News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
January 2020
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 6
Annual auction EHS community participates in Interim Term From a trip to China to dancing and cooking, EHS does it all provides needed funds for EHS LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer The Episcopal High School Annual Auction is a tradition with one simple goal: to raise necessary revenue for the school’s operating budget, and this year’s event will be held February 21. The theme is Blue Knight Masquerade, and guests will enjoy an elegant evening of masks and mystique. As part of the annual giving program, the auction opens doors and provides a breadth of opportunities for students. The generous support of families and faculty makes it possible for EHS students to experience an unparalleled offering of classes, build lasting relationships with a talented faculty, and be exposed to enriching opportunities. The generosity of the EHS community is also essential to the success of the school’s Financial Aid Program, giving financial assistance to deserving students. Episcopal has been presenting auctions since 1985 and continues to wow the crowd with outstanding venues and gatherings. Parents and friends work on the year-long process, gathering live and silent auction items, soliciting underwriting, producing an auction program, designing decorations, addressing invitations, and cataloging items. There are usually around 400 in attendance on auction night. EHS parents and community members are so supportive of the auction each year with around 100 EHS faculty and staff volunteering to help with logistics. There are over 200 EHS parent volunteers that help as well, year-round, securing items and performing other auction-related tasks. This year’s chairs for the event are Elizabeth and Will Galtney, Daryl and Aaron Hoover, and Carol and Gregg Thompson. Items for auction in the Online Auction and on Auction Night are in the categories of Home, Personals, Sports, Guys, Students, Entertainment, and Getaways. Auction Night has a Silent Auction, a Big Board, and a Live Auction. The Live Auction begins after guests are served a catered meal. EHS’s Online Auction will open to everyone for a week, around the first of February and will be the seventh online auction in the event’s thirty-six year history.
INSIDE Tex Mex Tailgate Annual club fair held during games against John Cooper
PAGE 2 Tuck Everlasting Rehearsals Students prepare for the musical this spring
PAGE 4 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture......................... 4 Entertainment .............. 5 Knight Shift ................. 6 Opinion ........................ 7 Sports ........................... 8
Mr. Storlie and Mrs. Philbrick took their Polaroid Class to Smither Park for an Interim Term day trip. The class members were given the chance to photograph their surroundings using their new knowledge of the cameras. Photo by Jami Rassy. CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer
During the first two weeks of January, EHS students immersed themselves into creative thinking classes as the school transitions the student body into second semester smoothly. Through this, Knights are able to postpone core classes and learn a variety of new disciplines. Students also had the opportunity to travel to San Francisco, China, and Washington D.C. Learn more about Interim Term on Page 3
Episcopal attends “HAMUN Forty Five” Conference LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer Episcopal High School’s Model United Nations (UN) Club spent two days out of school competing and representing Episcopal at the 45th Houston Area Model UN (HAMUN) Conference hosted at the University of Houston. Model UN in general provides the opportunity for students to break barriers that keep people apart in the world and promote world peace for future generations to come. At HAMUN, Episcopal represented the delegations of Sweden, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgium, the United States, and Great Britain. This year, about twenty-six student delegates spent over 15 hours debating a range of topics such as the decolonization of indigenous communities in South America and the general population’s exposure to electromagnetic radiation and the health risks. In crisis committees, Episcopal held two positions on the International Court of Justice where delegates are given the chance to act as judges deciding the fate of international legal cases as well as three positions on the Great War crisis debating the British and U.S .Home fronts. HAMUN is the one of the largest conferences in the Southern United States, hosting over 52 high schools and over 1,100 delegates. These delegates are then divided
into committees ranging from 8-300 people for the debates. In order to succeed in these committees, Episcopal’s delegates spent many hours preparing for the conference by writing position papers about topics on the view of the nation they represent. Each delegate is required to write at least one paper to submit, but many chose to submit two papers in hopes of earning any sort of award for their writing at the conference.
Model UN and HAMUN act as an opportunity for students to branch out and try something that they would not normally get to experience in a typical school day. Overall, the goal of Model UN is to expose the younger generation of the world to issues that they face or will face on a global scale, thus promoting world change. For now, Episcopal’s Model UN team is looking forward to its next conference.
