News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
November 2019
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Alumni Day gives insight to the seniors
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 4
Football and girls volleyball take back their titles Fall programs recapture SPC championships in thrilling, convincing fashion
CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer While the freshman, sophomores, and juniors at Episcopal High School diligently worked in their first and second periods, seniors experienced Alumni Leadership Day on November 5. According to Senior Class Dean Jessica Adams, Alumni Leadership Day “is a special educational networking opportunity in which [the senior class] will hear and interact with EHS alums who work a variety of disciplines.” This day served to help the Senior Class learn more about different careers and helped them decide if their expectations truly matched reality. The day started with Dr. Sterling ‘97 telling the Senior Class about her career in medicine as a plastic surgeon. She discussed how Episcopal prepared her for her life and career in the medical field. After she finished, the seniors were released to two sessions of potential career options of their choosing. The options for the careers varied from Medicine and Healthcare to Arts and Entertainment. Each of these session lasted for about an hour. These sessions featured a panel of alums that informed the students about their particular profession of expertise. The panelists also discussed the steps they took to get to where they are now, such as where they went to college, what they majored in, and where they interned. Most importantly the various alums discussed how Episcopal High School prepared them for not only college but their lives and careers too. The students and panelists met in various rooms all over campus. Many of these graduates commented on how much the Episcopal campus has changed since they were students. They fielded many questions about internships, resumes, and life in general from an inquisitive Senior Class. All in all, the day was very successful, and the seniors gained not only valuable knowledge about careers but also how Episcopal High School and the alumni network has truly impacted graduates’ lives and will continue to do so.
INSIDE Podcasts at EHS Liam Griffin, Mr. Bradshaw and others join in the podcast trend
PAGE 2 Fall Dance Concert EHS presented dances created by outside choreographers
PAGE 3 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture......................... 4 Entertainment .............. 5 Knight Shift ................. 6 Opinion ........................ 7 Sports ........................... 8
The varsity football and girls volleyball teams celebrate with their SPC trophies after winning their championship games. Photos by Amelia Traylor.
Varsity girls volleyball and football won their respective tournaments in SPC. Both went undefeated in regular conference play. Football capped off the year beating rival Kinkaid 42-21, while volleyball went 3-0 in the final match against ESD. Learn more about SPC on Page 8
Episcopal students and faculty take the spotlight during the annual Fall Coffee House performances SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer On November 15, students and faculty in 5A and 5B lunches performed songs and even poetry for the EHS community in the Underwood Student Center during the Fall Coffee House. In addition to the planned performances, there was first come, first served karaoke. Coffee House-themed desserts were also available at the dessert bar in the USC. 2nd Cup came once again and students enjoyed coffee of their choice. 2nd Cup’s coffee bar is always a student favorite. Those staffing the bar take orders and make it right in front of the patron. There were so many choices on what to get, but the favorite seemed to be the secret squirrel coffee drink with amaretto and hazelnut flavoring. Between pastries, coffee, and performances, the event was well received. Senior Noah Cook played an amazing
piece on the saxophone, “Careless Whisper,” during 5A and added a calm to the venue. Anayla Wilson also performed a beautiful song, Señor Bruton was the faculty performer for 5A and absolutely crushed it. Once all the planned performances occurred, students were encouraged to partake in various karaoke. Including Someone Like You by Adele and other empowering songs. Headed into 5B, a solid rendition of “Valerie” was performed by Abigail Klinkerman, a great choice for her. The Bradshaw Band was featured once again and did a cover of “Just What I Needed” by The Cars. Justin Broadfoot and the Chinese Club members decided to change it up a bit with a performance of a Chinese song. The student body enjoyed this different piece. Also, Sophomore Jack Rambo and his band performed various genres of music, leaving the crowd in awe.
Trey Hernandez performed his annual singing of Viva la Vida by Coldplay. He had the whole crowd on their feet, cheering him on, waving their phones’ flashlights in encouragement. Following Trey, karaoke acts closed out the performances, concluding the fall Coffee House.
Abigail Klinkerman and Mr. Alan Bradshaw entertain the crowd during their 5B performance. Photo by Bailey Junell.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
EHS community shows its creativity Holocaust survivor Ruth Steinfeld through a variety of unique podcasts shares her captivating life story CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer Many people around the globe listen to podcasts on a daily basis as it serves as a way to get news and entertainment. Some even try their luck making podcasts through websites like Spotify or TuneIn. A few members of the EHS community have dedicated time and energy into making a variety of podcasts from sports to video games. One faculty member who has an avid interest in the podcasting world and who thoroughly enjoys making podcasts in his free time is history teacher and football coach Mr. Alan Bradshaw. On his podcast, Mr. Bradshaw talks about his favorite music and even interviews people in the music industry, such as Carey Ott and Matt Warren. He enjoys explaining his favorite songs from different time periods and has recently put out a podcast on 80’s music. Senior Liam Griffin has also taken an interest in podcasting and talks about the most recent sports events with fellow Episcopal students. Since becoming motivated by his favorite ESPN shows and the broadcasting course in the Publications Program, Liam has wanted to go into sports broadcasting, so he decided to start early. He enjoys putting out podcasts every week on Saturday, where he has talked about every sport from hockey with Connor Bailey 21’ to basketball with Will Arntzen 20’. He has over fifty episodes already and hopes to continue his podcast in the future. With all of these podcasts, the EHS community has produced many talented
broadcasters, but new band director Grant Gould truly has a love for the podcasting world. With his podcast, Velen’s Chosen,
Band Director Mr. Grant Gould discusses his podcast Velen’s Chosen. Photo by Sydney Coward. he talks about the digital collectible card game Heartstone with his co-casters Eve Martyn, Rob May, and other guest hosts from time to time. Mr. Gould started his podcast due to his love for the game and quickly became a content creator in the Heartstone community. With his over 200 podcasts, Mr. Gould uses his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game to entertain many as he discusses lore and strategies from his favorite games. Interacting with his positive community is Mr. Gould’s favorite part about podcasting, and he frequently gives advice to those who have the desire to podcast.
