nurses in a short period of time. That’s going to take a said. “Last year, a lot of the conversation was around protecting
long, national effort to get enough nurses to rebuild that part of our the vulnerable, so we put a high degree of focus on getting people
students percent of Texas Because of the loss he’s experienced,

healthcare system.” vaccinated. Today, we’re grateful that a very high percentage of
percent of faculty vaccinated hospitalizations Gonzalez has been extra careful to protect
due to COVID himself and his loved ones, missing countless
Doerge has heard of this exodus firsthand from her daughter, a eligible students are vaccinated, as well as over 95 percent of our members vaccinated (approx.) were vaccinated funerals, births and holidays and never
nurse at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. adults. There was a lot of speculation at this time last year that schools people

373
lowering his mask.

“My daughter works in the neonatal ICU,” Doerge said. “They
100%
61573
were going to be super-spreaders for COVID. That turned out not to thousand “I hope anybody else in my family who may
deaths in the still be unvaccinated will really, really think
of Lower School COVID cases in state of Texas long and hard about the potential impact their
faculty vaccinated Dallas county lack of responsibility has on their family,”
as of Sept. 13 Sources: The New York Times, Texas Tribune, Julie Deorge Gonzalez said.
By not being able to mourn alongside his
family, Gonzalez said he has, frankly, been in
a state of denial. As an educator and a father
figure for many, Gonzalez is concerned
with the well-being of young students
who can’t be vaccinated, like his five-
year-old grandson who just started
kindergarten. But Gonzalez tries to
remain positive.
“If I were to get really ill and die
tomorrow, or in the next couple of
months –– okay,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve
had a great life. I really have. I’ve
traveled a lot. Got a great family. I
mean, I work here, but it’s the young
children I’m really, really worried
about because they’ve got a whole life
ahead. To lose a student or child would
just be so painful.”
O
LVe
CALL ME
i
Here’s Olive Maurstad’s story — from Marksman to proud
female teacher, she has perservered through both internal
and external struggles. In light of Governor Abbott’s letter,
community members share their initial reactions. TAKING NOTES Former student Olive Maurstad ‘16 now teaches English at Fusion Academy Dallas, an institution that prides itself on its one-on-one personalized education for each
individual student. The school’s educational philosophy has three main pillars: love, motivate and teach. Olive enjoys working there because of the personalized focus and accepting culture.
O
live Marustad ‘16 doesn’t have a lot of was a lot different,” Maurstad said. “When I was
memories from her time at St. Mark’s. there, I met other transgender people. It was like a
She doesn’t have a lot of memories lightbulb went off in my head — I could do that, too.”
from her eight years here. Or her four During her sophomore year of college, Maurstad
years in the Classics Club. Or her four years on The slowly began to transition into a woman: identifying
ReMarker. as female around certain groups of people before
There’s something going on inside of me. expanding those groups and eventually moving to
I don’t know what it is. more physical changes.
I don’t know if anyone else feels this way. “I wanted to take my time to make sure I knew
Olive, formerly known as Aidan, is a transgender what I was doing,” Maurstad said. “But there were
woman. also so many hoops I had to jump through to get
“I kind of just … checked out … of being a person started. I began taking hormones four years ago in
for a while,” Maurstad said. “From my recollection, it August.”
was unthinkable that there would be a trans student Hormone replacement therapy, i.e. taking
walking through the halls.” estrogen and anti-androgens (medication that
suppresses testosterone), is one of the many ways that a girl, but I look like a boy. People must think I’m a
transgender people move forward in their transition
process, alongside choices like surgery or legally
changing their name. Maurstad remembers how
difficult it was to initially receive her prescription.
“The whole process is an endless humiliation,”
Maurstad said. “You have to stand before all these
different people and ask them, ‘Can I have this
medication that will save my life?’ And they’ll say, ‘I
don’t know. Tell me the most vulnerable things about
you.’”
When asked about coming out, Maurstad
described it as a “really weird process.”
“It’s terrifying, even when you know the person
will react well,” Maurstad said. “Because you can
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Olive Maurstad tutors one of her students on never know if they actually will. Also, we act like
how to write a five-paragraph analytical essay at Fusion Academy Dallas. coming out is ‘one and done’ because of how it’s
phrased. But, the more I go through life, the more
The blank spots ended for Maurstad when she I realize that you never stop coming out. There
got to Pomona College, a small liberal arts school in are always people who you’ll have to share this
southern California. vulnerable part of yourself with.”
“Not to disparage St. Mark’s in any way, but it When she first approached her parents, she had
indepth
by the
numbers
Source: LGBT Movement Advancement
Project, U.S. Trans Survey
imagined writing a letter detailing all of her feelings
and motives.
“What ended up happening is my mom said,
‘You should get a haircut, your hair is really long.’ I
was like, ‘Oh, actually, I can’t do that. Because I want
to grow it out. Because I’m trans. Bye!’” Maurstad
said. “Afterwards, we all sat down to have a long
conversation about it, and continued to process for six
more months.”
Looking back on it now, Maurstad finds it
difficult to remember what her actual transition
was like. Having lived as a woman for so long, she
recognizes how strange the process is.
“When you’re in the early stages of transitioning,
you’re so constantly aware of like, ‘I’m saying I’m
lunatic,’” Maurstad said. “At least for me, the person
who was most doubtful of my transition was myself.”
As far as adversity goes, Maurstad feels that
she’s been lucky. She hasn’t lost any friends, and even
the particularly religious side of her family has been
accepting. On a larger scale, however, she finds it
scary to live in Texas as a trans person.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m catastrophizing,
but every time I see something trans-related in
the news, I get a little closer to leaving the state,”
Maurstad said. “With every measure that passes I
think, what next?”
Most recently, Governor Greg Abbott ordered
investigations into parents and licensed facilities that
provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors.
Abbott’s order was based on Attorney General Ken
Paxton’s recent non-binding interpretation of the law,
which classified puberty blockers, hormone therapy
and surgical care as child abuse.
“I had been teaching a class, and when class
ended I found the news alert on my phone,”
2 1.3
percent of high school
students identify as
transgender
Maurstad said. “I was reading through the letter, and
I froze. My first thought was ‘Oh my god. What am I
going to do about my trans students?’”
Speaking to impressions she’s seen following
Abbott’s directive, Maurstad emphasized that
