News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
February 2020
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Close to 200 students will join EHS next year
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 7
Wrestlers capture SPC Runner-Up Ogunrin and Berlin claim titles, eleven grapplers finish in top three
CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer All students know the stresses of picking a high school. All sorts of questions come to mind when figuring out what will fit best for them. Are the academics challenging? Are they too challenging? Does the student fit in with the school’s community and culture? The search for a school is endless, but it ultimately leads to how it will prepare a student for college. Being a college preparatory school, Episcopal High School has taken big strides in getting more applicants than ever. At Episcopal, teachers focus on making the classes as engaging and informative as they can, much like a college course. This is one of the many reasons why EHS has become the “talk of the town.” With smaller class sizes and medium sized grades, it is very appealing to a nervous middle schooler. Most middle school students have thought about becoming an Episcopal Knight, which has increased the applicant pool by 23% this year. Students are applying from 86 different middle schools and 26 high schools. There are prospective students coming in from all over the Houston area, including Pearland and Cypress. One of the things about the school, to most parents, is just how happy the students are. Walking onto the campus, visitors notice that Knights demonstrate positive attitudes. While everybody has their occasional bad day, students try to keep a positive demeanor. Needless to say, there is always something happening. Director of Admissions Mrs. Carol Wasden says that “Open House is designed to show off [this] incredible energy” that the students at Episcopal have. Prospective families are always hearing nothing but good things from EHS’s current families. There is nothing but positive feedback from all of the families that take a look at the school. For the incoming Class of 2024, the Admissions Office is hoping to accept 195200 students, around the same amount as the past three years. It will be exciting to see who is in the new class and what they will have to offer Episcopal High School.
INSIDE Coronavirus Coronavirus epidemic also infects the media
PAGE 2 Spring Preview Spring sports are underway as winter seasons come to an end
PAGE 11 Features ........................ 2-4 Culture......................... 5 Entertainment .............. 8 Knight Shift ................. 9 Opinion ........................ 10 Sports ........................... 11-12
The wrestling team took the runner-up trophy during the Winter SPC weekend in Dallas. Photo by Claude Cody. TINLEY KANE Staff Writer
A third consecutive SPC runner-up finish for wrestling was the top prize for the winter sports teams during the annual Winter Sports Tournament. Nine wrestlers made it to their weight division’s championship and two were crowned champions. Five of these qualified for the Prep Nationals and competed at Lehigh University during the weekend of the 21st. Learn more about SPC on Page 12
EHS college counseling provides helpful direction BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief The college counseling program at EHS is one of the best in the business. There are six staff working with students, including Mrs. Julie Rollins, Mr. Mark Carter, Ms. Trish Houser, Ms. Monica Lopez, Mrs. Rachel Lopez, and Mrs. Tena Ward. Partnering with various students during their four years at Episcopal, staff members help Knights achieve their dreams of attending the right college. This year the EHS Class of 2020 has been consistent in terms of the application and selection processes. Roughly half of all seniors are projected to end up at in-state colleges while the other 50% are expected to go out-of-state. On average, each student applies to seven universities using the Common Application and Apply Texas Application Programs. Along with working with seniors, staff also help to begin the process of applying to colleges with juniors. Every year college counseling is in charge of the Junior Grade Level Learning Class during Interim Term after Christmas Break. This year the students started by being a part of a mock admissions committee for a fictional college - Plymouth Shores University - during which they decided whether they would admit, defer, or deny three students.
Throughout the rest of the two weeks, the juniors completed a personal Mind Map, which connects their hobbies and talents. Additionally, they learned about College Fit and began coming up with ideas for their personal college essays. The group also started to organize their college resumes. They started a new program this year called YouScience, which has become helpful in their junior conferences. YouScience essentially is a series of brain games and questions that can assess an individual’s personality and strengths. This program creates a personalized career inventory for each student and helps
in showing the students how they can best apply their hobbies and skills to the real world. For juniors, the overall objective was to partake in self-reflection with their personal priorities and extracurricular activities; also, they learned how to focus on themselves, not what others want. Last, they were taught about the college application process and how to prioritize what they want to do versus where they want to go. Overall it has been a great year for the seniors and “the College Counseling Department is excited for what is in store for the Class of 2021.”
College counselor Mr. Mark Carter discusses college goals with a student. Photo by Nick Held.