All Saints Day Chapel reminds us of the paths taken before us CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
lives.” She closed with the fact that although “we are works in progress” and though “we are not perfect, we are called to be light bearers,” and in order to be a saint, “we must strive for it.”
EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer Holocaust survivor Ruth Krell Steinfeld was five years old when her life was changed forever. She shared her story recently with the EHS community in a special Chapel. Ms. Steinfeld recalled two Nazi soldiers, fully dressed, knocking down her front door with axes and hammers and destroying her family’s home simply because they were Jewish. This night later became known to history as Kristallnacht, a night of violence. When she was seven years old, the Gestapo forced Ms. Steinfeld and her family onto a truck that took her to a jailhouse where they spent the night behind bars. The next morning, the Nazis stuffed her family, and many others, into boxcars, where dozens of people were forced to defecate on the floor. After four days, they arrived at an internment camp in Gurs, France, and were separated by gender. Ms. Steinfeld did not know it then, but this was the last time she would see her father. Ms. Steinfeld was imprisoned at the French-Nazi camp for five months until her mother woke her up in the middle of the night and put her on a bus against her will. The Agency for the Protection of Children agreed to take her and her sister to safety at Chateau de Masgelier, leaving her mother behind at the internment camp. Ms. Steinfeld was stripped of her Jewish name and given a new Catholic-German identity, Regine. Eventually, the Chateau
Holocaust survivor Ruth Steinfeld visited about her experiences during the Holocaust in Chapel with the students. Photo courtesy of Scott Cunningham. became known to the French and German Nazis, so Ms. Steinfeld and Lea were forced to evacuate and were placed into the private home of a farmer, Madame Chapote. After a while, their presence became known to a priest who decided he didn’t want to conceal their identities because neighboring towns had been burned by Nazis, so she and her sister were moved to St. Etienne Orphanage. After a childhood of pain, separation, and terror, Ms. Steinfeld and her sister immigrated to America in 1945, where they started a new chapter of their lives. Ms. Steinfeld and Lea later found out that their parents were murdered at Auschwitz. If it were not for their mother, her and her sister would have been murdered just like the other 1.5 million other children.
Knights benefit at fashion show OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer Tootsies, a “women’s luxury clothing store,” hosted a fashion show the morning of November 14 in conjunction with members of the Episcopal High School community at its River Oaks location as a fundraising event. Portions of the proceeds will go to support EHS and its upcoming February 21auction. Coined Day Into Knight, the show fea-
Senior Taylor Ferguson leads the school in song. Photo by Will Baumgartner. On Friday, November 1, the Episcopal High School community gathered to celebrate All Saint’s Day, a day devoted to all those who have passed away and praise them for their lives of spirituality. During Chapel, Reverend Beth Holden gave a very inspirational homily to the EHS congregation. Reverend Holden started her discussion by asking seniors what they thought saints were. Senior James Ogunrin said that a saint is a “protector,” while Nick Mayberry said that a saint was a “good person.” She proceeded to ask the community about what qualifications go into being a saint and who are some saints that the community knows. Saints like John, Mark, and even Drew Breese were called out by students and faculty alike. She told the community that in the New Testament, Paul defined being a saint as “all the members of the church…anybody really.” She told the EHS community that saints are also people who have lived or are still living who are “light bearers in our
A model struts the runway for the Tootsies Fashion Show. Photo courtesy of Scott Cunningham.
Reverend Engle leads the all-school worship. Photo by Will Baumgartner.
Standing in front of the student body, Reverend Holden assists in the beginning of the service of Holy Eucharist. Photo by Will Baumgartner.