EHS Model UN Club stands outside of the University of Houston Student Center preparing for a second day of the conference. Photo courtesy of Mr. Julius Michael.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
EHS alumni Stephanie Styles to be seen in film Bombshell CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer EHS alum Stephanie Styles recently appeared in the film Bombshell alongside famous actors Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman, and John Lithgow. Bombshell is centered around the sexual harassment scandal involving Fox News’ founder Roger Ailes. The Knight Times reached out to her this month, through Theater Coordinator Mr. George Brock, to learn about her acting career and her life. Ms. Styles earned a BFA in Musical Theater at the University of Michigan, and it was her early love of musical performances that paved the way for her career. As a student at Episcopal High School, she honed many of her skills under the direction of various faculty. “Mr. Brock taught me so much as an actor and as a person, and Mrs. Foster made a huge impact on me and is responsible for one of my best friends, her daughter and EHS alum Kimberly Foster. And, of
course, Mr. Framel taught me everything I know about writing a proper article.” She began acting after her parents took her to see the The Phantom of the Opera at the age of four. After the performance, the actor who played the Phantom showed her “how everything worked” during. Backstage tour. Shortly after, she enrolled in acting classes at Theater Under the Stars and was in her first professional show by the age of six. Ms. Style’s favorite part about her new movie was working with an “outstanding cast” and doing a “one-on-one” with John Lithgow, which “felt like a masterclass in acting.” Her many influences during her childhood were the “Disney musicals” and women “like Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Bernadette Peters, and Jane Krakowski.” She has starred in many roles both on camera and stage, yet she says she has been “based in LA lately and ha[s] done more on-camera work than theatre and [is] loving it.” She loves how acting allows for telling
UCAL basketball hoping to finish season with title EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer Students from Episcopal High School’s Junior Class came together to participate in United Church Athletic League’s basketball games. UCAL gives high schoolers the opportunity to organize teams and be coached by their friends while playing
other students from different schools across the Houston area. Coached by Aaron Deutsch and Gage Herrold, the “Grapes” have dominated anyone and everyone who has crossed their path, defeating teams like Maroon, Gold 2, and Red 2. Because of their purple uniforms, the boys call themselves the Grapes and encourage their fans to wear purple when attending their games. The boys play weekly, and players like
Will Turlington and Wyatt Leathers come to participate even after they play in their high school varsity games in SPC, which truly shows their dedication to their team. Max Finkelstein says, “I would like to see our opponents try to stop us as we steamroll everyone on our way to the championship. We are like the Chicago Bulls in 1996: unstoppable. Rumor has it NBA scouts have already approached some of our top players, like Bennet Manley and Charles Galtney, to sign them before they become huge.” The boys have worked hard all season and are predicted to take the championship win in the league.
Above left and above, the UCAL boys team competes with hopes for a league championship win. Photos by Emma Claire White.
Students from EHS’ Junior Class come together to compete in the West U Methodist UCAL Basketball League as the “Grapes.” Photo by Emma Claire White.
“stories for a living,” while “collaborating with inspiring, genius people, and sometimes those people are your heroes.” Her closing pieces of advice for EHS students is “Education. Practice. Preparation. Learn as much as you can wherever you can. Learn from whomever you can and study the performers you love and the paths they took. Everyone’s journey is different.” Right, EHS graduate Stephanie Styles. Below, with Drew Gehling in the musical Roman Holiday. Photos courtesy of Mr. George Brock.
Tex Mex Tailgate returns with annual celebration for EHS clubs BAILEY JUNELL Editor in Chief This year, students took part in the annual Tex-Mex Tailgate on Friday, January 24. It occurred while the boys and girls soccer and basketball teams played conference home matches against John Cooper as the student body gathered to cheer on the athletes and eat Tex-Mex. The Tailgate is annually thrown by Student Council and Student Senate along with help from their advisors. Normally the event is planned for early December during the first home games of the winter season for most sports; however, this year the event was planned in January to kickoff the new semester and support all teams on a Friday evening multiple conference games. Most of the clubs at Episcopal partici-
pates in this event by designing unique tables filled with different types of food, music, and decorations. This year around 10 different clubs participated. Throughout the event, judges joined in the tailgate; while they ate food and participated in the event, they simultaneously selected awards. The judges this year were a panel of 3 teachers sampled all the tables. By the end of the night the judges awarded the clubs with the best food, the best overall table experience, the most innovative presentation, and the best queso. Overall, the Tex-Mex Tailgate was a success as it promoted and celebrated the winter sports teams before they head into SPC. The enthusiasm shown by the participants and those who took advantage of the great food created a fun atmosphere and fostered student support for the various clubs.