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The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
NHS welcomes new members EHS brings back Scholastic Awards BAILEY JUNELL
Staff Writer
The National Honor Society at EHS is an organization of students who exhibit the highest standards of academics, character, leadership, and service. Known as the Bishop Benitez Chapter of National Honor Society, NHS requires its members to go through an intense application process during their junior year that assesses their overall person rather than just their academic successes. Each of these students is held to a higher standard than others in the community and expected to be role models for the school. NHS students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.70 GPA throughout their junior and senior years. They must also exhibit honorable character without any appearances in front of the Discipline or Honor Council. Members are also known to serve as leaders throughout the commu-
nity in roles including leaders in student government, school clubs, sports teams, art organizations, and in the classrooms. One of the main focuses of NHS is the importance of serving others. It is required that a member participate in volunteer action throughout his or her four years at EHS. Students can perform this service through a school activity or with churches or community groups. Students who are a part of the chapter vote for officers, which include President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. Presently those offices are held by Brennan Howell, President; Blair Barineau, Vice President; Winnie Gordon and Rebecca Rose, Parlamentarians; and Amelia Traylor, Secretary. A formal induction ceremony occurred on February 24. With the assistance of Co-Advisors Mr. Bruton and Mrs. Ray, the chapter has upheld their respectable standards.
CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
The Scholastic Art and Writing competition is a regional contest for public and private school students across America between grades 7-12. Submissions are accepted in 29 categories of art and writing, and gold and silver key winners advance to the national level of competition. The following EHS students won Gold Keys in the 2020 Regional Scholastic Art competition: Su Spector, Brynn Ander-
son, Sydney Coward, River ReinertsenForehand, Sophia Stassi, Aidan Stewart, Natalie Toups, Brendan Massaro, and Nina Plemenos. Gold Keys in the 2020 Regional Scholastic Writing competition were given to Andrew Archer, Jackie Canfield, Carson Clingman, Alexandra Halfon, Anabel Kirton, Anna Moise (2), Rebecca Rose, Chloe Song, and Dylan Wilson (3). There were a combined 30 Silver Keys awarded in both art and writing and 27 Honorable Mentions. The national results will come out in March.
EHS Class of 2021 National Honor Society Inductees Gannon Amendola Maya Basra Mateo Bastidas Hailey Black Victoria Kate Carlin Carson Clingman LJ Coady Elena Cokinos Sydney Coward Isabelle De Bruyker Felipe De Pinho Eva Del Frate Gwendalyn Diaz Jacob Dixon Bella Fayad Max Finkelstein Parker Forque Brianna Espinoza Jacob Robertson Giesler Braden Guthrie Marco Antonio Gutierrez Haley Claire Hammer
Alena Haney Camille Lauren Hanna Alexa Hendricks Lola Marie Herndon Samantha Ho Cameron Reed Hoover Lucy Rivers Howley Thomas Walker Jackson Bailey Elaine Junell
Sophia Reed River Reinertsen-Forehand Gwen Rippeto Lindsay Anne Rorschach Reid Masterson Sheppard Jake Siegel Keith Findley Sill Haley Simmons Megan Murphy Smith Cooper Hamilton Kincannon Claire Spedale Nora Lawless Cassie Stewart Elizabeth Kirby McCool II Cameron Matthew Thornton Paul McGarry William Turlington Annelise Miller Lyndon Charles Walsh Caton Alice Murry Benjamin Fredric Wasden Sam Newland Emma Claire White Gloria Ni Cade Allen Williams Annie Powell Rebecca Windle Luke Matteo Provenzano Bria Neomie Woodard Jami Rassy Cimone Christine Woodard Mary Carol Ray Samantha Wotring Audrey Harrison Reed Helen Young
Capturing the image of a young child in action, Sophia Stassi has won a Gold Key Award for her photograph titled “Blue Static.” Photo by Sophia Stassi.
Dude Be Nice Week approaches CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer Dude Be Nice Week is one of Episcopal’s most loved special events of the entire school year. Since the end of Interim Term, Student Council members have worked diligently under the direction of Mrs. Courtney Lindloff to plan activities which promote acts of kindness around campus. Student Council members have encouraged the writing of thank-you notes to the food services staff for all their work, which let them know their efforts are appreciated. Members have also decorated “What lifts Knights up?” balloons, on which student wrote names of positive influences in their lives or activities that they enjoy. Another big hit was the jumbo chocolate chip cookies at break, and students were
given kindness challenges, such as telling a teacher thank you or supporting a sports event by attending and cheering on the Knights. Each day of the week brought new and exciting ways to show how kindness was prevalent in the EHS community. Student Body Vice-President Parker Vining said, “I love all the different activities each day of the week, and this year I am especially excited about the face painting during lunch.” She added, “This is an important week for Student Council and the EHS community because it promotes kindness in a fun way,” which gave a feeling of contentment to all who took part. This fun week allowed Knights of all ages to display kindness in different ways to their mentors, peers, and colleagues and served as a reminder to do kind deeds in their daily lives.
Dude Be Nice Week had an impactful week with its main goal being to promote kindness around the EHS campus. Photo courtesy of teepublic.
