News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
January 2021
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Model UN participates in yearly event
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 35, Issue 6
Senior Outreach
Entire Senior Class participates in giving back to the Houston community
ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer On January 21-22, all the students in Model UN, led by Mr. Julius Michael, participated in the Houston Area Model UN Conference. There were twenty-nine students that participated in this yearly conference, but there were some changes due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year the conference was hosted virtually, and it took place on Zoom. All participants worked very hard throughout the year to prepare for this yearly event. On January 21, the event was held from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on January 22, it lasted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Traditionally, it is held at the University of Houston and has around 1,300 students from the Houston area participating. Every year in preparation for this conference, the students, also known as delegates, write two lengthy papers and research certain topics. These topics vary every year. This year, these topics included countries that students were given at the beginning of the school year. The countries they represented were Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Thailand, and Swaziland. All these countries have very different cultures and life experiences, which is why our students love researching them. There were also five students on the crisis committees which also attended the Model UN conference. At the end of the conference, the best delegate and best position paper received awards from the Houston Area Model UN Conference. EHS senior Lyndon Walsh, a member of Model UN, said, “Model UN allows students to tackle real world issues and further their knowledge of global affairs. On top of that, the club is a platform for students of all ages to meet new people and find common interests. I look forward to seeing how the club continues to grow under my successors.” “Model UN goes outside of the realm of high school and offers the opportunity for students to continue into college. After graduating, Model UN does not have to stop there,” Lyndon said. The Episcopal High School community is very proud of all the hardworking students that were involved this year.
INSIDE D.C. protests and political updates
New year ushers in political moments
PAGE 2 Girl & boys soccer rank nationally Both teams placed top 25 in the Top Drawer Soccer National Poll.
PAGE 8 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture ......................... 4 Entertainment ............... 5 Knight Shift ................ 6 Opinion ........................ 7 Sports ........................... 8
Alena Haney and Julian Diaz joined some fellow seniors at the Houston Food Bank during Senior Outreach in early January. The students packaged food and other necessities for those in need. Photo by Lauren West. LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer
Instead of the normal two weeks, this year’s Senior Outreach lasted two days. The seniors were given the opportunity to work with various organizations and contribute projects around Houston like the Houston Food Bank, Kids’ Meals, painting at the Valencia home, and building greenhouses in Little Cambodia. Learn more about Senior Outreach on Page 3
Winter play Letters to Sala reveals a teen’s heartbreaking journey through the Holocaust SARA FAULCONER Staff Writer The Episcopal High School Theater Program has been hard at work researching, blocking, and filming the winter show Letters to Sala. Director Mr. Paul Revaz expressed that the show “is not a play about the Nazi labor camps, though they are central to the play. It’s about how we approach our history.” Letters to Sala takes the audience into the perspective of a Holocaust survivor rehashing her experience as a young adult working in a labor camp. Not only does the show dive into her past but reveals the changes her present family has as they look back into Sala’s life. Her family discovers their beloved family member is an important historical figure who risked her life and lives of others to hide and save 350 letters and birthday cards she received within her five years at camp. This process has been an eye-opening experience for the entire cast and crew as they stepped on stage to embody historical figures that faced many hardships beyond imagination. Mr. Revaz is “amazed and truly heartened by the ability of this young
cast to delve into the circumstances in play within Sala’s world.” After much research, three weeks of blocking, and two weeks of filming, the show was set to end before Thanksgiving Break. Unfortunately, it was postponed until after Christmas Break, leaving another
challenge for the cast to hop back into their characters after weeks of being away from the rehearsal process. The minor step back did not stop the cast and crew from getting back into filming just where they left off to have the show stream on January 13-18.