Tennis coach befriended literary giant DAVID FRAMEL and JENNIFER SUCCI
Guest Writers
Ask any Episcopal High School tennis player, past or present, and he or she will tell you that Coach Keith Christman, who has been the head of the tennis program for 19 years, is an exceptional instructor and role model. Ask those same players if they are aware that Coach Christman has a theatrical background, one directly influenced by Fahrenheit 451 author Ray Bradbury, and the news will probably come as a bit of a surprise. As a high school sophomore growing up in Orange County, California, Christman was first encouraged to consider acting during a conversation with his English teacher. Coincidently, a posting appeared around the same time about auditions being held at Cal State Fullerton University for a production of Bradbury’s stage adaptation of his novel Dandelion Wine, so with the prompting of his parents, a 15-year-old Christman interviewed and auditioned for a part in what he later learned was a musical. Dandelion Wine, a 1957 novel taking place in the summer of 1928 in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois, is based on Bradbury’s childhood home of Waukegan, Illinois, and the author was there for the tryouts. Christman’s mother was a librarian, and books and reading pervaded their home, along with a deep respect for writers like Bradbury, who was on site during the auditions and the musical’s run because he wanted the production to be authentic. “When I saw him in the theater, I was like, ‘Wow. Ray Bradbury,’” Christman reflected. Christman ultimately earned the lead role of Douglas Spaulding, and with it came a longtime relationship with the famous author. The two became close, and
following the production, Bradbury told the young actor he would help him with his career. After pointing him to an agent, the writer stayed close wirh the Christman’s family. Christman eventually attended Cal State because it had a strong theater program, and in that time Bradbury had become a mentor and a father figure who was also very close to Christman’s brother Kermit. It was in college that Christman started playing tennis, and though he eventually received a degree in theater, he stayed with tennis and ended up on the professional tour. “My memories with Ray at that time were meeting for lunch in Beverly Hills, walking down Rodeo Drive discussing life, and being encouraged to recognize my opportunities,” said Christman. “I got to know Ray’s family and even went to his house a few times. I especially remember his office in Beverly Hills filled with literature and keepsakes and paintings he had done.” Bradbury died in 1992. Christman has one of Bradbury’s paintings and believes he has four copies of Bradbury’s novels, personally signed by the author. “I have Dandelion Wine, of course, and Fahrenheit 451, Martian Chronicles, and I believe a signed copy of Something Wicked This Way Comes.” The long-time tennis coach recalled how Bradbury was always a supportive voice in his life, encouraging him to pursue the things that interested him and to always take advantage of what is available. The two saw little of each other in Bradbury’s final years, but Christman holds on to the importance of their chance encounter and years of friendship. “It was one of those opportunities – one that changed my life - with someone who was a very influential person.”
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
Features ∙ Page 3
Knights experience foreign cultures Senior Outreach proves special EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer Episcopal High School organized the opportunity for students to visit places like China, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. during the two weeks of Interim Zterm. This annual gap between Christmas Break and second semester allows for students to use a different part of their brain in order to be creative and think differently while transitioning smoothly into the new year. Led by Ms. Alice Davidson, thirty-two students took a fifteen-hour plane ride to China. They landed in Beijing where they stayed for four days and visited sites like the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and Buddhist temples. For two nights, they stayed in Tianjin to visit the home of the Last Emperor of China. By bullet train, the students traveled to Xi’an where they saw the Terra-cotta Soldiers and learned how to make dumplings and stretch
noodles. In Guilin, the students took a bamboo raft down the Li River while surrounded by some of China’s most incredible natural enrichments. Under the guidance of Mrs. Erin Russe, a group of EHS students visited San Francisco. There, the Knights experienced the city’s hilltops, marshlands, and harbors while diving deeper into San Francisco’s history, culture, technology, and all that the city has to offer. Among other things, they visited the main campus of Google and toured the California Academy of Science. They also stopped in Japantown for dinner and got to ride in a cable car. The group met up with former students Walker Little and Madison Houston (Class of 2017), who gave them a tour of Stanford where they attend college. Coach Shelly Edmonds led students for the Washington D.C. Close Up trip where they were able to study government in action. The six-day trip allowed for students to make cultural connections as well as the chance to visit multiple historical sites.
Students traveled to China during Interim Term as an opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Photo courtesy of Ms. Alice Davidson.
for senior Charlotte Sullivan CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer Senior Outreach was a wonderful opportunity for seniors to spend time out in the community. I was happy to work at Longfellow Elementary School, where I taught English and history to two classes of very curious and energetic fifth graders. I had heard that there are two types of tired: regular tired and teacher tired. Let me just say I was teacher tired a few of those days, but my exhaustion was coupled with a feeling of accomplishment, as I got to witness firsthand how exciting it is to watch a child learn a new concept. Fifth graders have no filter, and their excitement
is easily seen on their faces. While there, I read stories aloud, gave spelling tests, and led discussions. I also tutored small groups of about four kids, and this was an experience I particularly enjoyed. I remember working with them on a packet about Benjamin Franklin. On my last day, my lead teacher Ms. Alvarado passed back the graded papers, and one of the boys I worked with ran up to me and said, “Miss Charlotte, guess what! I got a 92!” with a huge grin on his face. He was so proud of himself, and I told him, “I knew you could do it.” As a result of this experience, I have a new respect for the efforts of teachers and an understanding of the importance of everyday encouragement of students.