Parents enjoying the models showing the latest fashion down the run way. Photo courtesy of Scott Cunningham.
tured models wearing some of Tootsies clothing line as EHS mothers gathered in the audience to see and purchase the latest in fashion’s trends and styles. Under the direction of Auction Chairs Mrs. Elizabeth and Will Galtney, Carol and Gregg Thompson, and Daryl and Aaron Hoover, this year’s theme is Masquerade, and for the third year in a row, the auction will be held in the Hildebrand Athletic Center. Both events support the school community financially and “make it possible for students to experience an unparalleled offering of classes and programs throughout the Four Pillars of athletics, arts, and religion; build lasting relationships with a talented faculty and staff; and be exposed to enriching opportunities both in and out of the classroom,” according to the EHS website.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
Dance concert is a perfect success LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer After rehearsal for weeks, many talented EHS students performed in the Fall Dance Concert Moving Connections November 15th and 16th in Underwood Theater. Directed by Dance Department Coordinator Kristina Burgess, the show included EHS students from all different levels of expertise. Mrs. Nikki Sublet, cohead of the department, was on maternity leave during this concert, so the substantial job was up to Ms. Burgess. The auditions were open for this concert, so students who weren’t enrolled in dance classes at EHS were still allowed to participate, resulting in a remarkable turnout with over thirty dancers. The Impact Dance team, which is the most advanced level of dance offered at Episcopal, began
prepping for the show during their preseason practices around August 5. The rest of the teams started their preparations in September. The ten pieces featured included styles in contemporary, modern, hip hop, tap, lyrical, and contemporary-lyrical dance and were split into two acts with an intermission. The works of art in Moving Connections offered unique techniques and styles all distinctive to the specific piece. As opposed to the spring show, where students are responsible for choreographing their own dances, the Fall Dance Concert featured outside choreographers from all around the Houston area. This show presented work from many brilliant choreographers like Emily Roy Sayre, Brit Wallace-McGrath, Karen Pfeifer, Abby Leithart, Terrill Mitchell, and Aaron Medina, who were able to introduce new skills and create an incredible show.
Features ∙ Page 3
Meet EHS’ newest English teacher LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Mr. Evan Harris, a new English teacher at Episcopal, shared with The Knight Times his unique experiences before moving to Texas. Where were you born? “I was born in Washington D.C. My family moved to Europe three months later. I didn’t move back to the U.S. for another 12 years.”
Why did you move to Texas? “EHS emailed me and I came down here maybe a week later. I instantly liked the other English faculty. I loved the food, which sounds like a silly reason to move, but it’s a factor. Lastly, I’m about to start work on my master’s degree, and EHS is supportive of professional development. Another big reason for the move is that the school I was teaching at before was extremely remote, so I was very eager to move to a city, and this is where I feel most comfortable.”
Do you ever go to back to LA? “I’ve been back a couple times. When I go back, I always go to Al’s on Santa Monica. They have the best burger in the city, way better than In ’n Out.” What were your favorite things about LA? “On the corner of Melrose and Vista, there is a secondhand clothing store called Wasteland. They only carry high fashion brands, and you can get clothing marked down from like $300 to $30. It’s absolutely insane. I also love getting back into a music studio if I can. I used to work in the music industry when I lived in LA. My favorite studio in the city is owned by Paramount and it’s called The Treehouse.”
EHS welcomes new teacher Mr. Harris. Photo by Lara Verstovsek.
Theater prepares for play BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief
The EHS Dance Program worked long and hard to perfect their performance for Opening Night. Each and every dancer put their heart and soul into their performnce. Photos by Mr. Scott Cunningham.
This year’s winter production from EHS Onstage is King Charles III. The play will be performed in the Underwood Theater December 6-7 at 7 p.m. and December 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults and will be on sale during both lunches the week after Thanksgiving, and they will be available the night of the show. The theater program began rehearsing in early October and work after school every day and even on Saturdays. King Charles III is a futuristic scenario in which Queen Elizabeth II, the queen of England, passes away and her son Prince Charles inherits the throne. This production shows a possibility of how the world would work if Charles were to become king and how his succession to the throne would impact Britain’s culture and political situation. The play works through the scenario that Parliament wants to pass a law regarding the freedom of press yet needs King Charles’s signature to pass it. After careful
thinking, Charles chooses to refuse to give royal ascent to this law in order to protect the rights of his people, resulting in chaos and a divided public. With Ethan McAlpin as King Charles III; Will McKinnie as William, Duke of Cambridge; Caton Murry as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Henry Solsbery as Prince Harry; Christina Betti as Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Nico Zanotti as James Reiss; Taylor Schugart as Jess; Alena Haney as Mrs. Evans (the Prime Minister); Abigail Klinkerman as Mrs. Stephens; and many other supporting roles, a strong ensemble, and Emma Walker as the production stage manager, the play is bound to be a success. The cast has worked on their various British dialects in order to fit the circumstances of the play. Many characters speak with the British RP dialect, especially the Royals and the upper class, while others speak with more regional dialects. These different ways of speaking presented a challenge, but the cast has been working hard to perfect them. Support the theater program at this winter production of King Charles III.
Websites brace for Black Friday NICK HELD Staff Writer
Black Friday shopping sprees have been an American holiday tradition and notorious for fighting through crowds to search for and find the best deals possible, but in recent years the rise in online shopping has formed its own holiday, Cyber Monday. In 2018, Adobe Analytics reported that Black Friday created $6.22 billion and that Cyber Monday generated over $7.9 billion in revenue, which was a 20% increase from previous years. This year should be no different, but more revenue has been switched over to the e-commerce markets.