Toward the end of the performance of Letters to Sala, cast members reenact the celebration of the end of the war and commemorate their freedom from the horrors of work camps. Photo by Madeleine Berckley.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Political update: Senate wins, D.C. protests, and Inauguration Day CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer The start of the new year brought with it political events that had an immediate impact on American society. In the wake of President Donald Trump’s D.C. rally, a large mob stormed the United States Capitol building on January 6. The pro-Trump protesters gathered in front of the Capitol, and some broke down windows, raided offices, and sat in the desks of our nation’s leaders. Images from that day were posted across the nation on social media and featured on local and national newscasts. One in particular showed a man carrying out the House Speaker’s podium. Presidentelect Joe Biden urged President Trump to “fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution’’ by putting an end to the “third world country”-like chaos. When President Trump did speak out about the incursion, he said, “We have an election that was stolen from us... but you have to go home now. We have to have peace.” His response to his supporters was criticized for being a half-hearted rejection of the events that transpired. Some Americans noted his lack of “law and order,” especially since he had preached law and order in his campaigns since 2016. Vice President
Mike Pence’s reaction was much more direct. He said, “To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win. Violence never wins.” Days after the break-in, there was talk of the 25th Amendment being invoked. Earlier in the week, Vice President Pence had denounced President Trump’s efforts
not.” On the same day of the raid, Jon Ossoff beat Senetor David Purdue in the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs with 50.6% of the votes. Another Senate win for the Democrats went to Raphael Warnock over Senator Kelly Loeffler, the co-owner of the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. For the first
President Joe Biden takes the oath of office during his January 20 inauguration. Photo courtesy of nytimes.com. to change election results, saying that he could not determine “which electoral votes should be counted and which should
time since 2008, the voting majority of the Senate now favors the Democratic Party. On January 14, a week after the Capitol
siege, it was announced that President Trump would be impeached for the second time during his presidency by the House of Representatives. Ten Republicans joined House Democrats and voted for the impeachment of President Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” He is the first president to be impeached twice, and should he be convicted during a Senate trial, it is quite possible he will not be able to run for office again. January 20 was Inauguration Day for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. There were performances by Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez. Many of America’s past presidents and first ladies attended, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, and George W. and Laura Bush. Vice President Pence attended the ceremony as well, sitting behind Vice President Harris. President Trump was not in attendance, becoming the first president in 152 years to miss out on the ceremony. President Biden said in his first speech as president, “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day.” The world is ready to see what is to come under President Biden’s administration. And in another four years, the nation will be right back here, watching as the process begins anew.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge help the Alaska ecosystem LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer What cause could possibly inspire millions of teens to band together online to protect 19 million acres of land in Alaska? Since 1987, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been a source of great controversy and a topic of political division due to its potential for lucrative oil and gas drilling. In January of 2020, the land was forecast to auction for a total of $1.8 billion. While Republican members of Congress and former presidents have pushed for drilling in ANWR, millions of environmentalists and activists have argued that this would only be possible at the expense of its wildlife and ecosystem. This area of land also holds another purpose: it serves as a sacred area for the indigenous Gwich’in people who refer to the coastal
plains as “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.” The initiative for oil drilling further escalated during the beginning of the Trump administration. So what makes this forty-year long battle for ANWR a current subject of discussion? Starting in December of 2020, TikTok user Alex Haraus took to the internet pleading for help to save the refuge from pending seismic testing for oil drilling. By sharing the link to the Protect the Arctic website, Haraus encouraged his followers to sign an online letter addressing the Fish and Wildlife Service with a message insisting that oil and gas development would have detrimental effects on the refuge’s environment. What he didn’t expect, though, was the explosion of views, likes, comments, and shares that spiked during the holiday break. Between the beginning of Decem-
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was made to protect the endangered wildlife in Alaska. One of the many animals at risk is the polar bear. Their habitat is being used to drill for oil. Many activists have spoken out. Photo coutresy of BBC.com.
ber to the beginning of January, Haraus’ videos garnered a total of 4.5 million views and sparked a larger movement throughout the app inspiring other users to share the website themselves. Through those short weeks, the Protect the Arctic website sent over 5 million letters to the Fish and Wildlife Service timing that aligned well with President Trump’s oil-lease sale that occurred on January 6. With public pressure, all
major American banks pulled out of their funding for ANWR drilling and all major oil companies followed. Ultimately, the auction was a major failure, only raising $14.4 million - less than one percent of the projected amount. The evidence is clear: the activism of Haraus and others who took to the internet for support brought millions of likeminded people together and proved the power of social media in making a difference.