Nick Held values Outreach time NICK HELD Staff Writer Senior Outreach has been an EHS tradition for decades. Throughout the years, students consistently mention that the two weeks were the most impactful two weeks of their senior year; students like Charlotte Schaeffer, who said the two weeks “showed [her] the importance of real-world interactions and relationships.” While many Outreach groups were at schools, there were a few that went to homeless shelters. I was in a group that was assigned to the Beacon, a homeless shelter located downtown. The Beacon offers a number of services to the homeless, such as laundry, showers, medical care, and meals. We were given different jobs every day,
but for the most part our group worked in laundry service. Laundry was not our main concern though. The laundry room served two purposes: to do laundry and to cater to the specific needs of each individual person. When the other departments within the shelter do not have what a homeless person desires, they send them to the laundry room. This provided constant interaction with those in need and eventually led to the formation of friendship. People approached the laundry room with specific requests, and to be able to at least put an effort into fulfilling these requests means a great deal to the homeless. “Linda,” a woman who utilized the Beacon’s services, said, “It is important for us to remember that we are people and matter.”
EHS offers multiple classes as students return from Christmas CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer Throughout Interim Term, EHS students are able to take new classes and try new things. This is a great time to explore different passions, whether that be in economics, robotics, sports, and more. Except for the seniors, students listed the top 15 classes that they would want to take along with a grade-level class. Included in this list were many classes offered for the first time, but there were also those that have been around for quite some time, including Book Club, Sew
Much Fun, and Stretch and Shine. One of the more loved classes that many people, particularly girls, have taken this year is Love is Hilarious with Mr. Bob Matthews. This class focuses on romantic comedy movies and the perfect formula to make a Rom-Com. Through the class, students watch a handful of romantic comedies and analyze them. Everybody who took this class greatly enjoyed getting to watch some of their all-time favorites. As the students at EHS get back to school to finish up their final semester, Interim Term allows them to slowly get back in the groove of their normal school days.
The grade level learning classes gave some students the opportunity to learn about high-risk activities while bonding with their fellow Knights. Photo by Sydney Kelso.
Justin Broadfoot and other seniors worked hard during Senior Outreach to help out the staff with laundry. Photo by Nick Held.
Students were given a chance to take a Strategy Gaming class during Interim Term, where they learned the ins and outs of various board and card games. Photo by Craig Choi.
Culture ∙ Page 4
Slice of π
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With the second semester underway at Episcopal High School, the Theatre Department begins to prepare for the upcoming musical Tuck Everlasting, directed by Mr. George Brock. This rarely seen musical will include six seniors and is sure to be a hit with the Episcopal community. Tuck Everlasting focuses on the events surrrounding Winnie Foster who suddenly meets up with the Tuck family who became immortal after drinking from a spring in the middle of the woods. Based on a children’s novel by Natalie Babbitt, the musical tells an in-depth story about death and what it means to be part of a family. Mr. Brock, theatre program coordinator, will fully explore these concepts while featuring the singing and dancing talents
of Episcopal students. The spring production will be the last Episcopal musical for the seniors who have been a major part of the program during their four years here. Ethan McAlpin will be playing the part of Jesse Tuck, while Nico Zanotti will play the part of Angus Tuck, the father and head of the Tuck family. Joining them will be Chandler Levinthal as Betsy Foster and Liam Griffin as Hugo. Along with these actors, two other seniors act as leaders behind the scenes in the roles of stage managers. Amelia Traylor and Emma Walker have been instrumental in many performances due to their leadership and skills in the production process. The EHS Theatre Department’s musical performance will open on February 28 with the Dads Club Free Feast and will play through March 1.
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CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer
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Spring musical rehearsals begin
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Hey, EHS, I’m Craig Choi, the secretary of the Math Club, and I am happy to announce that the Math Club has a lot planned for the 2020 Spring semester. Our first Math Club meeting of 2020 is on February 11. At this meeting, you will be able to take the Texas Math League Test, and snacks will be provided. January 30, 10 freshmen and sophomores will be taking the AMC 10, and 20 juniors and seniors will be taking the AMC 12. The AMC math tests assess students’ mathematical intellect and require great focus.
Preparing for the 14-hour MathWorks M3 Modeling Challenge at the end of February, EHS juniors and seniors have formed two strong teams that will compete. More information regarding this competition will be described next month. Members of the EHS chapter of the National Math Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, will be taking the Log3 test, so wish them and all of the other mathletes good luck on their tests and competitions. The Math Club is very excited to host the annual Pre-Pi Day celebration on March 13. More information about PrePi Day will be released in the coming months so stay tuned. It’s never too late to join Math Club.