Amazon, the king of the American ecommerce market, has reinvented these holidays. Instead of celebrating these two days, Amazon will be holding a week full of deals. Amazon Prime members will be in luck; even with the influx of purchases, Amazon is guaranteeing their same or two-day delivery. Some of the highlighted deals will be on Amazon specific products such as the Amazon Echo, Fire TV, and even Whole Foods groceries. In stores, technology is where the deals will be. Costco will be selling an Apple MacBook Pro for a $200 discount; BestBuy is marking down TVs as much as $300, and many more sales will be featured. Many deals are posted on outlets’ websites and pose a great opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping.
The EHS theatre crew has been vigilant in their preparation for the King Charles III performance; the play will be held December 6-7. Photo by Amelia Traylor.
Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
BLAIR BARINEAU Guest Writer
plication. New this year was the school wide celebration event Pre-Fibonacci day held on November 20th during both lunch periods. Along with games, puzzles and information about the Fibonacci sequence, we had a bake sale that aimed to raise funds for
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future math competitions. Thank you to everyone who supports STEM and our mathematical endeavors! Again, if you are interested in becoming a member of math club, we welcome you!
La fiesta del Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) no se celebra en la mayoría de las culturas hispanohablantes, pero para más o menos treinta mil personas a atreves de la ciudad de Houston hay otra fiesta celebrando el Festín de Nuestra Señora de la Divina Providencia. La fiesta se origina de la Patrona de Puerto Rico. Aunque a menudo no es una fiesta muy importante para los que la celebran, to-
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ZACK DONOVAN Staff Writer
davía es un parte intrigante de la región y su cultura católica. La veneración de esta figura se comenzó en Italia y se difundió un poco por la Europa hasta que llegó a la isla de Puerto Rico, donde se hizo parte de la cultura diversa. Hoy en día las comunidades boricuas todavía celebran el banquete en el diecinueve de noviembre. Varias otros ciudades y grupos tienen la virgen como la Patrona, pero no son grandes ni la celebra en el mismo día.
Rapper Kanye West preaches at Lakewood Church OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer
Math students eagerly working. Photo courtesy of Blair Barineau.
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Hey Knights! I’m Blair Barineau and I am the Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta (MAT). November was another very busy and exciting month for the Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta. November 12 was the second monthly meeting of the year with over 140 in attendance! Thank you to those who came and participated in the Texas Math League contest. Our team of 40 mathletes competed in 5 rounds of the Math Madness bracket competition. November 6 marked the start of this year’s international HiMCM Math Modeling Challenge in which 3 teams of 12 students total compete against over 800 schools worldwide to solve a math modeling problem. This month marks the first time MAT will compete in the first of three rounds of Log competition spanning November to February against other MAT chapters. The contest involves conics, logarithms, exponents, and algebra skills and its ap-
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Pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church was more than jam-packed the weekend of November 17, as rapper Kanye West held his “Sunday Service.” Doors opened at 5:30 for the 7:00 evening event with free admission; however, attendees needed to acquire an e-ticket on Ticketmaster the day before to reserve a seat. Those in attendance expected to hear songs from the newly released album Je-
sus is King. A half-hour film by the same name was expected to be shopwn as well. West said, “Now that I am in service to Christ, my job is to spread the gospel. To let people know what Jesus has done for me. And in that, I’m no longer a slave. I’m a son of God now. I’m free through Christ.” Guests were allowed two tickets per person, and the service was streamed live on the church’s Facebook and YouTube pages, website, and app, and on SiriusXM’s Joel Osteen Radio channel 128 as well as the SiriusXM app.
According to an article published by TMZ, “Osteen is a fan of West and believes his life is rooted in faith and love.” Lakewood “scramble[d] to make sure the event went off without hitch,” and representatives from the Houston Police Department also monitored the proceedings, along with Lakewood’s security. As preachers, Kanye and Osteen are said to be promoters of “prosperity goal” and were looking forward to advertise their spiritual wellness message to Houston and the rest of the viewing and listening audiences.
Merrell Middleton 12000 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77079 281-368-1482 mmiddleton@westsidelexus.com Call Coach Middleton today for EHS preferred pricing!
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
Entertainment∙ Page 5
Viewers get in the holiday spirit Macy’s Day Parade features with release of Last Christmas new floats and talented artists SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer (Spoiler Alert. Want to see the movie Last Christmas? Turn the page…) There’s a reason this Christmas movie didn’t come out at Christmas time. The emotional film offers humor as a distraction from heartache at its conclusion. Christmas time is not a time for crying but joyful celebration of Jesus and family. This movie touches the importance of family relationships and staying in touch
The release of Last Christmas gets viewers and movie fanatics all around the globe excited for the Christmas season. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood. with them while giving the viewer a heartbreaking romantic story. Last Christmas tells the story of a young woman in her mid 20s named Kate trying
to recover from her traumatizing Christmas experience the previous year. She was dying and had to have a heart transplant, but prior to her operation, she was vibrant and dedicated to her aspiration of becoming a singer. After the surgery she is left feeling half-dead, and even though everyone tells her “she is lucky to be alive,” she feels everything but lucky. She’s tired of people telling her what to do in her search for returning to an expected “normal” life, but no one understands how lost she feels. She copes with her depression with alcohol, sex, and junk food, all of which the doctor tells her to stay clear. Before hitting rock bottom, she meets Tom. He embodies who she used to be before her surgery, and he guides her to a better lifestyle. She feels connected to him like no one she has before. Kate tries to get her life back together under the influence of Tom’s humanitarian-like efforts. Tom shows her the beautiful side of life, and she begins to ditch the selfish lifestyle her family accuses her of leading. In the end she finds out the reason why she felt so connected to him and why Tom understood her so well. The day she almost died, Tom got in a major accident and died in transit to the hospital. Kate received his heart on the table and his “ghost” was the person she has been spending all her time with during the holiday season. Because of the humor, the movie is tolerable. Nobody wants to see a movie they expect to be cute and romantic but instead makes them cry. I would recommend seeing it with the expectation to leave not as happy as you came. The movie might break your heart, so be prepared.