LEANA GREENE Staff Writer The school year of 2020-2021 has brought many changes to Episcopal’s traditional scheduling. One significant change was the reduction of a two-week Interim Term course to a two-day period. This decision was made in order for regular classes to “catch up” as a result of starting the year with virtual learning. While the Senior Class continued its service days off campus and the Junior Class began the process of college applications, the sophomores and freshmen experienced something a little different. With recent national events surrounding racial issues, Episcopal deemed it appropriate to address such occurrences. The Classes of 2023 and 2024 discussed many topics, and among those was the matter the of racial equality. Sophomore Chandler Hollis was guided in an advisory group discussion by Mrs. Sampson and Mrs. Tsai and was able to hear his classmates’ perspectives on different instances of racism that people of color endure every day. Though he could tell everyone had their own opinions, he felt as though they did not impose their personal views on others or force one another to think in a certain way. The subject that impacted Chandler the most was learning how some people start life at a disadvantage solely due to their environment. Freshman Kara Thomas felt as though it was a good experience conversing about segregation and how the Jim Crow laws affected society. She felt as though that during the time she spent with the teacher
Freshmen learned about relationships during their Choices Interim Term class. Photos courtesy of Mrs. Claire Fletcher. and her classmates, all held to neutral ground and respected their peers, not leaning in any one political or social direction.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Features ∙ Page 3
Multiple Knights earn honors in ATPI photo contest CONNOR SMITH Opinions Editor Results in the annual Association of Texas Photography Instructors Fall Contest are in and one faculty member and 22 students received recognition for their outstanding work. The Visual Arts Department proudly recognizes the 33 awards garnered in the fall competition in photography, film & multimedia for students and teachers. Entries for this year’s event came from all over North America, adding to the level of success experienced by EHS entrants. Competitors from 111 schools in Texas, California, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Canada submitted more than 4500 pieces in the event. BEGINNING CATEGORIES Cell Phone First Place: Kennedy Mayberry, Braid Hon. Men: Carter Peeler, Self Portrait Student Life First Place: Sarah Margaret Hill, Socially Distanced Learning
#1; Raigan Clay, Time
Water (self-portrait)
Open Hon. Men: Madison McLemore, See
Portfolio Hon. Men: Haley Hammer, Pearl Harbor Series
ADVANCED CATEGORIES Animals Hon. Men: Allie Guerino, Dog in Quarantine Black & White Hon. Men: Ellie Pratka, St. Charles Bay Cell Phone Second Place: Ava Toubassi, Kitchen Window Hon. Men: Christina Amelio, Trampoline Documentary/Street Hon. Men: Sydney Coward, BLM Informal/Environmental Portrait Hon. Men: Sydney Brooks, Gaze into the Future; Yana Sharma, Men; Ellie Pratka, Mom Landscape Hon. Men: Sydney Coward, Sky and Rock; Sydney Coward, Water on Rock
Portfolio First Place: Amelia Novotny, Floral Studies in Cyanotype
Nature Hon. Men: Natalie Toups, Can You See It?; Ava Toubassi, Old Leaf; Cooper Vining, White Flower
Time Exposure Hon. Men: Joshua Shipley, Light Photo
Open Third Place: Karma Elbadawy, Red on the
Though abbreviated, Senior Outreach impacts all involved LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer This past ten months, as everything has changed in the name of safety, Senior Outreach lasted two days rather than the two weeks it has in the past. Nevertheless, all of the seniors were ecstatic to give back to the greater Houston community, even if it was only for a couple of days. There were seven possible volunteering options for which the seniors signed up. These included building wheelchair ramps in the Bellaire area, building four greenhouses in Little Cambodia, painting and installing flooring at the Thong Family Home, exterior painting at the Valencia Home, organizing necessities at the Houston Food Bank, logging valuable information about the gravesites at Oak Park Cemetery, and packaging lunches at Kids' Meals.
While volunteering at these locations, the entire Senior Class and its faculty sponsors practiced social distancing and carried out safety precautions mirroring those done on campus Student Body President Quon Marion said of the experience, “I went to Oak Park Cemetery. It was an African American Cemetery located on the northeast side of town. My favorite part about being there, honestly, was just seeing my friends alongside me as we worked as a group to knock out a service task.” He added, “Being there made me feel good. As an African American, learning about the African American history of the cemetery made me feel as if I understood things a little more about my own history. Would I volunteer there again? Yes, with no hesitation!”
Third Place: Kate Philbrick, Texas Remnants
Still Life Hon. Men: Jasmine Greene, The Countryside Studio Portrait Hon. Men: Jasmine Greene, End of the Tunnel; Sophie Martin, Euphoria; Jasmine Greene, RISE; Natalie Toups, Strength Thematic Hon. Men: Hutch Coward, Reading Travel Second Place: Sydney Coward, On the Water FACULTY CATEGORIES Single Image First Place: Kate Philbrick, Family Pictures Third Place: Kate Philbrick, Green Hon. Men: Kate Philbrick, Apple Light Portfolio
Photo by Sophie Martin.
Junior Kaia Chambers examines her past, present, and future in soccer JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer Episcopal High School junior Kaia Chambers is among the next generation of revolutionary Houston athletes. Chambers is a valuable asset to the Episcopal soccer program and is, according to Chevy Spotlight, Episcopal High School’s “star player,” and she only plans on getting better. Chambers truly stands out as a member of the team in both practice and on the game field. Scoring multiple goals for the team per game, she has frequently demonstrated her extraordinary athletic capabilities. During games, she is observant and patient, which, coupled with her lightning-fast reflexes, makes for a dangerous combination. Chambers also acts as a leader for the team, cheering on teammates from the sidelines and remaining vocal throughout games and practice. According to Head Coach Rachel Stelter in an interview with Houston Inside High School Sports, Kaia “scores goals that professional players can score.” She also plays soccer on a more competitive level with her club team Albion Hurricanes ECNL. Chambers hopes to improve the soccer program for incoming freshmen, set the team up for success next year, and help the team become famous in the Greater
Houston Area for its outstanding capabilities. She plans on continuing her athletic endeavors in college as it has been a dream of hers for a long time to compete at the next level. When asked about playing on a professional level, Chambers says that playing professionally hasn’t crossed her mind, but she could potentially be interested if the opportunity arose.
Kaia Chambers playing for the Albion Hurricanes ECNL. Photo courtesy of Kaia Chambers.
Juniors use Interim Term to further college search process CRISTIAN MUNOZ Staff Writer
KT Business and Circulation Manager Sydney Coward joined other seniors to paint and install flooring at the Thong family home. Photo courtesy of Sydney Coward.