“doctors aren’t handing out hormones like candy.”
“In Texas, that couldn’t be farther from the truth,” intentional cruelty because if a kid is talking to a
Maurstad said. “There’s all this fear-mongering,
claiming that the trans agenda wants to give
estrogen to five-year-olds. No — there is no medical
intervention until the age where puberty might onset,
and even then, the intervention is only delaying
FRoM LetteR to LaW
What does the letter mean?
It directs the Department of Family and Protective
Services to investigate the families and care
providers of transgender children, citing Texas
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s opinion of what
constitutes child abuse. Further, he calls for “licensed “It impacts the relationships between the person
professionals” and “members of the general public”
to report suspected cases of parents assisting
transgender minors seeking gender-affirming
treatment and procedures. “Anything related to
gender issues could potentially be child abuse,”
Dallas District Attorney John Creuzot said. “And that
included counseling, medication… it didn’t seem to
exclude anything.”
What are the legal ramifications of this
declaration?
Absolutely none. No court in the U.S. has said that
gender-affirming care constitutes as child abuse.
“[The letter] doesn’t impact the courts,” Creuzot
said. “Their announcement is void, since it doesn’t
really mean anything as far as the law is concerned.
52 27
million transgender percent decrease in suicidal percent of trans youth
people age 17 or thoughts seen in trans youth say their families are
younger with supportive families very supportive
pubescence.”
She also emphasized
how inaccurate she feels the
narrative around hormone
therapy is.
“People talk about
how hormone therapy will
create irreversible, lifelong
changes,” Maurstad said.
“It actually takes a long
time to do anything. When I
started it, it took six months
for physical changes to
even begin. There’s almost
this trial period built into
the medication, where
you have months to figure
out whether it makes you
feel more comfortable
psychologically.”
Maurstad doubled down
on her thought that it isn’t
neutral to not medically
intervene.
“If a child who is
expressing that they are trans
is forced to wait, they’ll go
through a very traumatizing
time,” Maurstad said.
“Imagine if you, as a man,
started growing breasts
and menstruating. You’d be
telling the people around
you, ‘This stuff is happening
with my body that I don’t
want to happen,’ and they’d
respond ‘Just wait. It’s fine.’”
One specific part of
Abbott’s letter stood out to
Marustad as particularly
dangerous.
“The letter requires
teachers and caregivers to let the parents know if their
child expresses that they’re trans,” Maurstad said. “I
don’t have the statistics in front of me, but trans youth
are far overrepresented in the homeless population
because their parents kick them out. It feels like
teacher about being trans, there’s a good chance it’s
because they know their family won’t be accepting.”
Stephanie Anderson, mother of former St. Mark’s
and current Harvard-Westlake student Sylvee
Talking with District Attorney John Creuzot
about Abbott’s letter surrounding trans youth.
We’re talking about doctor-patient relationships and
parent-child relationships, and criminalizing these
relationships when someone is seeking help.
So what are the effects of the letter?
and therapist, because therapists can be accused
of child abuse by just meeting and by guiding and
giving therapeutic advice,” Creuzot said. “It doesn’t
necessarily have to have an impact in the courtroom
to affect someone’s life. Just the mere statement that
it’s illegal can cause other people to stop assisting.”
After the letter was sent out, UT Southwestern closed
the only youth transgender clinic in the region.
What now?
A Texas Third Court of Appeals, presided by Judge
Amy Clark Meachum, has reinstated a temporary
injunction, prohibiting the state from investigating
parents providing gender-affirming care. Any further
enforcement of Abbott’s directive is blocked until the
litigation is resolved.
12 30
percent of trans percent of trans
Americans experienced Americans have been
homlessness in 2020 homeless at some point
Anderson, made the decision to move her family out
of Texas to keep her transgender child safe.
“When we started hearing about the possibility
of prosecution for parents and caregivers, it really
bothered us,” Anderson said. “We didn’t think those
bills would pass, which they didn’t, but it’s hard
enough to be a teenager. And to be a teenager under
that much political pressure? It would’ve been really
difficult for Sylvee.”
As the Andersons began conversations with the
school about their plans to leave, Stephanie felt very
appreciative of
the support they These healthcare practices are life-saving
received. for a lot of trans individuals. Their suicide
“As she rate is already so high –– why criminalize
began her another aspect of their lives?”
transition, we ANNiE HURLEY
felt that St. Hockaday Queer Student Union co-chair
Mark’s wasn’t
going to be the best place for Sylvee,” Anderson said.
“Society as a whole hasn’t really figured out what to
do with transgender children who go to single-sex
schools. What was nice for us is that we never felt
rejected — we were having very respectful, caring
conversations with them, but just decided that it
would be better for Sylvee to find another place to go
to school.”
With the implications of Abbott’s letter,
Hockaday junior Annie Hurley, co-chair of policy
awareness for her school’s
Queer Student Union, feels
horrified for her brother Julian,
who used to attend Hockaday,
and other trans individuals in
the state of Texas.
“If you can’t come out
at home, and you can’t come
Annie hurley
out to your family, then
you’re going to try to find
communities at school or with people that are going
to accept you,” Hurley said. “But if your teachers
and doctors are going to have to contact CPS [Child
Protective Services] and tell your parents, it creates
a feeling of absolute isolation and distrust because
there’s no one to reach out to.”
Hurley’s co-chair Hockaday junior Aubrey Burns, a
transgender male himself, hopes to be able to receive
gender-affirming surgery before he leaves for college.
Following the news, he has noticed a lot of fear
among his trans friends.
“I know this can be
very, very scary for the trans
community –– I’m feeling
that fear myself,” Burns said.
“But, I just want to remind the
readers, allies and supporters
that we are stronger than
this. We have survived much aubrey burns
worse than this. These new
policies and letters coming out surrounding trans
individuals may be extremely harmful, but it’s no use
backing down. This is just fuel to keep fighting back
and standing together. Now is not the time to feel
disheartened.”
Acknowledging that Abbott’s letter is not law,
Maurstad still fears for how much more restrictive
Texas laws will get — what is the path forward for
transgender Texans?
“We will get through this how our community
has gotten through everything — together,” Maurstad
said. “The one thing that really keeps me here in
Dallas is how consistently inspired I am by the
solidarity between queer people. Everyone just wants
to keep each other safe.”
STORY Austin Williams, Peter Orsak, Jonathan Yin,
Toby Barrett, Keshav Krishna
PHOTOS Sal Hussain
70
percent of trans in a shelter
14,15
reported harassment, sexual or
phyical assault due to their identity
 IMPACT GUEST COLUMN