Youtuber releases new pallete JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer Youtuber Shane Dawson and businessman Jeffree Star have recently released their highly anticipated “Conspiracy” makeup palette and lipstick line in early November. Shortly before the release of the makeup, Shane and Jeffree teased the products through a six-episode mini-series on Shane Dawson’s YouTube channel about the creative process from picking out colors to the actual business side of things, while also covering the challenges the two internet moguls had to overcome to create their finished product. The pallet consists of different shades, each one being a different type of formula, like vibrant colors like “Food Videos,”
new floats and singers riding through the crowded streets of New York. Among these singers will be the BlackEyed Peas, Lea Michele, Ozuna, and With the fun family gatherings and big Ciara. Accompanying these singers will dinners associated with Thanksgiving be many floats and balloons, including comes the infamous Macy’s Thanksgivthe infamous Ronald McDonald and Pillsbury Dough Boy. Keep an eye out for the new balloons that will be joining this famous group: SpongeBob Squarepants, Green Eggs and Ham, Smokey Bear, and Astronaut Snoopy. New floats that will be making a debut at the parade will include Blue’s Clues, “Home Sweet Home” (Cracker Barrel), “The Brick Changer” The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition for (Lego), “Rexy in the families all around the world. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood. City” (Coach), and the “Toy House of Marvelous Milestones” (New York Life). ing Day Parade. Held in New York City, These floats, balloons, and singers are this parade features big floats, musical all new and ready to be seen by America. numbers, and, of course, Santa Claus and With only one week left until this anhis reindeer. The world’s largest parade is nual parade, everybody in America needs coming up on its 93rd year, making it one to stay patient and wait for the best part of of the oldest parades in America. Thanksgiving. This year there will be an abundance of CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer
Travis Scott brings plethora of musical talent to Houston LEANA GREENE Staff Writer
On November 9, Travis Scott hosted Astrofest at NRG Stadium, bringing with him multiple top artists. Megan the
“Trisha,” and “Cheese Dust;” other colors, such as “Diet Root Beer” and “Tanacon” are more neutral and wearable. A few glittery, glamorous shades like “Spiraling” and “Diet Cola” are spread throughout the pallet. Along with the main pallet, Shane also released a mini-pallet similar to the main pallet, lipsticks, and new merchandise. The mini-pallet, “Mini-Controversy,” followed the lead of the main pallet. The lipstick line had the same name as the “Conspiracy” pallet. Many of the lipsticks are named after some of Shane’s iconic catchphrases, such as, “Are You Filming?” and “I Gotta Go.” All of the aforementioned products sold out within hours of their release. Fans and other beauty gurus alike are all anxious to test and review the new products.
The crowd of over 60,000 people awaited Travis Scott to perform at AstroWorld after an all day festival of other popular artists. Photo by Leana Greene.
YouTube creator Shane Dawson and Beauty Guru Jeffree Star released their conspiracy pallete after selling over 1 million in 30 minutes. Photo courtesy of CapitalFM.
The month of November brought music artists of all generes to Houston. These artists varried from catagories such as counrty, indie, hip hop, rap, and pop. Starting the month with high standards was 25-year-old pop/hip-hop singer Post Malone. Known for his colorful and energetic showcases, he performed on November 5 and did not disappoint his fans. Malone managed to sell out NRG Stadium, holding over 72,220 people, and on the same night, came the performance of hip-hop rapper Lil Tecca. Lil Tecca came out at The House of Blues singing his hit song “Ransom,” and sang other songs from his latest album, We Love You Tecca.
Stallion, Pharrell, Migos, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, and more were present at this year’s concert. An anxious crowd of over sixty thousand people from all over the United States welcomed Travis Scott on stage at 10:00 p.m. with surprise guest Kanye West. Later, on November 18, Willie Nelson came to the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. The 86-year-old country artist plans to make his Club Luck Tour his last. Some other featured concerts in the month of November were artists such as Surfaces, The Chainsmokers, and. Dominic Fike. As well as there many more conterts with enticing artists are to be expected in the near future.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
Speaks Out What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
YAEL GONZALEZ “Playing soccer”
EMILY KEENAN “Home cooked meals”
Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
PhotoJ Photo of the Month WADE ARNTZEN “Making pumpkin pie”
SOPHIA BLACK “What is Thanksgiving?”
JACOB DIXON “Playing football”
IZZY EHRLICH “Going to my grandparents’”
Is that a bird? Is that a plane? Shockingly not, it is Austin Reppert and Su Spector looking up at PhotoJ members at Open House. Photo by Sophie Martin.