Interim Term for juniors is a very critical time of the year. Not only is it a time to relax and take things slow, but it provides the Junior Class with answers to student expectations about colleges and how to prepare. Every junior sees it differently and can choose what to do with the information he or she is given during Interim Term. For example, Reagan Deverka said Interim Term helped her figure out what to expect for college, and she was able to narrow down her list of colleges. She
also explained that the college counselors played a big role in this two-day process in that they were able to answers many of her questions and remove any doubts, basically making the path clearer. Zachary Lewin, however, felt he was still left with questions about the SAT, admissions, and college essays. He said that for the time spent he wanted to learn more and suggested the time spent in junior meetings could have filled some of these needs. Charlotte Pond felt Interim Term was overwhelming and much too short. However, she added that she learned a good deal of helpful information about college and what to expect.
Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
My Distraction Crib with Sydney Coward This month will be a little different since there was an ~extended~ break. Listed below are all the books I read, movies I watched, and artists/songs I listened to over Winter Break. Yes, I know I did have a lot of time on my hands and did not use it wisely, but I swear I thought I was being productive. I got my wisdom teeth out, so hopefully that’s a good enough excuse. Movies: Pulp Fiction Dead Poets Society St Elmo’s Fire The Graduate (for the trillionth time) Fight Club The Lighthouse The Tourist The Holiday Pride and Prejudice (2005) Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End The King Anna Karenina Easy A The Dictator New Year’s Eve Books: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk Beautiful Boy by David Sheff A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost (HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Partially biased because I’m religiously affiliated with Saturday Night Live, but still good) East of Eden by John Steinbeck Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos de Laclos 99 Days by Katie Cotugno Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Teammate by David Ross Smart Baseball by Keith Law Music: As if you didn’t already expect this, John Mayer.
Jack Johnson Morgan Wallen (thanks Rebecca Windle) PHOEBE BRIDGERS (a literal queen) Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo (if you like this song you have some serious life rethinking to do. I wish I never heard it.) Lady Gaga The Rolling Stones Arctic Monkeys The Smiths (always a favorite) David Bowie (I wish he was my father; he’s so cool. Sorry, Dad.) Stevie Ray Vaughn (shame on you for asking who this is) Jimi Hendrix The Who ONLY SOS by Rihanna Chris Stapleton (I highly recommend him in Houston traffic… very calming) Turnpike Troubadours Daddy Yankee Hannah Montana (please appreciate my honesty) The 1975 Sturgill Simpson Midnight in Paris soundtrack (I loooove French swing) Old and new Taylor Swift Lynyrd Skynyrd Bruce Springsteen Alice Cooper Maggie Rodgers (I want that hour of my life back) Neil Young Little Feat (“Dixie Chicken” was stuck in my head for like a week) Billy Joel (A true hero) Miles Davis (for some jazz action) And finally… Bob Dylan. A true Greenwich Village icon This isn’t music, but JOE ROGAN. I literally listen to him every week, but keep in mind he does like to get creative with his vocabulary. He hosts so many different people on his podcast, like Alex Berenson, and I learn so much from each. He teaches you stuff that a normal high school classroom doesn’t and gives you a lesson about the world only he can give… what a dude!
Slice of π
BEN WASDEN Guest Writer Hey, Knights! My name is Ben Wasden, and I am the Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta Chapter at EHS. Math Club hopes that everybody had a safe and wonderful Winter Break and welcomes everyone back to campus. Both Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta have a lot of exciting events planned for the Spring Semester. Monthly
meetings will continue to be on Wednesdays after school and held on Microsoft Teams. If you are an aspiring STEM student, there will be multiple individual and team competitions and STEM events such as virtual guest speakers this semester. (Events are posted on our CANVAS calendar.) We also still have Math Club masks for purchase at only $3. If you would like to purchase a mask, come to Dr. P’s room (A130) and scan the QR code on her whiteboard and pick up a mask on the spot. The profits help us to participate in all the fun competitions we do. In order to get more involved with the Math Club, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ehsmathclub so you can stay updated with everything we will be doing this new year.
Spanish Corner
Selena Gómez lanzó nueva canción en español. BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief El 14 de enero, la cantante Selena Gómez lanzó una canción en español que llamada De Una Vez. Esta es la primera cancion Española de Selena Gómez desde que se unió con Cardi B y Ozuna en la cancion de DJ Snake en 2018 Taki Taki. Ademas Selena lanzó su ultimo album Rare hace un año. Tambien ha comenzado una marca de maquillaje que se llama Rare Beauty. Selena Gómez nació en Grand Prairie, Tejas y tiene 28 años. Su madre es mexicana, así Selena creció hablando español.
Por esta razón, el lenguaje y el estilo españoles son parte de su herencia. En el video musical para De Una Vez, Selena lleva un vestido floral y también ella tiene unas flores en su pelo. También, está usando un corazón brillante como un brocha, es un sagrado corazón. La conocido pareja de dirección, Los Pérez (Tania Verdusco and Adrián Pérez) ayudó a Selena a dirigir este video musical. Para ayudar a crear la canción, Selena trabajó con el productor puertorriqueño Tainy junto con Albert Hype, Jota Rosa y NEON16. Esta canción es la primera de su nuevo album Baile Conmigo que será lanzado en el futuro.
Ex-Disney star Selena Gomez has recently released a new song by the name of “De Una Vez.” Photo courtesy of SelenaGomezVevo.