What does this mean for women? Senate bill 8

will cease more
Senate Bill 8 imposes unprecedented regulations on abortion. But how does it affect women? heartbeats than
ABORTION | The ‘heartbeat bill’ | continued from page one
it protects
S
Controversy
enate Bill 8 creates brand new can become prolonged, and they feel less executed abortions — incredibly
implications for Texan women who in control of that decision.” dangerous procedures — owing to the

A STIRRING
want to get or are considering getting
an abortion.
To Hockaday senior Naz Soysal,
the largest and most damaging of these
implications is the bill’s lack of situational
provisions.
“There are no exceptions,” Soysal said. four weeks to normally have a period, and
“I could go to a football game, get raped
Senate Bill 8 has sparked debate across a multitude of perspectives in the bathroom and then have to carry a
child completely to term without my own
— legal, religious, ethical and moral. We talked to experts from consent. A lot of people say, ‘Oh, it’s your
surrounding fields and Hockaday students about the law’s implications. choice,’ but with this sort of bill, it is not
a woman’s choice — it could be purely
men engaging in horrific actions
Additionally, Soyal feels the terms
of the bill that limit the permissible time
period for seeking an abortion to six weeks
into pregnancy are too restricive.
“At six weeks, you do not know that
you’re pregnant,” Soysal said. “It takes
it’s not abnormal for your period to be a
week late. So by the time people really start
considering, ‘Oh, I might be pregnant,’
they basically have five days to get an
abortion. And Texas has a mandatory three
day waiting period, so it’s really infeasible
and impossible for anyone to
by Eleanor Lockhart
scarcity of available in-state procedures.
At six weeks, people oftentimes
W hen Shawanna was just 16 years
old, her mother died of ovarian
cancer. Shawanna, a high school
don’t even know they’re pregnant.
junior, found herself taking care of her
DR. ANNA THOMAS eight-year-old sister while balancing
Clinical psychologist
coursework and a part-time job.
When she turned 17, however, she
“There are trauma risks to any
became pregnant — about to create
experience, medical or otherwise,” Thomas
a new life when she could barely
said. “There’s just going to be increased
stress as well as depression or anxiety if
maintain her own.
somebody did have to have a procedure
Financially, emotionally and
mentally unprepared to be a mother,
that was not performed by a medical
she sought an abortion with Planned
professional or somebody in a safer
Parenthood. Raising a baby through

T
housands of people from all walks of life pack downtown Dallas Oct. 2. resulting in women being forced have an abortion at that point.” setting.”
her unplanned pregnancy would have

GLANCE
Speeches from religious leaders, immigrants and politicians headline the event. In surrounding apartments, to deal with the consequences on In her practice, Thomas Past the direct effects of the new
crippled her life’s course, upending
people bang on pots and pans. Chants of “My body, my business” and “SB 8 is nothing but hate” echo through their own.” has come across many such legislation, SB 8 also presents new financial
the streets. at a Similarly, clinical women. While an exemption challenges to abortion-seeking women.
the careful balance she maintained
between school and familial
There are duct taped-over breasts, torn condoms and vulgar expletives everywhere –– expressionism at its loudest. psychologist Anna Thomas for “medical emergencies” Soysal believes these, in combination with
responsibilities.
Among all these thousands, everyone shares one thing in common: a demand for the overturning of Senate Bill 8. Senate Bill 8, enacted May 19 and commenced believes that the bill’s firm is included in the law, other SB 8’s practical implications, suggest an
Texas Senate Bill 8, which went
After the Department of Justice deemed the bill unconstitutional before a U.S. district judge in Austin, rallies across the Sept. 1, makes abortions illegal after a heartbeat uniformity, from a medical medical circumstances might alarming future.
into effect Sept. 1, obstructs women’s
state of Texas and the nation followed suit. is detected in the state of Texas, with no standpoint, is problematic. NAZ SOYSAL cause women to seek an “SB 8 really strips the autonomy away
ability to access abortion procedures
Hockaday seniors Eleanor Lockhart and Naz Soysal stood among the sea of protestors. exceptions for rape or incest. “This is where I draw a abortion. With the new bill, from women who don’t have the finances
by barring the practice after detection
Lockhart, who works for Planned Parenthood’s TeenAge Communication Theatre Program (TACT), decided to distinction — abortion is a procedure these women can no longer access an in- to pay for top-notch medical care, to travel,
of a fetal ‘heartbeat,’ which, when
attend the rally because this issue is especially important to her. It allows almost any citizen to bring civil lawsuits that not only applies to people who state professional abortion. to leave school, all those things,” Soyal
first observed, is but a rudimentary
“I think it’s important to not just have political views or opinions,” Lockhart said, “but to show up and take time against those involved in such abortions. are in situations where pregnancy is “They might learn about a genetic said. “It gives women little flexibility and
bioelectrical signal. As this signal can
out of your day to contribute when you have the opportunity to.” unexpected,” Thomas said, “but also anomaly past six weeks of pregnancy,” forces anyone who wants an abortion out
This “bounty hunter” system, which circumvents be detected after only six weeks of
Lockhart and Soysal hope that taking action will lead to tangible change moving forward, and SB 8 will be to people who have an expected and Thomas said. “At six weeks, people of state, which is something you cannot
the precedent of Roe v. Wade, effectively gestation (on average, women become
permanently nullified. planned pregnancy, but learn, maybe in oftentimes don’t even know they’re force upon low income women or people
outlaws abortions after six weeks. aware of their pregnancy at 5.5 weeks
“Protesting puts a lot of pressure on the court system as well as politicians — it directly threatens their ability to the development of the baby, that there’s pregnant because we haven’t done any like us — kids that are still going to school
past conception), the bill will prevent
claim that this is a popular option,” Soysal said. “It makes it a lot harder for people to justify what they’re doing.” going to be negative health outcomes for screening or anything that would tell them and can’t miss three days for an abortion
millions of Texan women from
the mom or the baby. If someone like that that information.” procedure in New Mexico or Oklahoma.
attaining safe, informed abortions.
Senate Bill 8 places limits on the legality of abortions revolves around the pressure it places on women to make victim,” Turner said. “But if a woman who is raped and is not allowed to have an abortion and Another medical risk of SB 8 is the That’s really, really dangerous and
Note the difference: the bill
after a heartbeat is detected in an unborn fetus. The bill a stressful decision within a limited timespan. Richards becomes pregnant seeks an abortion post-six weeks, instead has to deliver that baby, the trauma increase it may cause in non-professionally damaging to women overall.”
won’t prevent women from getting
itself comes with a multitude of complications that go recognizes this as an issue for his patients. anyone who assists in providing the abortion can be sued.” abortions, it will only prevent the