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CRAIG CHOI Guest Writer
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
ZACK DONOVAN Staff Writer Porque el estado de Texas está tan cerca a México, la ciudad de Houston tiene una población de los países hispánicos muy grande con mucha diversidad. Con esto viene una variedad de la comida del mundo hispanohablante, incluso Cuba, El Salvador, y España. Uno de los restaurantes más famosos del área es Costa Brava Bistró. Este restaurante combina dos estilos de cocinar de dos países distintos en Europa, España y Francia. El restaurante no es lo más joven en la comunidad hispánica en Houston (ha existido por ocho años desde 2012), pero tengo una ambia distinta, a diferencia de otros en Houston. También esta uno de los más cercos a EHS, con la dirección de 5107 Bellaire Blvd. La comida y el servicio han ganado varias estrellas de la Houston Chronicle y es uno de los cien restaurantes más buenos en Houston. Aunque es caro y no para todas las noches, es un lugar bonito y delicioso. Tiene una variedad de opciones auténticos. Algunos de los más famosos incluyen
su paella del mar y pato. La mayoridad de los platos tiene marisco, pero hay algunas opciones como la ensalada y el bistec que no lo tienen. Una variedad de postes ricos es disponible después de cada comida. Para mantener la ambia familiar, no animan el uso de la tecnología, incluso los móviles, salvo cuando está fuera. Quieren que sus invitados se hablen y disfruten una comida interesante y vivaz. El restaurante es perfecto para una noche caro con los que ama.
El interior del restaurante Costa Brava Bistro en Houston. Photo courtesy of www.goodeatshouston.org.
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 ∙ January 2020
Entertainment∙ Page 5
Upcoming spring fashion Timothée Chalamet steals show trends hitting the runways LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer
LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer As the winter months finally come to an end, the fashion season of Spring 2020 is rapidly approaching. If you are interested in learning the latest women’s fashion trends for the season, I researched Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and many more reports for you. I compiled a list of reoccurring themes from these articles, and here are the results. The most common thread was definitely the reappearance of classic, psychedelic patterns from the 1960s through 1980s. Floral designs, polka dots, neon-highlighter or pastel colors, and stripes all seemed to be making a striking come back. Designers also included lots of ribbed, pleated, or sheer textures into their clothing. Many of the runway items were also covered in bright or gothic themed sequins. There were many maxi skirts and sundresses, but that was expected. To my surprise, tight corset tops, small vests, and Bermuda shorts made a sizable appearance on the catwalk. Additionally, there were tons of overthe-top aspects to some of the clothing items, such as feathers on dresses, outrageous collars on shirts, super puffy sleeves, and overly large handbags and accessories. To balance out the chaos, another reoc-
curring style was edgy business clothes. The abnormal blazers, all white suits, and beige trench coats with cinched waists were all over the runway. Last but not least was crochet; the hand-made theme made its way back into popularity through colorful crochet dresses and tops. Spring of 2020 will bring good things and hopefully this helps for your next shopping trip.
My mother and I started looking for something to do on our last night in Vancouver, Canada, and decided to search for a movie, finally deciding on the newly released Little Women. We left our hotel and drove to a ginormous movie theater decked out in glowing neon lights that illuminated the freezing raindrops pouring down on us. We walked into a normallooking movie theater with rows of seats facing the screen; however, in Canada the seats are much more compact and made from a plastic, blue vinyl. Even though we were early, we had to search for seats in the crowded rows and finally found two at the top next to two elderly women. Unfortunately, the classic story line and satisfyingly beautiful setting was hard to focus on because the lady next to me was chewing her popcorn piece by piece with
her mouth wide open, making probably one of the most annoying sounds to ever exist on Earth in my opinion. She would not take a hint either when people in the seats surrounding her kept forcefully staring back at her, or maybe she enjoyed annoying everyone. Anyway, I was so distracted I asked my mother to switch seats with me, so I could actually watch the movie. I think this version of Little Women was far better than the one before it; the film followed the Louisa May Alcott novel very closely. Even before it came out, Little Women received nominations for Golden Globe, Critic’s Choice, and BAFTA awards. The casting was the best part as actors and actresses such as Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, and Meryl Streep fit their characters perfectly. I would seriously recommend seeing Little Women if you are at all interested, it is so worth it. Just watch where you sit.
Kaia Gerber modeling the suit trend. Photo courtesy of whowhatwear.com.
Golden Globes makes history TINLEY KANE Staff Writer The 77th Golden Globe Awards aired Sunday, January 5. Awards were given based on its founders, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) consisting of 55 countries representing journalists voting for both television and motion pictures. Hosted by English stand-up comedian Ricky Gervais, the night began with some controversial comments as Gervais made a comment to his celebrity audience that they were “in no position to lecture the public about anything.” He declared, “You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.” The statement was met with audible reactions from the audience and the camera spotlighted some negative reactions to the bold statement. Receiving the Carol Burnett Award for Excellence in Television was none other than Ellen DeGeneres for her contributions in comedic sitcoms, movies, and her
daytime tv show. She portrayed perseverance as she said, “I had a sitcom, and I lost that sitcom. Then I had another sitcom, and I lost that sitcom, too. Then I got a talk show… and was able to be myself” as one of the faces for the LGBTQ+ community. Another major award of the night was given to Tom Hanks who received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film. It was a speech worthy of tears and bliss as he got emotional addressing his family. “A man is blessed with a family sitting down front like that. I can’t tell you how much your love means to me,” he said, wiping tears from his face while thanking his family. History was also made with rapper and actress Awkwafina becoming the first woman of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy Film in The Farewell. The most anticipated award of the night, Best Film Drama, went to 1917, which came as a shock to many as The Irishman was the top contender and projected to win.