(Campus Look-Alikes) MATTHEW McCAFFREY “Grandma’s kisses”
RIYA VARADHACHARY “Burning the chicken”
MR. INSTAGRAM “Green bean casserole. The best Thanksgiving food there is.”
GIGI GAETTI “Going to NOLA, eating, and sleeping for 12 hours” Is that the same Alan Ross formal photo moment? Did senior Garrett Sisk just lose a jacket and add a tie for another sitting? Nope! Those are two of the most important influencers on campus at EHS. On the left is the infamous Garrett, and on the right is none other than Mr. Instagram. Photos by Alan Ross.
Turkey Day Facts CATALINA ALVAREZ “Going to grandma’s ranch and seeing 15 cousins she doesn’t get to see”
MS. LAUREN CUNNINGHAM “Not going Black Friday shopping”
Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the eagle. Americans eat 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets with roasted turkey. The heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, weighed 86 pounds. Californians consume the most turkey in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day. Female turkeys (called hens) do not gobble. Only male turkeys gobble.
WESLEY ALEXANDER “The eating”
GIANNA CIARAVINO “Picking up turkey from Boston Market”
The average turkey for Thanksgiving weighs 15 pounds. Campbell’s soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
Opinion ∙ Page 7
Roses are red, violets are blue, Jeffrey Epstein didn’t kill himself NICK HELD Staff Writer If you choose not to read this article, please read this paragraph because you should know the essence of the argument. Jeffrey Epstein masterminded a secret pedophile ring that includes celebrities, politicians, and rich people. Through these connections he was able to conceal it from the public’s view, and when he finally got caught, he was murdered by the secret pedophilic ring in efforts to tie loose ends because further investigations would lead to their demise or potentially something worse. This is, of course, a theory, held by myself and many others. Despite dropping out of college twice, Jeffrey Epstein started his finance career while teaching physics and calculus at Dalton School, a private K-12 in Manhattan, NY. Epstein tutored the child of a chairman at a big finance company, Bear Stearns, and he landed a job in 1976 at the firm. He left the firm in 1981 to start his own firm. This is where things get kind of sketchy. Little was known about Epstein’s business, which was located in the U.S Virgin Islands and has been described as a “tax haven,” meaning there were basically no taxes. The firm only took clients with $1 billion or more in assets. There has been considerable effort to hide the identity of his clients, probably because they use his firm to evade taxes. There is little known about Epstein’s business, but he was starting to accumulate extremely large sums of money. He owned property all over the world, including the largest private residence in Manhattan. Although nobody knew where the money was coming from, Epstein was doing everything to help establish an elite persona, including a $30 million donation to Harvard. A person familiar with Epstein reported that Epstein “is this mysterious, Gatsbyesque figure. He likes people to think that he is very rich, and he cultivates this air of aloofness. The whole thing is weird,” according to the New York Times
Magazine. He had a brand and people wanted to be associated with him, people like Bill Clinton and Kevin Spacey, who both had multiple accusations of sexual misconduct leveled against them, including rape (although the accusations had not yet surfaced, it should still be noted). More and more powerful people wanted to enter Epstein’s elite circle, only giving Epstein more power and influence. He befriended Donald Trump who, at the time, was only a real estate mogul. In a New York Times magazine piece, Trump stated, “I’ve known the Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Great, we have established that Epstein is an offshore banker who helps many rich influential people evade taxes, but that’s nothing new. Seriously, google it. Many wealthy and famous people use services like his, but that is just the cherry on top compared to his alternate life. If you didn’t already believe that having enough money and knowing the right people could grant you unlimited power, then you haven’t been paying attention. After years and years of accusations of sexual abuse of young girls levied against Epstein, the city of Miami finally acted upon them and brought Epstein to trial. He was defended by Alex Acosta, former U.S. representative and now Trump’s Secretary of Labor. Acosta and Epstein made a secret deal and Acosta granted Epstein total immunity from federal prosecution. Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution. During his 13-month jail sentence, he was allowed to leave six days a week to work in his Palm Beach office. In November 2018, a newspaper in Miami reported that dozens of underage girls had been sexually abused in Jeffrey Epstein’s beach house. This is when people actually started investigating Epstein. The lead detective on the case stated Epstein was running a “sexual pyramid scheme”
and that 80 women had been abused. The case picked up traction on July 6, 2019, when Epstein was arrested on suspicion of sex trafficking minors and was charged a little over a month later with sex trafficking and conspiracy. He was denied bail and put on suicide watch. Epstein was found dead in his cell two weeks after he was removed from suicide watch. The death was proclaimed an “apparent suicide,” and the case was dropped, which means no further investigation was required. Convenient, right? Two months after his death, a renowned pathologist hired by Epstein’s brother stated that evidence “points to homicide” and that his injuries were “extremely unusual in suicidal hangings and could occur much more commonly in homicidal strangulation.” The event should have caught national
headlines, but it seemed to die out rather quickly and was deemed irrelevant by the media. This is a big deal, and we live in a culture that tends to discourage the media and other people from sticking with one thing for an extended amount of time. So, if you just forget about this, you are doing exactly what is expected, so don’t forget it and maybe even do your own research. I know that all of this might just seem like a conspiracy theory, but is it so crazy to think that a sex trafficking kingpin who was in close association with the world’s most powerful and richest people could have been murdered to prevent him from exposing their roles in or their knowledge of it all? I will follow this with a future update providing new information should it surface on the state of the investigation.