Kid Cudi releases MOTM III LUCY HOWLEY Social Media Coordinator On December 11, Kid Cudi finally returned to the world of music by releasing an album. The work, titled Man on the Moon III: The Chosen is the third installment of Cudi’s Man on the Moon album series. Kid Cudi (or Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) is a prominent rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and record executive who has been on the scene since the late 2000s. Over his long career, Cudi has had an influential impact on contemporary hip hop and alternative music, popularizing the two genres and leaving his mark. The rapper has been very vocal about his mental health as well, and how he transforms his lowest points into musical inspiration, much to his fans’ admiration. He continues that through MOTM III, with strong themes of internal struggle and battling with self-destruction. It has been two years since Cudi released any form of an album and ten years since a continuation of the MOTM series. He has faced
many criticisms about his artistry in the past decade, the majority being his work has somewhat plateaued after releasing MOTM II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. I really enjoyed listening to Cudi’s own spin on the current music trends. I read one review that described this album as “cerebral, psychedelic trap,” and I would have to agree. It’s the modern continuation of the MOTM series, of course, so it’s not going to sound like 2009 Cudi. Tracks like “She Knows This” and “Damaged” feature a style very similar to fellow rappers Kanye West and Travis Scott; but the unfortunate thing is that Cudi has been a huge inspiration for those artists, and now he receives criticism for using elements that are signature to their work that he technically had a part in creating. However, the album definitely has some highlights. I especially liked the songs “Heaven on Earth,” “Elsie’s Baby Boy (flashback),” and “Rockstar Knights,” and the cover art is beautiful. Overall, I rate this album an 8 out of 10, and I’m excited for Cudi’s next work that’s planned to be released later this year.
Kid Cudi has recenly release a new album titled Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. This is the next of Cudi’s several albums. Photo courtesy of Magnetic Magazine.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Entertainment ∙ Page 5
CONNOR SMITH
CORY KARDESCH Copy Editor
CHRIS LAHOTI Welcome back to another edition of Plugged In! We hope you enjoyed Winter Break with some quality family time and newly unwrapped video games. Speaking of games, video game company Nintendo has announced its intention to port Super Mario 3D World, a co-op platformer game featuring characters such as Mario, Luigi,
Super Bowl 2021 up in the air as COVID-19 still persists
Trailer evidence has shown the possible addition of Bowser Junior to the growing list of available playable characters. Shown with his famous Koopa Clown Car and paintbrush, he appears to join Mario on his journey, defeating enemies and revealing hidden secrets around the map. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s
With the new year underway, the NFL finished its season and the playoffs began with what looks like a somewhat normal conclusion on the road to the Super Bowl. Starting on January 9, the Wild Card games began the playoffs with 12 teams facing off over the weekend and six teams advancing to the next round. Those teams were the Bills, Rams, Buccaneers, Ravens, Saints, and the Browns. The following weekend, the Rams and Packers, the Ravens and Bills, the Browns and Chiefs, and the Buccaneers and Saints all played in the Divisional Round. The Packers, Bills, Chiefs, and Buccaneers advanced to the Conference Championships, where the two winners will play in the Super Bowl. The championship game
is scheduled to take place February 7 in Tampa Bay, Florida. As the Super Bowl approaches, a question shared by many is who will actually attend the game. The NFL said that the crowds will be comprised largely of vaccinated first responders, and that team, league, and media officials will be limited compared to years past. As for fans hoping to attend the game, the number is still up in the air, but the NFL stated that they hope to allow as many spectators as possible without any further risk. Another worry of the NFL is the safety of the players, as throughout the season there have been numerous incidents of COVID-19 cases among players and teams. The NFL is doing its best with hopes that everything leading up to the Super Bowl remains safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Bowser has reached a new level of bad. Team up with a friend (or just go alone) and stop him! Image courtesy of Nintendo.com. and Peach, to the Switch. Nintendo has expanded upon the traditional 3D World experience with Bowser’s Fury, a new DLC featuring a continuation of the original story. As opposed to 3D World’s enclosed, limited environments, the new map appears to indulge in a more open-world playthrough. Some fans have compared the style change to that of older Mario games such as Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario Sunshine. Others believe the move arises from Nintendo’s hope to incorporate the perspective of Super Mario Odyssey into a unique multiplayer environment.
Fury will be available for $59.99 on the Nintendo Switch starting February 12. Super Mario Odyssey, as well as Galaxy and Sunshine (the latter two under the title Super Mario 3D All-Stars), are currently available for purchase on the Switch. This game is perfect for those who love both the traditional platformer aspect of a Mario game and the thrill of a co-op challenge. We highly recommend you check it out!
LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer
Gossip Girl is now available on HBO Max for streaming.
For more information regarding the game or Nintendo’s other title releases and plans, please look at their official website.