Timothée Chalamet plays Laurie in the new Little Women movie. This is his second appearance in a Greta Gerwig production. Photo courtesy of cinemablend.com.
Little Women features actresses Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, and Eliza Scanlen as the sisters of the Alcott family. Photo courtesy of britannica.com.
The new nominations for the Academy Awards are released CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer
Awkwafina accepted her eighth award while making history as the first woman of Asian descent to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Photo courtesy of nytimes.com.
In its 92nd year, the Academy Awards will be airing on February 9, in a repeat of last year’s no-host show. The Oscar nominations were recently released, from Best Supporting Actor to Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling, and this year there were a few surprises. Among the most nominations is The Joker, a film about a failed comedian in Gotham City, with 11 nominations, and The Irishman, a drama about a truck driver who gets caught up in the mob, with 10 nominations. Along with the excitement, many people are looking forward to the annual red carpet coverage of the performers and their outfits. Make sure to watch this year’s Academy Awards ceremony to see all of the dresses and winners.
The movies The Joker and The Irishman are projected to collect the highest number of Oscars during this year’s awards season. Photo courtesy of denofgeek.com.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
Speaks Out Who or what is your Valentine this year?
Gibbs Fertitta “Andre the Giant”
Sophie Martin “Olivia Hopwood”
Angelica Vella “Cake” Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
Gigi Gaetti “Harry Styles”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
Cristian Munoz “Mike Pence”
Sam Randall “My Xbox”
Sophomore George Traylor creates and challenges his programmable robot during his Interim Term course Lego Robotics. This course, offered by math chair Mr. Michael Hunt, teaches students the world of programming and problem-solving robots. Photo by Craig Choi.
Mr. Randolph “My wife, daughter, and grandchildren”
Alex Zuniga “Steele Sasnett”
(Campus Look-Alikes)
Charlotte Pond “Margo Zenner”
Grayson Van Gundy “Myself”
Christophe Merriam “The person reading this”
This edition of The Knight Times Campus Look-alike is new librarian Ms. Holiday and junior Randall Holstead. Though the newspaper staff wanted to go in a different direction this month, Randall was persistent, not so much because she truly believed these to campus members look the same but because she just “really want[ed] to get in the paper.” Thanks for the interest in The Knight Times, Randall. We often question whether we possess any popularity... yeah, we are still questioning. Photos By Nick Held.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
Opinion ∙ Page 7
Hard work should be the key to success for students CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer I cannot imagine what it is like to be a high school senior right now. The stress of submitting college applications and the never-ending wait for acceptance at a top choice university must be unbearable. Throughout their academic journey, these teens take numerous AP courses, prepare for standardized tests like the SAT, and participate in clubs, sports teams, and hobbies to prove to universities that they are well-rounded good bets of future potential. Unfortunately, many of these candidates are not getting into their match or even safety colleges. Why is this? Is there a bias in the college admission entry? There have been several lawsuits regarding college admission bias as far back as 1978. Allan Bakke sued the University of California, claiming their admissions process violated the 14th Amendment. In the case Hopwood v. Texas, Cheryl Hopwood was denied admission to the University of Texas School of Law, despite having better LSAT scores than almost all of the accepted minority students. Judge Jerry E. Smith, who presided over the Hopwood case, stated “... the use of race in admission for diversity in higher education, contradicts, rather than furthers, the aim of equal protection.” Although, in both cases, the courts ruled that the universities’ use of racial quotas in its admissions process was unconstitutional, they still allow the consideration of race in the process. A recent lawsuit against Harvard claiming bias against Asian-American applicants ruled in favor of the university using race as a factor. In her opinion statement, Judge Allison Burroughs declared that she would not remove “[Harvard’s] very fine admissions program… just because it could do
better.” All of these cases call for a meritocracy, a selection on the basis of ability. To ensure an effective meritocracy, educational opportunities must be equal at every stage of schooling for children of all ethnicities and social classes. Public schools in lower-income areas often have inadequate teaching and extracurricular resources to develop students’ intellect and physical performance. Reforming the academic curriculum by incentivizing high-quality teaching in lower-income areas is necessary to create a level playing field for all
prospective students. District of Columbia School Chancellor Michelle Rhee believes in meritocracy. She began to change policy in the DC public school systems and held teachers accountable for student results. Despite the students’ financial disadvantage, Ms. Rhee felt that students were able to do well if the teachers’ expectation level was high. She did not believe in changing the admission requirements or eliminating standardized tests. She believed in healthy competition, saying, “We have gone soft as a nation. No more mediocrity. It’s killing us.” Under her
guidance, elementary and secondary public school students in D.C. improved their math and reading standardized test pass rates, and high school graduation rates increased. If standards are lowered for a select few, it gives the wrong message. It allows students to believe that they are not and never will be intelligent enough to compete, and that is not fair to them. If provided highquality education early on, all students have the capability of achieving success and therefore should be held to the same high discerning level of expectation.