Epstein was found dead in his prison cell just two weeks after he was removed from his mandatory suicide watch. Photo courtesy of KXLY.
Medicare for All: An illusion rather than illumination CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer “Medicare for All.” What is it? Why has this become a hot topic, and why should young voters care? Currently, there are multiple groups that provide healthcare: private insurance companies, employersponsored health insurance, and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The problem with this is the tremendous expense driven by administrative and pre-
scription drug costs. Healthcare will represent 20% of the GDP this year. In 2009 when President Obama took office, he declared that the US was at a breaking point regarding healthcare. The number of people who were uninsured or consistently denied insurance coverage was growing at a rapid rate, and the burden of taking care of the uninsured was placed directly on taxpayers’ shoulders. In 2014, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It was a provision in every plan that forced insurers to accept all applicants, charge the same rates regard-
Today, 20 million people remain uninsured due to high costs, and the Democratic party is pushing a “Medicare for All” agenda to help. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood.
less of pre-existing conditions, and provide essential health benefits. He made insurance a requirement for everyone, going as far as taxing those who did not apply in order to alleviate the taxpayers’ burden. The biggest downside to his plan happened to those who already had good coverage. Insurance companies canceled existing policies that didn’t meet “Obamacare’s” strict standards and forced people to pay more for benefits that did not apply to them. Despite efforts to reform the system, over 20 million people remain uninsured due to high costs. Now, the Democratic party is aggressively pushing a “Medicare for All” agenda, which ¬¬will significantly change the way U.S. citizens receive healthcare. In favor of a sole government-operated system, otherwise known as a single-payer system, left-wing constituents recommend disbanding private insurance companies and provide healthcare to all people, regardless of age. They argue that a system controlled only by the federal government instead of multiple private insurance companies would provide a financially streamlined approach to care. An appeal of Medicare for All is the lack of a premium, co-pay and deductible, normally required by private insurance companies. But let’s face the fact that nothing comes for free. The cost of Medicare is estimated to run anywhere from $12-32 trillion over the next ten years. Funding will be derived from higher taxes, including payroll, wealth, and estate taxes; if medical reimbursement rates for doctors
and hospitals increase, or there is an increased utilization of care for non-urgent conditions, taxpayers’ financial strain will worsen. An additional tax burden will be placed on households with an income of over $250,000. Medicare for All would force all physicians to be a part of the system, as private insurance would be eliminated. Democrats claim that this broadens patients’ options for treatment and improves quality of care. Prioritized care will be removed, and equality will be established. However, equality does not always allow for efficiency. Countries such as England and Canada have used a single-payer healthcare system for decades, but patients in those systems experience longer wait times, delayed surgeries, and few treatment options. With limited budgets, these systems must ration or refuse certain necessary procedures such as cataract surgery or timely chemotherapy, both critical for the wellbeing of patients. It’s unrealistic to think that Medicare for All is the only solution to the current American healthcare crisis. No one wants to face the interminable wait for less than ideal care as seen in the British single-payer system. In addition, it seems alarming to give the government the power to prohibit certain treatments or procedures based on a limited budget. We have to reform this system, but can’t it be done in a manner that allows options for private insurance, contains costs, and improves the quality of care?
Sports∙ Page 8
Sports Brief FIELD HOCKEY LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer
The varsity field hockey team successfully accomplished the girls’ goal of fifth place in the SPC Tournament. On the first day of the tournament, the team met Hockaday, and despite a freezing rain, the girls’ strong efforts resulted in an exhilarating 1-0 sudden death victory in overtime. On Day Two of the tournament, the girls headed out to St. John’s to play Trinity Valley, the number one seed in the North Zone. Unfortunately, EHS lost in overtime but bounced back against Greenhill, beating them 3-1 and earning a top five finish in SPC. This sets a level of accomplishment for future EHS field hockey teams to meet and surpass.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer Boys volleyball ended an incredible season with two intense matches during SPC Week. Led by their three seniors, Tanner Witt, Justin Broadfoot, and Will Arntzen, the team managed to finish fifth. As the top seed in the South, the Knights were pushed in the opening round by Greenhill, who took them to five sets in the upset. Throughout the tournament, North Zone teams repeatedly defeated teams from the South. This match, however, was the only one that was close and was won by only 4 points. Losing the first set, the Knights began to bounce back as dominant hitters Arntzen and Witt controlled the court, while serves from Jacob Dixon ‘21 kept the opposing team unable to attack. Though they lost, the team showed determination and strength. The team’s last game would be against St. Andrew’s, and with a year of preparation behind them, the boys won every set. As the game began, the Knights dominated and didn’t allow St Andrew’s any room for points. A turning point in the game was when new varsity setter Wade Arntzen ‘22 hit a devastating shot, causing St. Andrew’s to break down and get two red cards. The boys volleyball team ended their season showing improvement in the program for years to come.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer The boy’s cross country team finishes the fall season with determined effort, finishing 12th out of 16 at their final meet in Tomball, Texas. Sophomore John Bruton finished first for EHS and 35th overall with a time of 17:33.9. Other runners including Nicholas Oldham and Harrison Wallis were glad that they were able to participate in the cross country program this year and are excited for next season and whatever the future may hold. While being a time of winning and celebration, the team also had to say their goodbyes to their team captain, senior Liam Griffin, as this meet would be his last chance to participate in the EHS cross country program. Head Coach Julius Michael is also extremely excited for the future and very proud of his team for their oustanding performance.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2019
Girls varsity volleyball cruises to championship LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer The girls varsity volleyball team recaptured the top spot in SPC after winning in 2017 with some thrilling and dominant match play during the tournament held at Episcopal as part of the wrap up to fall sports in the conference. Going into SPC, the girls were seeded first in the South Zone, going undefeated in counter games at 7-0. When asked about SPC, Coach Amanda Watts, the EHS head volleyball coach, said, “Ever since I found out we would be hosting SPC, I kept picturing the team ending the season in a dogpile in the middle of our beautiful Alkek Gym. I knew we had great leadership with our four seniors - Brennan Howell, Alison Krieg, Sophia Quintanilla and Trinity Watts. They have won an SPC Championship with this program before and were hungry to finish their last year with another one.” The tournament was played over a twoday period, with the girls playing two games on Friday and one on Saturday, and the team did not drop one set the entire weekend. The Knights defeated ESD in the championship game on Saturday in convincing fashion.