What’s at stake for men?

beyond any previously passed abortion law in Texas.
Most significantly — beyond recent ethical debate — is
the new opportunity for citizens to turn in other citizens
who they suspect of aiding and abetting an abortion.
“This bill allows any person to bring a civil lawsuit
against someone who aids or abets an abortion that occurs the process of considering options and making educated,
after a point about six weeks into pregnancy,” District
114 Texas Representative John Turner said. “This point
is described by its supporters as the time when cardiac
activity is detected.”
Turner highlighted the unorthodox nature of this
enforcement method, taking the legal definition of injury
into account: harm that an individual suffers directly by
the hand of another.
“With respect to the way our legal system
normally works, it’s very unusual to allow
someone to bring a lawsuit against another
person without even claiming to experience
injury,” Turner said. “As far as I know, this is
unprecedented. It’s been described as a bounty
hunter system, allowing private citizens with
no relation to the circumstances to show up in
court and sue a stranger.”
Another key talking point is the term
JOHN TURNER
‘heartbeat bill,’ often used synonymously with SB 8.
Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Hampton Richards ‘95
offered some clarification as to where the heartbeat falls
within a typical pregnancy timeline.
“At four weeks, a woman misses her period and
receives a positive pregnancy test,” Richards said. “About
two and a half weeks later, we can see a heartbeat by
ultrasound. We would call that six and a half weeks
pregnant.”
Pushback from those opposed to the law often
“As a provider, my role is to educate patients about
their medical options and help guide them to the decision
that’s right for them and their family,” Richards said.
“The problem with shortening this window to the two
and a half weeks beyond a positive test is that it rushes
informed decisions.”
Supporters of the law champion its life-saving
qualities, built primarily on the belief that life begins with
a heartbeat. Texas Governor Greg Abbott voiced a similar
opinion before signing the bill live on Facebook.
“Our Creator endowed us with the right to life, and
yet millions of children lose their right to life every year
because of abortion,” Abbott said. “In Texas, we work to
save those lives. That’s exactly what the Texas
Legislature did this session.”
While SB 8 has made headlines across the
nation, abortion laws have been in place in
Texas for years.
“The basic law in Texas before this bill was
that abortion is permitted up to 20 weeks of
pregnancy,” Turner said. “There are various
other restrictions on abortion procedures as
well — a requirement for a sonogram to be
taken, a requirement for in-person visits with a provider,
parental consent requirements for minors and others.”
Another point of contention within SB 8 is its lack
of exemptions for victims of incest or rape. According to
The San Antonio Express-News, by declining to include this
exemption, Texas joins seven of 13 other states that have
passed similar six-week abortion bans.
“I believe the only thing in the bill that relates to the
subject of sexual assault is that a person who causes
pregnancy by assault cannot bring a lawsuit against his
Another common question surrounds the legality of safety inherent to medically-induced
SB 8 in contrast to Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court ruling procedures.
that gave people the right to access abortion legally across It will do nothing but put those
the country almost 50 years ago. SB 8 bypasses this ruling While the issue of abortion is inherently related to
who can no longer access abortion
through its enforcement measures. the female body and the life of an unborn child, procedures at risk
“Under existing precedents, in order to strike down men play a role in that child’s conception. The of complication
an unconstitutional law, typically one would bring responsibility should not rest on females alone. from back-alley
an action in court against the public officials who are abortions: a survey
responsible for its enforcement,” Turner said. “This conducted pre-Roe
Men can contribute immensely to the
particular bill deliberately omits any public enforcement v. Wade fouxnd
element. Therefore, under existing judicial principles, it immediate prevention of pregnancy — that, among
can’t be challenged in the normal way.” contraception. Using a condom correctly women with low
To Turner, the permanence of this law is hard to during sex has an efficacy rate of 98 percent. incomes in New ELEANOR LOCKHART
determine. Lowering the rate of unwanted pregnancies York City who had Hockaday senior
“Clearly, litigation is going to continue for a while,”
directly lowers abortion rates, putting less had an abortion,
Turner said. “We’ll hear from the Fifth Circuit Court and eight in ten had attempted dangerous,
possibly the Supreme Court. Additional opinions will women in situations where they may need to
self-induced procedures, using coat
likely come from district courts. I can’t venture to predict make this difficult choice. hangers, knitting needles or toxic
how it will ultimately be resolved. My own opinion is household chemicals.
that the courts should make sure judicial review of this Making such a life-altering decision can These methods can lead to
bill and of its six-week ban is not avoided, even though be difficult to do alone. Having a partner infection, hemorrhaging and
avoiding judicial scrutiny is what proponents of the bill irreversible injury to internal organs,
to openly communicate with can make the
were likely trying to do.” threatening the mother’s life. It
While Turner strongly opposes SB 8, he believes trauma women experience less severe. is naive for pro-life lawmakers
abortion as a whole is difficult to navigate because of the to assume that their regressive
wide range of stances. Prospective fathers can suffer emotional regulations will substantially lower
“I do believe that public policy needs to make room trauma themselves as they help their partner the number of abortions obtained
for a variety of opinions about this topic — respecting
decide and cope with the final decision. by desperate women, and ignorant
the opinion and decision of the woman who is directly for them to not acknowledge that
involved and whose body is affected, as well as there is greater harm to human life in
attempting to consider the moral status of the developing Men are obligated to support their children, the hazardous procedures that these
human life within that woman,” Turner said. “That’s what both financially and as father figures. Suppose desperate women will resort to.
makes this such a difficult issue. I respect a diversity of the mother decides to keep the child — by The law’s enforcement methods
opinions on this whole subject.” law or choice. Men will have to consider the are deeply problematic, as well –– it
RALLYING TOGETHER Activists from across the state gathered together potential ramifications on their futures. empowers everyday civilians to sue