The Cambridge English Dictionary defines meritocracy as a social system, society, or organization in which people get success or power because of their abilities, not because of their money or social position. Photo courtesy of newyorker.com.
Michelle Williams ignites controversy at the Golden Globes TINLEY KANE Staff Writer Did actress Michelle Williams take her winning speech too far? During the 77th Golden Globes, Williams chose to make a political statement during her acceptance
of the best actress in a limited series award for her role in Fosse/Verdon, using the opportunity to discuss the importance of the “right to choose.” Though Williams never once used the word abortion, she clearly took advantage of the moment to profess her feelings on women’s choice. Williams has a history of speaking on
issues that many avoid, such as her Emmy speech on pay equity. As a woman who can confidently express her opinions, she has every right to do so, though I feel offering this opinion on a platform such as the Golden Globes is a bit of a stretch. Discussing a matter unrelated to what the night entails isn’t needed. If Williams
Michelle Williams gives her pro-choice speech at the Golden Globes, which is broadcast to 167 different countries. Photo courtesy of CNN.com.
wants to make a speech, it should be at the proper event. Arguably, the popularity of the televised show with its huge audience makes it a logical place to practice one’s First Amendment rights, and Williams is by far not the first to take advantage of the moment. A high-profile Williams can affectively inform a vast number of individuals who may not be properly informed on certain topics that could directly affect them. She extended her political discourse by encouraging women to take action in voting to help make difference in the world, saying, “When it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest. It’s what men have been doing for years and why the world looks so much like them,” a jab at the patriarchy she believes women live in. During his opening monologue, host Ricky Gervais pleaded that actors and actresses not make their speeches political to avoid conflict, further suggesting that they are so far out of touch with the real world that their opinions have little leg to stand on, and Williams’ soap-box moment directly countered that strong suggestion. It is not uncommon for celebrities to take advantage of the spotlight to advocate for something they believe in, but it’s best if the person picks the right moment and time to share issues like that at certain events. For the issue to be presented at the Golden Globes wasn’t proper as it did not pertain to her award or her performance. Could Williams’ speech have been a publicity stunt to keep her name popular or was this truly about a cause? Celebrities will forever take advantage of their social importance to declare their political positions, but it’s whether or not these speeches are heartfelt or attention-seeking that should be questioned.
Sports∙ Page 8
Sports Brief BOYS BASKETBALL OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer The 2019-2020 varsity boys basketball team has managed a 18-9 record under the leadership of Head Coach Wayne Jones and his assistants along with the commitment of the players, led by senior team leaders Jahari Long, D’A Houston, DJ Nussbaum, and Fletcher Megarity. The Knights recently defeated Awty in a 70-29 blowout, and in SPC play, the boys snuck by their biggest rival, the Kinkaid Falcons, 33-29 in a close contest. Coach Jones said that he is most proud of the team’s “commitment to excellence” and “support of each other,” and he hopes his athletes will use these qualities in the upcoming SPC tournament. Ultimately, the coaches want their players to have learned that “no matter how the ball bounces in life, you have to be aggressive, intelligent, thoughtful of others, and a great teammate, and that will be the formula for a successful career off the court as well as in life.”
BOYS SOCCER ZACH DONOVAN Staff Writer The SPC champion boys soccer team continues its journey for another conference title with their incredible performance through the new year. After the language midterms the Friday before break, the team travelled to San Antonio to face one of the toughest opponents in the country, Central Catholic. Without the aid of two leading upperclassmen and in moderate rain, the boys narrowly lost the match 2-1 after leading by one for much of the first half. Starting the new year after the first week of Interim Term, the team took on St. Stephen’s and St Andrew’s from Austin to begin their SPC season very strong. They continued their SPC title track by battling Kinkaid the following Friday, and John Cooper the week after that, with a game against St. John’s scheduled the last day of January. The relatively young team will continue their SPC season through the first week of February with a game against Houston Christian and finish the next week at the SPC championships in Dallas.