Some of the best shows that left Netflix this year For some, the new year marks a new beginning with the prospect of change and growth, but for others, like Netflix, it also marks the end of an era. Over 150 shows and movies were removed from Netflix on January 1 of this year, many of which caused an outburst from millions of dedicated fans. The following list will feature just some of the most loved shows and movies that Netflix said goodbye to this year and where you can find them now. - The Office: Truly one of the most cherished shows to ever grace Netflix, The Office’s removal sparked outright fury in fans who took to the internet to voice their concerns, one referring to it as a “crime against humanity.” Luckily, The Office is still available for streaming through Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming service. - Gossip Girl: Another fan favorite, Gossip Girl was featured on Netflix for 9 years, since the end of its airing in 2012.
- Pride and Prejudice (2005): A popular movie among millions of hopeless romantics and based on Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice is sadly no longer available on Netflix and is instead accessible through Peacock, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video.
As COVID-19 cases rise, football fans wait in worried anticipation throughout the rest of the season. Image courtesy of cbssports.com.
The Prom: The musical taking Netflix and its viewers by storm SARA FAULCONER Staff Writer Theater fans are going crazy for the new Netflix movie The Prom that hit Broadway on November 15, 2018. The Prom is about teen girl Emma Nolan who attends high school in a small town that does not support her sexuality. The entire community tries to ban Emma from taking her girlfriend, who is not yet outed, to prom. The entire world hears about Emma’s prom situation, and Broadway stars come to her hometown to help her. With numerous difficulties and tears, Emma and her entire community
come together to throw a prom that allows her girlfriend Alyssa to come out. The show has allowed many young teens to feel more comfortable in their own skin, including an EHS student. The student is thrilled that “there is finally a musical that young LGBTQ+ girls and teens can watch and actually relate to, making us feel normal and comfortable in knowing there is nothing wrong with the way we are.” The show has inspired not only people in the LGBTQ+ community but everyone around the world to never change. Teenagers might be different than their peers but should embrace who they are.
- The West Wing: While not one of the most admired shows leaving Netflix, The West Wing grew in popularity during the Trump Administration and the events of 2020 as it felt almost like an alternate political world. The West Wing is yet another show to migrate to HBO where it is now available for streaming. - The Notebook: Similar to Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, reached into the hearts of sentimental romantics and over time became the quintessential romantic drama of the era. It is now available on Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video.
Recent rediscovery of The Prom has captivated people, regardless of their affilation with theater, all across the country. Photo courtesy of nytimes.com.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Speaks Out “You are stuck on a deserted island. You can only listen to one playlist. Whose is it?”
CONNOR BAILY “Hank Williams”
HEATHER SCHOEN “SZA” Cartoon by Lili O’Gorman
PhotoJ Photo of the Month BECK HOWENSTINE “Led Zeppelin”
GRACE MANALAC “Brent Faiyaz”
LILY O’GORMAN “Rex Orange County”
JILLIAN GREELY “Kanye West”
Senior Brianna Espinoza and virtual partner senior Courtney Davis take on an inclass presentation. Photo by Jami Rassy.
(Celebrity Sighting) WILEY LIPPINCOTT “Hank Williams Jr.”
DIANA DESROCHES “Billie Ellish”
MARK MITCHELL “Vulfpeck”
PHUC LUU “Arcade Fire”
Junior William Moursund and actor Jared Padalecki of The Walking Dead and more, bare a striking resemblance. Whether it be facial structure or just the hair, William could stand in for Jared anyday. Photo by Alan Ross and courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Opinion ∙ Page 7
How a universal time zone would impact the globe CONNOR SMITH Opinions Editor Have you ever flown across the United States or to another country? What is one thing you always have to worry about? Time. Having to set your watch back or move it forward can be a hassle for many, but what if I told you there was a way to fix this inconvenience? To fix time zones for the benefit of people, professors at John Hopkins University, Steve Hanke and Dick Henry, have proposed the world convert to Universal Time, a singular time zone that covers the entire globe. Universal Time Zones mean all countries, no matter their geographic locations, are under one time zone. Under this proposal, if you left Houston at 6 a.m. for London on a nine-hour flight, you would arrive at 3 p.m. So, why should we change our current system? The strongest evidence for the introduction of a singular time zone comes from the issues with existing time zones. Time zones often zig-zag throughout the globe with some countries such as China containing 1 time zone, even though they geographically are in 4 different zones. Nepal seems even crazier with a 45-minute offset in their time zone. Upon looking at a map,
anyone would understand how time zones have little to no scientific backing. These complex-looking time zones appear to be a rather unorthodox way to map time. The reason for this is because individual countries decide what time zone to be in. This can be a massive problem. With countries having the power to control time zones, these zones become a political tool. For example, WIRED reported that in 2018, China reportedly detained a man on terrorist charges because he set his watch two hours behind Beijing time Aside from the fact that foreign powers bend time zones to their will, there are also health risks associated with time zones. As weird as this sounds, studies have shown people living on the edges of time zones have higher rates of breast cancer, obesity, and heart disease because they wake up early in the darkness, disrupting what scientists call circadian rhythm. In an effort to prevent these health problems from occurring, Maine legislators considered moving to the Atlantic Time Zone, thereby ending daylight savings time. Chris Kessler, the Democratic representative from South Portland, sponsored this bill saying daylight savings time has “negative effects on people’s health.” While the bill gained initial approval in the Maine House of Repre-
sentatives, it will only be passed after the United States Secretary of Transportation approves the change, along with the states Massachusetts and New Hampshire. With all the problems in the current timezone structure, why not switch to a universal time, especially when there are many benefits. One example of this need occurs in Spain. Due to their unique time zone location, Spanish workers have lower productivity due to their waking hours under their time zone. With this new time zone, workers would wake up not according to the time, but the cycle of the sun. Instead of waking up in pitch black, the average
worker would wake up as the sun rises, even though the time would be two in the morning. This also makes international business easier. You don’t need to specify which time zone you are in to schedule meetings or calls if the entire world is following the same clock. While a Universal Time Zone may be confusing at first, it is no more controversial than the current time zones, which were created initially in response to the expansion of the railroad industry pushing to the Pacific Ocean. With all the faults of the current system, maybe it’s time to switch to a Universal Time Zone.