Winner of a Gold Key Award for his photography titled “Oceans” is Aidan Stewart. Photo by Aiden Stewart.
Byrnn Anderson titled her Gold Key Photograph “Way Down.” Photo by Byrnn Anderson.
Light and Shadow illustrates talent LEANA GREENE Staff Writer The purpose of “Light and Shadow isn’t to distinguish one writer from the rest but to recognize and display all of the amazing talent in the Episcopal community.” Going into its thirtieth year, the EHS literary magazine Light and Shadow continues this mission. Designed for both readers and writers, Light and Shadow’s main purpose is to encourage the submission of pieces from the literary and artistic world. Accepting submissions from writers of all levels, Light and Shadow written works are selected anonymously; this eliminates the issue of favoritism. Artwork is also submitted, and both types of work are important to the creative process of the magazine. This
process is overseen by the production editor, senior Catherine Andrews. Members of the Advanced Creative Writing class work hard in serving as PR editors and art liaisons. Not only is there the help of current members, but the alumni of the class leave notes giving advice for future editors and publication. Toward the end, individual ratings of the pieces are counted, and the editor determines whether the written work or artwork will be published or not. Publication is a huge accomplishment, and the Light and Shadow staff wants everyone to know every submission is an achievement. No individual gets recognized beyond the magazine, but Light and Shadow as a publication has won many awards from The National Council of Teachers of English.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Students compete at the Academic World Quest LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer On February 6, three teams of four students competed against numerous schools from the Houston area at the Academic World Quest competition hosted by the World Affairs Council of Houston. There were in total four seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman who competed at this event. Hosted at Congregation Emanu El, teams answered questions on a range of topics, such as Brexit and the EU, USRussian Relations, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and many more international topics. Teams were given study guides to read articles on the topics, and they were quizzed over any details of the topic. Through the first four rounds, the senior
team consisting of Rosalind Coats, Amelia Heymach, Derrick Perillo, and Harlan Solsbery was positioned in second place, and the team of Kathryn Bragg, Campbell Craft, Nathan Abraham, and Lyndon Walsh were tied for third. The third team included John Bruton, Keith Sill, Megan Smith, and Cade Williams, and they were in fourth position. Unfortunately, in the later rounds of the competition, the teams struggled with the complex topics of Germany: 30 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Qatar and the Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and current events of the world. As a result, the teams all competed and finished very well but did not place within the top three. The contestants, they think that the Episcopal teams have shown potential for Academic World Quest next year, and many are eager to compete again.
Harlan Solsbery, Rosalind Coats, Amelia Haymach, and Derrick Perillo EHS finished fourth overall in the competition. Photo by Ms. Edmonds.
John Bruton, Keith Sill, Megan Smith, and Cade Williams represented Episcopal at the Academic World Quest competition. Photo by Ms. Edmonds.
Upcoming arts classes start their application processes JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer As the spring semester begins, students at EHS are beginning to plan for the 2020 Fall Semester. Students interested in selective programs involving the Arts Pillar are starting to fill out their applications for classes such as Newspaper, Yearbook, Photojournalism, ETV, and Art Portfolio. All grade levels, except for seniors of course, have the opportunity to apply to various programs after going through the application process which also involves recommendations and, in some cases, interviews. Instructors of these programs are eager to see fresh faces and new talent as well as returning talent.
To apply for The Hexagon and The Knight Times newspaper staff, students must fill out an application that asks about things such as extracurriculars, past experience, and why a potential staffer wants to join. The applicants must interview with the program advisor, Mr. David Framel, as well as get two recommendations from English teachers. Aside from the Publications Department, Media Arts and Studio Arts are also looking for quality and interested applicants for PhotoJ, Advanced moviemakers, and portfolio. This application process is very similar to the others in the sense that the program is searching for creative people who are willing to work and meet deadlines.
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Personal stories highlight community celebration of Black History Month LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer In celebration of Black History Month, Diversity In Action (DIA) presented “The Story of US” celebrating African American culture. Each year the school dedicates a Chapel to honor the African American struggle for civil rights and the culture. This year the program occurred in Underwood Theater on Wednesday, February 19. Current and past students spoke on their stories. The presentation began with a video produced by senior Lani McHenry. During the video, current students spoke on why their African American culture is so important to them as a significant part of their family background. Following the video, students from each grade discussed how much their heritage meant to them. Freshman Chandler Hollis began by discussing his love for Lebron James, but more importantly, how his love for the community meant more to him than his love of basketball. Sophomore Caylon Mike, discussed how she constantly is working harder than everyone in cheer because of how people look at her differently. Junior Quon Marion then mentioned how his dreadlocks make him and his family who they are; he also stated that overcoming adversity has only made him stronger. Concluding the personal testimonies, senior DA Houston discussed how his perspective changes when he is at EHS and when he is out of school.