Pregnancy: from start to finish
Key dates in abortion legislation, visualized
0 weeks: Conception
6 weeks: Heartbeat detected
in downtown Dallas Oct. 2 to march against Senate Bill 8. Organized by
Planned Parenthood, over 3000 protesters marched through the city, sporting
contraceptives and brightly colored signs.
Source: United Kingdom National Health Service
anyone even remotely related to
the abortion and incentivizes them
with $10,000 rewards. This form of
‘vigilante justice’ can incriminate
not only the woman who obtains
13 weeks: Second trimester 24 weeks: Viability 26 weeks: Third trimester 39 weeks: Term an abortion, but a friend who
recommends the clinic or even the
Uber driver who takes her there.

II III
Women like Shawanna, women
who find themselves pregnant and
unable or unwilling to carry their
child, must have access to safe
Pregnancy is counted Senate Bill 8 effectively At 24 weeks, the baby is typically able Prior to Senate Bill 8, Texas legislation If a pregnancy is carried to abortion services.
from the date of the outlaws most abortions to survive without its mother. This is the allowed abortions up to the third term, the baby is born. Although Senate Bill 8 appears
mother’s last period. in the state once a fetal most widely accepted definition of life. trimester, as protected by Roe v. Wade. to simply block abortions after six
heartbeat is detected. Sources: Planned Parenthood, Dr. Hampton Richards ‘95 weeks, it truly constitutes a nearly-
complete ban of medical abortion: by

iNDEPTH
STORY Jonathan Yin, Austin Williams, Toby Barrett, Peter Orsak the time that many women become
PHOTOS Courtesy Eleanor Lockhart, Creative Commons aware of the life growing inside them,
GRAPHICS Jonathan Yin it may be too late.

16,17
 ETHICS
Setting the
precedent:
Supreme Court
decisions
Both sides of the coin
In as complicated of an issue as abortion, there are a myriad of stances one can take. But in a
politically dominated world, two arguments have risen above the rest: pro-life and pro-choice.
Throughout history, a slew of
cases regarding reproductive
rights have reached the
Supreme Court. With Texas
Senate Bill 8 dividing the nation,
we look back at a few landmark
decisions.

1973 Roe v. Wade

Jane Roe (pseudonym) sued
Henry Wade, challenging a Texas
law outlawing abortion unless
the health of the mother is in
danger.

Decided 7 - 2
States can regulate abortions
pertaining to the mother’s health
during the second trimester and
can prohibit abortion entirely
during the third trimester,
as long as the mother’s life
is not in danger. During the
first trimester, the question is
completely up to the mother
and her physician.

1979 Bellotti v. Baird

SPEAKING OUT As a part of the rally, various activists,
A Massachusetts law required politicians and women shared their stories with abortion.
parental consent for minors to
have abortions.

Found unconstitutional
Established the right to
independent judicial assessment
for minors seeking abortions
without parental consent.
Akron v.
1982
Akron Center for
Reproductive Health
The city of Akron enacted a
law with 17 provisions regulating
abortions.
Upheld Roe v. Wade
Because the law was clearly
intended to dissuade women
from abortion, the Court
overturned the law, reaffirming
Roe v. Wade’s protection of
privacy.
Planned
1992
Parenthood of
Southeastern
Pennsylvania v.
Casey
A group of abortion clinics
and physicians challenged
Pennsylvania legislation
restricting abortion.
Decided 5 - 4
Upheld the legislation,
imposing a new standard for
laws restricting abortion. From
then on, the court would ask
if challenged laws present an
“undue burden... before the
fetus attains viability.”
Source: oyez.org
I
s it at conception? Is it at a detectable child, and foster care and adoption stance on abortion in their religious
heartbeat? Viability? At some point, systems are simply abhorrent at this values. Marchant herself attributes
everybody has to recognize that a point,” Soysal said, “And you have religion as one of her primary
fetus becomes a human life. But this is to consider the mental trauma from motivations.
an incredibly contested discussion, with growing up in a family that does not love “In many religions, abortion is an
well-supported perspectives on all sides. you. The biggest argument from the pro- intrinsic evil — a direct killing of the
According to SMU Professor of Ethics life side is that abortion is murder. But innocent,” Long said. “And you never
Dr. Steve Long, many stances beyond you’re weighing a life that has not existed directly kill the innocent, because it
simply pro-life or pro-choice exist — yet with the life of a mother.” cannot be squared with the virtue of
those are just the most prominent. And in On the other hand, deontological justice.”
a party-driven landscape, more and more ethics maintain that rules can only be Long believes that in our increasingly
emphasis has been placed on these two set if you would accept them yourself — party-driven political landscape, many
viewpoints. would you be willing to get an abortion valuable arguments have been drowned
“Both of those yourself? out.
camps tend to have a There are many more stances than “Deontological “There are many more stances than
similar form to their just pro-life or pro-choice. But ethics are duty- just pro-life or pro-choice,” Long said.
ethics — they are those are just the loudest. based, which argues “But those are just the loudest. And
rights-based, which DR. STEVE LONG that you should abortion is a wedge issue, so politicians
argues that we begin SMU Professor of Ethics only act on a rule tend to focus on those for votes. I’m not
with individuals,” or principle that sure that either of those positions are
Long said. “The debate is really up to you believe to be universal,” Long said. necessarily the best way to think about
which right is predominant: the right of “Many deontologists tend to be more the ethics of abortion.”
the baby or the right of the woman.” opposed to abortion than utilitarians.” Society has come upon universally
Ethics is a complicated discipline, Hockaday senior Kendall Marchant accepted ethics in the past. For example,
with no universally “right” answer, falls in the deontological school of the women’s right to vote was long
but Long identifies two schools of thought. contested by men until 1919, but now
thought that seem to dominate today’s “It is ethically wrong women’s right to vote is a
political landscape — utilitarianism and to have an abortion in all seemingly obvious aspect of
deontology. circumstances except in cases equal political representation.
“Utilitarianism argues that you of rape, incest or when having Long is hopeful the topic of
always do what is for the greatest good the baby would result in the abortion will find a similar
for the greatest number,” Long said. death of or serious harm to the ethical conclusion.
“And on utilitarian grounds, people mother,” Marchant said. “Most “There are some things
have argued in favor of what is called often reasons for abortions have that aren’t so much a matter of
rule utilitarianism — giving women to do more with not being ready Dr. sTeve Long compromise as they are dealing
the choice to determine when or if they to have a child or not wanting with the truth,” Long said.
should have an abortion.” to have another. Making abortion illegal “And I think one of the things that we
Hockaday senior Naz Soysal explains forces people to think about plans for a need to recognize is that truth is complex.
how utilitarian principles can be applied possible pregnancy in advance, which Abortion is certainly in the public realm
to this subject. will allow for less unplanned pregnancies right now, especially with the Texas
“A lot of the time, abortions happen and as a result, less abortions.” law. We’ll have to see what kind of
because of an inability to care for that In addition, many ground their conversation comes out of it.”
The big three: breaking down normative ethics
Utilitarian Ethics Deontological Ethics Virtue Ethics
determine right from argue that morality of an emphasize virtues and
wrong by focusing on the action should be based morality — what is a good
outcome — what would on duty or a series of human life? And how can I
produce the greatest good rules, rather than the achieve that? How should I
for the greatest number? consequences. live in this world?