Global Time Zone map. Photo courtesy of vidiani.com.
Predicting life after Covid-19: Masks, jobs, and the vaccine SYDNEY COWARD Business and Circulation Manager What will the long-term effects of Covid-19 be years and decades from now? As important as it is for medical knowledge to be developed in real time, it is essential to look at the future impact of the pandemic through a social lens. There’s a social custom in China, preCovid-19, that if you feel sick, you put on
some states, and technology allows families to move to a more economically-welcoming environment. Cities like Tulsa, Shreveport, and San Antonio will get a boost in population, and so will their local economies. These cities aren’t necessarily small, but their cost of living is a far cry from those in California or New York. Affordable lifestyle opportunities will reshape the population landscape as a result of work-from-home options. It is highly likely that the Covid-19 vaccine will determine your social interactions
Corrections and Clarifications
a mask out of respect for everyone else. Post-Covid-19 American society will be similar. Masks won’t be going away any time soon and will be used like they are in China - out of respect and safety. The job industry will forever be changed because of the opportunity and availability to work from home. Working from home will continue to be present in the job industry as employers realize the benefits. Studies have concluded that work-from-home options limit the need for office space, increase productivity, and allow businesses to hire the best, no matter where they are. Employees could realize less commuting, more family time, and fewer useless meetings. Because of the subsequent dependence on technology in a work-at-home environment, there will be an increase in relocations of employers and their work force. The cost of living is incredibly high in
time, the vaccine is sure to be included in the early childhood round of vaccinations, joining the MMR vaccine. As when the pandemic first hit, our actions and inactions shaped the direction of society. Rather than resigning ourselves to some of the possibilities addressed here, we should seriously consider molding our future in a design that we want – one that could help us avoid a similar crisis.
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*It was reported that over 161 million American voted in the Presidential election and that 74 million of those were for Joe Biden, leaving 87 million and the suggestion that this remainder was for Donald Trump. At the time of the article’s writing, the number of total votes cast was correct, but only 86% of those had been counted, which left the mathematical inconsistency.
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Sports Editor Tinley Kane
Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick
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Business and Circulation Manager Sydney Coward
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Social Media Coordinator Lucy Howley
*The article mentioned that there was some form of voter fraud in the election. Numerous accounts of duplication, rejection, and failure to deliver votes in multiple states led to this reporting, though it was found after publication that no fraud occurred.
Photojournalism Co-Editors Sophie Martin and Karma Elbadawy
Staff Writers Jazzmin Duncan Claire Frankfort Lara Verstovsek Leana Greene Estefania Lopez-Salas Cristian Munoz Sara Faulconer Lily O’Gorman
In the article “Presidential race concludes with Biden’s Electoral College win” in Issue 4 of The Knight Times, there was a factual error and some wording that lacked clarity.
The vaccination of millions of Americans will forever impact society. Photo courtesy of mckinsey.com.
as well. Many places of business, like the transportation industry, and possibly events with a large concentration of people, could require a vaccination for consumers. For example, Cousin Timmy can’t come to the family reunion because his airline is requiring passengers to have the vaccine. As with Covid-19 attestations and testing, confirmation of your compliance may be a part of your everyday life checklist. In
*Vice-President Kamala Harris was referred to by her first name at the end of the article, which was unintentional though clearly disrespectful. It is the policy of The Knight Times to acknowledge significant errors as soon as possible. Readers can always contact Mr. David Framel dframel@ehshouston. org or Bailey Junell bjunell2021@ehshouston.org with any concerns regarding content.
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The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School newspaper class, who are solely responsible for its creation and editorial content. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Episcopal Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. Published ten times a year, The Knight Times is a non-profit educational tool. The staff encourages the submission of letters, editorials, and story ideas from the community, but reserves the right to edit and/or use said articles.