“As soon as Lara Verstovsek got the kill on match point, I immediately teared up,” reflected Coach Watts. “The team has worked hard since August on making themselves better teammates as well as fo-
cusing during practice to make themselves better volleyball players. We talked in August about embracing expectations and these girls did just that.” The four seniors were essential to the team due to their leadership and extreme positivity throughout the entire season. Because Episcopal received the honor of hosting the SPC tournament at home, the happiness and joy that was brought to the gym from the incredible student body and teachers, combined with the excitement from the coaches and players, truly proves what the EHS community represents. Varsity volleyball celebrates. Photo by Mr. Mauro Gomez.
EHS football takes back SPC title in convincing win TINLEY KANE Staff Writer The Episcopal Knights are once again the reigning champions of the SPC 4A Division. Since 2014 Episcopal has been restless to take back the title. For the third consecutive year, the Knights faced off against rival Kinkaid, to whom they had lost in the previous two years. This time around the Knights wanted to bring a different end to their season. The first half of the game saw both teams fighting for a lead. Episcopal received the opening kickoff, enabling the Knights to set the tone for the night. By the middle of the first quarter on a third down, senior quarterback Nick Mayberry was able to find sophomore Cailen Graham wide open in the end zone to get on the scoreboard first. This lead was short-lived though as the Falcons responded quickly with a 95-yard kick return, tying the game at 7. The Falcons took matters into their own hands on a later possession, taking the lead with a flee flicker pass of 35 yards. Just as the Falcons thought they would maintain the lead, the Knights responded. On another third down, junior Quon Marion, behind an offensive line that owned the line of scrimmage all night, took a handoff 72 yards to tie the game at 14 heading into halftime. EHS Head Coach Steve Leisz, intent on wearing out the Falcons, took the game to a different level in the second half. Episcopal’s offense scored quickly on its first possession of the half on a 30-yard touch-
down by sophomore Adrian Cormier. As was case most of the night, Kinkaid responded with a touchdown, evening up the score 21-21. This would be the last score a staunch EHS defense would allow for the remainder of the night. The Knights’ defensive front and linebacker core, led by seniors James Ogunrin and Obe Lewis, made life miserable for a Falcon offense, unable to keep pace. The secondary was stingy as well as Kinkaid found itself with few answers.
With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Marion dove into the endzone from the 1-yard line, giving the Knights the lead for good. Soon after, Cormier took a pitch from Mayberry and took it 25 yards into the end zone, extending the Knights lead to 35-21. In the fourth quarter, Quon Marion made another play as he dove into the end zone to silence the Falcons with the 42-21 final. Marion finished with 270 yards and Cormier added 199 in the offensive explosion.
Senior quarterback Nick Mayberry throws the ball for one of the many touchdowns of the night. Photo by Mr. Mauro Gomez.
Girls cross country finishes Runner-Up during SPC JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer The Episcopal High School girl’s crosscountry team performed exceptionally well at the 2019 Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship (SPC), capturing a Runner-Up title and setting the stage for future success. The team fell a few points short to Dallas Greenhill, while sophomores Katarzyna Kwiatkowski, Ella Newman, and Kate Freeman received medals for their performance during the highly competitive meet, each placing in the top 20 in the 5,000-meter run, making them all-SPC athletes.
The team met the expectations of coaches, placing in the top three last year at the 2018 SPC championship. Head Coach Julius Michael, Assistant Coach Andrew Lauer, and all the other coaches were pleased to see the performance of the girls and recognize the value of a young successful group heading forward. The team was given several awards to commend their efforts at SPC and throughout the season. The team is sad to say their goodbyes after having a very productive season that allowed them to improve on their athletic skills and bond as a team.
Girls cross country placed second in the annual SPC. Photo by Mr. Scott Cunningham.