18
Source: Dr. Steve Long
12 life & 10600 the remarker
december 10, 2021
the remarker
december 10, 2021 life & 10600 13
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Who’s calling the shots?

Behind the scenes of day-to-day life on 10600 Preston Road, a group called the Board of Trustees makes some of the
most important decisions about school life, including the future of school funds, facilities and image. Students’ Alan Schoellkopf ’91 Carl Sewell ‘02 Jeffrey Hillier ‘76 David McAtee Eric Kusin ‘00
II ‘87
lack of awareness about the Board, however, is not surprising, and it begs the question: Just what is the Board of Trustees? Chair, Development
Committee
At Large Member Vice President;
Chair, Exec. Treasurer;
Assistant Treasurer;
Chair, Audit Committee
Committee Chair, Finance

D o you ever wonder who names the buildings at 10600 Preston Road? Committee
Board of Trustees, Executive Committee members
Ever look at the empty lot where Hicks Gymnasium used to stand and wonder who decides what it’ll
look like in the future? LEADING

Or to whom the headmaster reports? Who manages the money, who looks over the curriculum or who
THE PACK
The 15
person
decides the school’s denomination? Fraser Marcus ‘72
Chair, Committee Executive
Board meets
Each of those important decisions is made by the school’s Board of Trustees, a 52-person group of alumni, on Trustees John Rocchio
on a more Chair, Investment
frequent Committee
parents and volunteers. Yet, around campus, relatively few students know much about this group. basis than the
full board and
So just who are these men and women? What exactly do they do? has slightly
different
powers and
Board President Katherine Crow sums it up simply. The most noticeable recent product of these Practically, however, the Board’s governance starts duties.
“We stand with the school during crises,” she said. undertakings stands right outside of the library — the within different Board committees.
Katherine Crow
“We’re there to support the school and to be aligned with Winn Science Center. Dini remembers the Board’s crucial “There are various committees of the board that President Clark Hunt ‘83
the administration as a strong partner, and help them to role in its creation. are charged with oversight of different things,” Dini Harlan Cohen ‘66
At Large Member
Ex-Officio, Legal Advisor
thrive.” “It’s hard to even illustrate how important the Board said. “There’s an Investment Committee that oversees
Headmaster David Dini shares Crow’s vision of the is to the things we enjoy every day because it lives over the endowment of the school. There’s the Development
Board. here in the background,”Dini said. “Our ability to go and Committee which helps with alumni relations and
“Our Board focuses on governance, which means they build the science center without a penny of debt? It just fundraising.”
oversee the long-term well-being of the school,” Dini said. wouldn’t happen without them. That’s the result of years of Some committees are made for one purpose, while
“They’re charged with the stewardship and sustainability discipline and critical thinking.” others exist as a permanent foundation for the Board as a
of the school — the strength and stability of the school. Dini attributes such successes to the clearly defined whole.
They’re not charged with administration — that’s delegated relationship between the administration and the Board “We have ad hoc committees, which are committees
to us as a team.” “One of the challenges in environments like ours is that are only there for working on the specific goal that they
Lawrence Lydia Addy Paul Genender ‘87 Ryan Robinson ‘86 Taylor Wilson ‘81
But that doesn’t mean that the Board and that the lines between administration and governance can have,” Crow said. “And then we have regular committees.” Gardner Chair, Education Secretary Chair, Facilities At Large Member
administration are on different pages. In fact, Dini believes get blurred,” Dini said. “That can become problematic in a As new members enter and exit the Board each year, At Large Member Committee Committee
they’re working on the same book. lot of ways. But here, there’s been a long-standing tradition the Education committee typically serves as a foundation
“One of the great strengths is we have a strong sense and commitment to keeping very clear lines of delegated for trustees to examine a wide range of facets across the
of partnership between our team on campus and the responsibility.” school.
leadership of the Board,” Dini said. “We work in a very,
very close, intentional partnership. If you took Mrs. Crow’s “The day after the tornado, Mrs. Crow called
“Generally, all new trustees will serve on education
because it gives you broad exposure to everything that’s
spotlight: spotlight:
goals for the year and my goals for the year and compared me and said, ‘Can I come up to school?’, and happening — all the programs in campus life and all Education Committee Financial Advisor
them, they overlap and they’re in full concert.” this was even before she had become board the academic and co-curricular programs,” Dini said.
How are these goals realized? For Crow, through
the Board’s fiduciary, strategic and generative work. In
president. I took this picture of her standing
down in front of the Perot sign without her
knowing we were there. It’s vividly etched in my
“Everything from student travel, to Character and
Leadership education, to health and wellness, to the D espite being the only
committee without