Sports∙ Page 8
Sports Brief BOYS BASKETBALL TINLEY KANE Sports Editor The Knights wrapped up the last day of 2020 with a solid game against Booker T. Washington. 2020 was a stellar start for the Knights with various wins ranging from 4A public schools to local private schools. Heading into the new year hasn’t been the most ideal start for the team. Kicking off 2021 on January 2, the Knights were dealt a tough loss to La Marque. Even with a new year and first game lost, nonetheless, their record still stands at a solid 9-4 overall for the season. Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the team’s only upset as the team had to then take a two-week pause from the season schedule due to quarantining. While being away from the court as a team, the Knights worked on their skills individually. Making their debut as a team on Januay 23, the Knights went to Austin for their first SPC conference game. Although the boys fell short of the win, losing 60-47, this game is only the beginning of their long SPC run.
SWIM & DIVE ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer Although the 2021 winter sports season was modified, the swimming and diving teams were still constantly training and attending meets. Sadly, SPC was canceled for all winter sports, but the EHS program still found many meets for competing, which included many new personal record times and many top three placements. There were meets all throughout the month of January, including a meet on January 30th and the non-SPC “championship” meet that was held on February 6th at the University of Houston. Due to the coronavirus, there were no spectators allowed at the diving session, and the girls and boys sessions had to be split up. The swimming and diving teams continue to strive to do their best throughout a very different season, and they continue to put in many hours into their daily practices, which is why they have had such a successful season. They are already looking forward to next year.
The Knight Times ∙ January 2021
Girls soccer dominates the playing field BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief The month of January proved busy for the talented girls soccer team. Although the annual Winter SPC Championship is not proceeding as normal this year, many teams in the league are still competing against each other in hopes of a South Zone version of a conference win. The knights have played teams from all around Houston as well as from Austin. The team stands undefeated and was recently ranked in the top 25 nationally for high school girls soccer in the inaugural Top Drawer Soccer national poll. Currently the team is ranked sixteenth, above rival St. John’s and next to teams from various states, including Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. Starting the month strong with its usual SPC play, the team competed against John Cooper on January 8 and defeated the Dragons 12-0. It took the strength of the whole team, though five of the goals were scored by junior phenom Kaia Chambers. A few days later, the girls played Awty and finished the game convincingly with a 7-0 win. In continuation of their impressive play, the girls met Kinkaid on January 15 with a final score of 1-0. The girls end the month playing rival St. John’s, an extremely important game as they narrowly defeated the Mavericks 1-0 earlier in the season. The following week they will play Duchesne on February 2 and will continue their season three days later with the annual Senior Night game, this year
against Houston Christian. This game will celebrate the seven seniors, Annie Powell, Audrey Reed, Bailey Junell, Mimi Wilson, Heather Schoen and Isabelle De Bruyker. The following week in February the team plans to take multiple day trips to Austin to play both St. Andrew’s and St.
Stephen’s. Overall, the girls have had a remarkable season, and the lasting impact that this year’s team has left on the program will change the culture of the girls soccer program at Episcopal for the better for years to come.
Left forward sophomore Ava Gonzalez dribbles the ball through the St. John’s midfield. Photo by Christophe Merriam.
Top 25 ranking puts boys soccer in spotlight LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Despite many pushbacks and having to jump over unpredictable obstacles at the beginning of its season, the boys soccer team proved its strong work ethic and grit as it was recognized nationally as one of the top 25 teams in the nation. This ranking, compiled by topdrawersoccer.com., acknowledges the boys soccer team as seventeenth in the nation.
With the standard at an ultimate high, Head Coach Travis Smith is planning to lead the team to success in future games in order to maintain this amazing accomplishment. As of now, the Knights are 4-0-1, with a tie early against big rival San Antonio Central Catholic. Coach Smith said, “We look forward to playing all of our SPC games, but perhaps St. John’s and Kinkaid bring out the most in terms of intensity.” The boys are competing for a mythical
South Zone and SPC championship due to the cancellation of an SPC tournament due to Covid, and have high hopes to win it all, especially with all of the talent added this year in the form of underclassmen. Among some of the difficulties the team has had to deal with, quarantining and practice safety led to two games against Awty and Kinkaid set for early January to be pushed back a couple of weeks. These games are now planned for the beginning of February.
GIRLS BASKETBALL LUCY HOWLEY Social Media Coordinator Varsity girls basketball continues to show its impeccable skills and determination. Recently, the team had success in a contest against St. Agnes, winning 68-58. Later in the week, the girls fought hard against the Village School but unfortunately, lost 74-43. The team also played John Cooper, which ended in a close 59-51 loss. Beginning SPC conference play, the girls are currently 2-1. Their most recent win was against St. Stephen’s on Saturday, January 23, which ended in a final score of 50-25. The team is diligently preparing for approaching games in February. Seniors Bria Woodard, Gwen Rippeto, Destinee Harris, Lizzy Afseth, Eva Del Frate, and Courtney Davis hope to keep up this momentum of SPC wins. The Knights plan to persist onward against local Houston competition in games against Kinkaid, Awty, St. Andrew’s, St. John’s, Duchesne, and Houston Christian.
Junior Calvin Kelly dribbles forward as the boys team competes against Concordian Lutherian in December. This game ended with a score of 7-1 and the Knights victorious. Photo courtesy of EHS Communications.