SWIMMING SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer EHS swimming is off to a good start this season. Girls swimming had an outstanding win by 94 points at the Alief meet against 5A schools. The boys enjoyed success as will, finishing in third place with 254 points. Chris Lahoti finished in 25.97 in his individual 50 free, scoring points for the boys. Fourteen different swimmers placed in the top 5 against their 5A public school opponents. Over Christmas Break the team traveled to Dallas to compete against local teams and the only other SPC school there, St. John’s. Estefania Lopez-Salas qualified for SPC in the 100 free and Sam Randall set a new school record in the 50 free at 23.17 seconds. There were three meets before SPC in January and early February, giving the swimmers little time to get their qualifying times down. Every Saturday the swim team was seen at the pool increasing the number of swimmers eligible to compete in SPC.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2020
Multiple counter wins for girls varsity soccer BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The varsity girls soccer team has enjoyed a season filled with tough games and intense practices in order to perfect their play before the SPC Tournament in Dallas in February. With leadership from captains Clare Jesulaitis, Emma Birdwell, Meg Alexander, and Millie Hovnatanian, the team has thrived throughout the season. The team is abundant with talent, but their hard work and determination has only made them better. This month, the girls competed against various teams in SPC that ultimately affected their standings in the conference. Every game prior to this part of the season has been played in preparation for these ‘counter’ games against opponents in SPC. January began with a game against Houston Heights, a non-conference opponent. The game ended with a well-earned 3-1 victory for the Knights. Later that week the team took on SPC teams St. Stephen’s and St. Andrew’s, their opponents from Austin. The girls beat St. Stephen’s 4-0, with Millie Hovnatanian scoring a beautiful goal early setting the tone for the
The girls varsity soccer team prepares for its match against Beaumont Kelly Catholic. Photo by Brendan Massaro. rest of the game and the rest of the weekend. The girls then preceded to play St. Andrew’s on Saturday. This game resulted in a 5-0 victory with the team showing off their talent. Later, they went on to challenge their longtime rivals, the Kinkaid Falcons. During this game the girls worked together and finished the game 2-0. This win was a great demonstration of their hard work.
The following week they played Awty and John Cooper in conference games. On the 21st they beat Awty 3-0, then on the 24th they similarly beat John Cooper by the same score. On the 31st they play St. John’s, which is one of their biggest games of the year. Since St. John’s won SPC last year, this game will allow the girls to display their talent along with their grit.
Wrestling prepares intensely for upcoming SPC LEANA GREENE Staff Writer The 2019-2020 varsity wrestling team has been led by dedicated, responsible, and hardworking young men this season. Episcopal seniors Lane McCool and James Ogunrin and junior Paul McGarry have taken on the duty of being representatives of the wrestling team. As of now, these men have exceeded expectations and continue to lead by example, both on and off the mat. Currently the team’s overall record stands at a strong 7-3. The boys won their most recent tournament at the Klein Forest Tri-Meet against Kinkaid and Klein Forest. Coach Steve Leiz has expressed that the biggest achievement he takes pride in is that the Episcopal team finishing 4-1 at the Prep State Duals in Dallas a few weeks ago, an event attended by some of the best wrestling programs in the state. This year’s wrestling staff saw the year as one of rebuilding, but the newcomers
have shown their true potential to become vital members with bright futures. This has been a result of the three captains and their mentorship to the freshmen and transfers. With the upcoming SPC Tournament in Dallas, Episcopal can expect a chal-
lenge for the title from St. John’s and St. Mark’s. As the season comes to an end, the program ultimately hopes to build men of character. Coaches not only look for results and achievements during the season but want it to be long term in the mat room and outside.
Senior Christian Husted looks to the referee for the pin signal during a home trimeet against his Klein Forest opponent. Photo by Mr. Claude Cody.
Girls basketball looks ahead to SPC tournament LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Looking back through the history of the Episcopal girls varsity basketball team, tremendous talent and integrity in each grade has flourished. This year’s team hopes to extend that reputation and bring home the coveted title. “SPC for girls basketball is there for any team to take this year,” reflected Head Coach Courtney Arnold. “We are
extremely excited because we believe we have a real possibility of finishing higher than we have in the past five or so years and compete for the SPC championship on Saturday, February 15 in Dallas.” Though the EHS student body was out of school during the long, relaxing Winter Break, the girls team was putting in hard work on and outside of the court. The team beat a good Concordia Lutheran team at home just before leaving for Christmas. On December 26-27,
The girls varsity basketball team talks about the game play with Coach Arnold in a team huddle during their home game against St. Agnes. Photo by Mary Carol Ray.
they competed in the Aggieland Classic Tournament in College Station where they finished 2-2. The Knights “did not play as well as they would have hoped, but I believe that we learned something and got better as a team,” said Arnold. After the eye-opening tournament, the team focused on getting better during practice during the first week of January to prepare for the approaching conference matches. Throughout the entirety of December and the start of January, the girls competed in a total of seven games, the most prominent being against Sweeny and a 58-14 win. Prior to the start of the season, senior Ka’lyn Watson and junior Gwen Rippeto were announced as team captains. Both of the girls are extreme leaders on and off the court. Other players have recently stood out in recent contests. Sophomore Skyler Witt, who has averaged 8.2 points per game the last five games while making crucial plays on the offensive and defensive end, has been a vital part of the team’s success, and senior Trinity Watts, who has averaged 10.8 points per game the last five games, finishes strong around the basket.