decision-making capabilities,
two school programs
prepare a presentation for
the committee, and each
between governance and
administration.
“We don’t make
H arlan Cohen ‘66 holds
a unique position in
parallel with the board. As
he plays goes even beyond
advisor.
“Over the last number
particular, believes Crow, the fiduciary and strategic work Wilderness Program.”
mind — she was thinking, ‘That’s my home.’” the Education committee department is covered on a recommendations for an alumnus, Life Trustee and of years, in particular with
are intertwined. Although it’s her second year as President, Crow has
is the largest on the Board three-year rotation. curriculum,” Addy said. former Board President, Dini my predecessor Marty
“The fiduciary work is being dedicated to the school’s David dini served on the Board for almost three decades, fostering
and typically seen as an “The faculty and staff who “That’s just not our job. We’re emphasizes how significant McNamara, this role has been
mission and our goals, i.e. the strategic plan, and then Headmaster meaningful relationships the whole way. These, along with
introduction for new are going to be presenting just there to provide the his help has been. as much or more counselor
being accountable for that performance,” Crow said. the Board’s commitment to the school, keep the Board
members. each month prepare materials forum, provide the audience “Harley was valedictorian as it is adviser,” Cohen said.
“Strategically, the Board sets school priorities, and then we With a clear understanding of their respective going.
“If somebody is coming to give us an update on and provide the discussions. of his class, worked on The “Apart from dealing with
use our resources to drive the school toward those goals. responsibilities, the Board and school administrators “There’s a lot of trust and respect on our Board for
onto the board, either as an where the department David [Dini] and John ReMarker, and has had a legal matters, we’ve acted as
This year, that means starting the process of getting a new work hand-in-hand without overlapping each other’s each other, and I think that people do a really good job
alum or as a parent, they is currently,” Education [Ashton] are at every single long legal career,” Dini said. somewhat of a sounding board
athletic center and working on access and affordability.” jurisdiction. of listening to and learning from each other,” Crow said.
immediately get immersed Committee Chair Lydia Addy meeting so they can hear “Now, he provides this service to school administration, and
Generative efforts, on the other hand, deal more with “That focus remains on governance and the long- “Everyone has the best interests of St. Mark’s in mind,
in learning a lot more about said. “We ask questions and what’s on people’s minds.” as legal counsel, which he in particular, the headmaster.
the school’s future. term well-being of a school, enabling our team to oversee and people are really thinking about how we stay on our
how the school operates from engage in discussion. What’s Just as the committee is does completely voluntarily. David [Dini] and I will talk
“Our generative work involves the Board being the operations of the school,” Dini said. “They don’t mission.”
top to bottom,” Dini said. funny is that my biggest an introduction for board He provides a tremendous frequently about matters that
thoughtful leaders and bringing wisdom, insight and get involved in hiring and they don’t get involved in
“And then, if someone has job is to keep meetings on members, it serves a similar amount of pro bono legal aren’t specifically legal in
critical thinking to the organization,” said Crow. “Looking admission decisions. They don’t get involved in the STORY Toby Barrett, Will Pechersky, Austin Williams
particular expertise, they schedule — there are so purpose for faculty members. advice to both the school and nature.”
at things that are happening on the outside and asking, operations and the daily life of the school because that’s not ARTWORK Cooper Cole
might also serve on finance many interesting things to “Teachers aren’t really the board, and he’s at every When asked about specific
‘How do they affect us?’” governance.” PHOTOS Courtesy Development Office Archives
or on investment or perhaps discuss, so they never feel involved with the Board, single meeting.” legal matters he’s assisted
on facilities.” long enough.” per se, so it’s really nice to Cohen describes himself as with, Cohen referenced the
The committee’s specific As Dini emphasized, give them the opportunity to having responsibility for the development and expansion of
operations are unique — the committee pays careful engage with us once every legal matters that affect the the school.
every five or six weeks, attention to the lines three years,” Addy said. school, both in positive and “In the past, we’ve been
negative ways. helpful with the financing
“The recent building of that’s been used to further the
the new science center is school’s physical evolution,”
an example of helping with Cohen said. “We’re also
positive legal matters — we responsive to the auditors with
had to deal with building respect to potential liabilities
contractors,” Cohen said. they focus on when they’re
“Other times we might have to auditing financial statements.
deal with problems that arise I think you can say that we’re
from inside or outside the St. certainly involved with the
Mark’s community.” business and financial aspects
Cohen feels that the role of the school.”

ICONS (Back row) Elvis Mason, Dr. P. O’B Montgomery, Jr. ’38, Barney T. Young,
Morris Spencer, Spencer Taylor, Robert Hoffman ’65 and (front) Robert Decherd
ST. MARK’S GIANTS (Front row left to right) Morris Spencer, Tony Roosevelt, Cecil Green, Patricia McBride, Clay Johnson, (middle row) former headmaster Arnie Holtberg, Robert Hoffman LEADERS PAST Allen Cullum ’64, Patricia McBride, Harlan Cohen ’66, Tony Roosevelt, (back): Ross Perot, Jr. ’77, Robert ’69, Cecil Green, Patricia McBride and former headmaster David Hicks sharing
’65, Spencer Taylor, Ralph Rogers, (back row left to right) Barney Young and P. O’B Montgomery, Jr. ’38 pose for a picture after a meeting. Sinclair ’74, former headmaster Arnie Holtberg, Carl Sewell ’61 and George Bayoud ’73 share a meal at a past presidents lunch. stories in a past presidents meeting in 1988.
26
E
arly this month, our
ReMarker editorial board
sat down in the publications
suite for our cyclical pitch
meeting.
I’ll be honest, I don’t
know what was running
through my head when
I was brainstorming,
because, in a moment
of partial insanity, gross
overconfidence and flat-out
stupidity, I thought: I bet I
could go vegetarian for two
weeks and write about it.
And, as you can tell by the
title, the pitch was a smashing
success. Frankly, I don’t think
I’ve ever seen our Editorials
& Opinions Editor Axel
Icazbalceta as enthusiastic
about an idea. Right then and
there, Axel gave me a new
name — Veggie Man. At the
time, I thought of my becoming
Veggie Man like being a superhero
with incredible powers (which,
in actuality, were extraordinary
grumpiness and an enormous iron
deficiency). I’m sure literally nobody
else saw it that way, though.
But, yeah, I actually ate no meat
— no food products of any kind that
contain beef, chicken, fish, pig or any
other critter — for two weeks. Thankfully,
I’ve now hung up my Veggie Man cape
and retired. But every superhero’s got a
backstory — here’s mine.
I’d like to preface by saying that going
vegetarian wasn’t a moral, religious or
health-conscious choice. I completely
understand the many reasons people are
vegetarian, and I have a lot of respect for
those reasons.
No, like I said, not a whole lot of
thought went into it. I think it was more
something I wanted to try out of my own
curiosity, like sticking my finger into an
electrical socket to test if I could become
the Flash, or maybe licking my hands
after rubbing hand sanitizer on them to
see if hand sanitizer tasted like Sprite as
much as it looked like Sprite.
Not that I’ve done those things. Who
would? Definitely not me.
Despite my haphazardness going
into the process, I decided from the
moment I left the pitch meeting that if
I was going to do it, I was going to do
it right. No shortcuts, no cheating, no
excuses of any kind. This meant weighing
myself daily, recording all my meals and
snacks, writing down notes about how
I felt physically and keeping progress
reports in case anybody wanted to check
me.
I soon found that the hardest part of
being vegetarian, by far, was not giving
up meat but finding anything to eat at all.
Even with the school’s wide selection of
CARTOON Cooper Cole
editorials & opinion
COLUMN
Toby
Barrett,
Veggie
Man
For his own edification
and the edification of the
greater school community,
Managing Editor Toby
Barrett experimented with a
vegetarian diet for two solid
weeks. This is his story.
greens and savory non-meat options,
finding things to eat at lunch without
meat was tough. Plus, on the weekends,
when I went to hang out with friends or
went out to dinner with my family, I was
limited to two or three salad options.
So I — as a certified health genius
— decided I would not really eat for the
first couple of days. I dropped from my
initial weight of 183.22 pounds to 178.84
pounds in two days.
And that was no good. First of
all, I’m 6’2”, so not eating is especially
dangerous for me because when I have
no energy I’ll fall asleep mid-walk and
ram into something or I’ll simply keel
over (which I did several times, as
evidenced by the four different places
where I skinned my knees the first week).
Second, I still had schoolwork to do and
found it extremely difficult to concentrate
in class when my stomach growled loud
enough for everyone in the Tri-State Area
to hear.
So, I think the vegetarian selection
at lunch could use an upgrade. And not
for vegetarian tourists like me — for
people I’ve talked to who are committed
to their diet but have a hard time finding
something substantive to eat. Sure, I
could always count on a trusty banana or
a packet of carrots to satisfy my hunger,
but after even 5 days, it got a little old.
Thankfully, my family
accommodated me (although grudgingly)
at home, meaning that dinners, breakfasts
and snacks at home were all vegetarian.
These included (but were not limited
to) an impossible meat vegan nacho
supreme, pinto bean stew, a soba noodle
tofu dish, an impossible burger and good
ol’ fashioned Papa John’s. Eventually,
as the weeks went on, my weight rose a
little bit, and I leveled out at around 182
pounds.
Toby’s homemade vegetarian eggs:
scrambled eggs, fox point seasoning,
Cholula, shredded cheese
Energy-wise, though, I noticed a
huge lapse, particularly mentally. For
the most part, I’m not a big napper, but
in my free periods, I frequently found
myself dozing off facedown on a table
in the journalism suite or drifting off
spread eagle on the beanbag in the
senior lounge. This meant that I needed
to adjust my schedule during the day to
maximize the sleep I got at night. I got
used to it around the end of the second
week, but it was a tough hurdle.
Physically, though, I did feel pretty
good: I got very restful sleep, had more
endurance when I worked out and
generally felt a little more motivated.
It’s possible that last part was because I
procrastinated some things and had to
get them done, but I’ll chalk it up to my
Veggie Man powers.
At the lunch following my 14-day
sabbatical, the cafeteria was serving
chicken breast, mac-n-cheese and brisket
sliders. When I sat down at the lunch
table with all of it piled on my plate, the
the remarker
december 10, 2021
guys sitting near looked at me excitedly,
waiting to see what my reaction to finally
having meat again would be.
I won’t lie — it was great. Fantastic.
Boy, I missed it. But I don’t think my
reaction really excited anybody. Honestly,
it tasted just how I expected it would.
The meat still tasted like meat. The world
kept on spinning.
So was the whole thing a waste
of time? In terms of being productive,
probably. In terms of my health — also
probably.
I’m glad I did it, though. That could
be hindsight talking, but I don’t think it is.
Because now I know that being
vegetarian is hard. To the people out
there who switch from eating meat to not
eating any at all — you’re the real veggie
superhero. I’m just an imposter.
And there’s also something
rewarding about knowing that
vegetarianism isn’t for me after being
vegetarian myself. I don’t have to take
anybody’s word about it, nor will I have
to wonder what it’s like. I did it, found
out I don’t like it, and that’s that.
Beyond meat fries supreme: fries,
jalapeños, fake barbacoa, tomatoes,
vegan cheese
To me, experiencing stuff like this on
your own is worth it. At the end of the
day, we do only live once, as cliché as it
is. So why not swap your usual burger
for some broccoli for a couple of weeks
and see what happens?
Veggie Man out.
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