The keynote speaker, Class of 2014 graduate and current assistant cheerleading coach Falyn Page discussed her time at EHS and how it helped her find her path to success. She encouraged students to stay true to themselves and not pretend to be something they are not. Page emphasized how “your culture, your story, and your voice are what make you unique.”
Freshman Chandler Hollis speaks during the Black History Month Chapel. Photo by Maya Basra.
Scenes of Houston displayed in Underwood Student Center CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer Inside Episcopal High School’s Underwood Student Center Gallery, Polaroid images of several notable spots in the Houston area are proudly displayed. Viewers will recognize scenes from Smither Park, Houston street signs, and even the Episcopal High School campus captured throughout the showcase. Such is the work of Mr. Japheth Storlie and Ms. Kate Philbrick’s Interim Term class, Polaroid: The Original Instagram. According to Ms. Philbrick, the “students learned about the history of the instant photo and how the process works.” After the students learned the basics, Storlie and Philbrick took their group to Smither Park, a vibrant and creative urban
space dedicated to self-taught art displays in the heart of the Third Ward of Houston. This location “provided an exciting and colorful backdrop for taking photos,” says Philbrick. After returning to EHS, the class “scanned the Polaroids, worked on them in Photoshop, and then made large prints for the exhibition.” After all this was done, the instructors “chose their favorite pieces from the students who took the class and hung them in a grid.” Philbrick says that the grid is a “visual cross section of [their] time on campus and at Smither Park,” and her personal favorite. In her closing remarks, she states that everyone should “pick up one of the cameras and take a photo of your friends to leave in the gallery.” Click!
This Polaroid is one of many sights featured in the Underwood Student Center Gallery. Photo by Freida Borden.
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The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Solsbery brothers discuss their experience living abroad before moving to Texas LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Junior Henry Solsbery and his brother senior Harlan Solsbery shared with The Knight Times their unique experiences before moving to Texas and becoming part of the EHS community. Where exactly did you live before coming to the U.S.? For how long? Henry: Before coming to the United States, my brother Harlan and I lived in a multitude of countries. First off, both Harlan and I were born in London, England, then moved to The Hague, Netherlands, for about one year before moving to Sin-
gapore. We lived in Singapore for almost five years, and then we moved to Stavanger, Norway, where we lived another five. Last, before finally moving to Houston in August of 2017, we lived in The Hague, Netherlands, for a second time, this time for four years, thus ending our international travels. What is the biggest difference that you experienced coming to the U.S.? Harlan: The biggest difference I have experienced between living in the U.S. and overseas is being around people who are very different from myself. I had only gone to international schools, and while I knew classmates from all over the world and valued their differences, they usu-
ally had a similar background to me in terms of moving frequently, dealing with change, and just being immersed in an international lifestyle that I had also grown up in. Transitioning from an international school setting to a traditional American high school, I was now around people who had grown up with each other since they were babies and had stayed in the same state or city their whole lives. Initially, I struggled to find people whom I could talk to or saw me as someone more than just that kid from overseas. Thankfully over time, I have settled into life at EHS, and I have been able to use my differences positively within the community through things like Diversity in Action, Student World Affairs Club, and Senior Outreach. Do you ever go back and visit? How often? Do you have family there? Harlan: Unfortunately, I have not been back to visit since moving to the U.S. However, Henry did go back to the Netherlands for one summer. I am hoping to go back to the Netherlands this upcoming summer so I can see my friends before we head off to college. I have godparents that live in France, but besides that our family has close friends that we consider family. Henry: Since moving to the U.S., the only
places I have gone back to are Singapore and The Hague, Netherlands. I do not have any relatives over there or any real reason to go back besides seeing other friends, so I don’t go back often at all. When I did go back, however, I went back to the Netherlands in the summer of 2018 to visit some friends, and I went to Singapore multiple times in the last decade because my parents have some friends there. What was your favorite thing to do back then? We loved being able to bike around and just wander throughout Den Haag with our friends. Biking is a huge part of life in the Netherlands, and we took advantage of the sophisticated biking system of bike paths, traffic lights, and stops all around the country in order to better the environment as well as making travel more engaging. What about your favorite food to eat that we don’t have here? It’s a tie between this amazing style of pancake called “Poffertjes,” which are really light pancakes usually drenched in powdered sugar and eaten in one bite, and fresh, warm stroopwafels.
Assistant EHS football coach takes the UFC After living in 4 other countries, the brothers settle and EHS and become involved in the theatre program, onstage and backstage tech. Photo by Sydney Coward.
The Knight Times evaluates sleep schedules and caffeine LYNDON WALSH Staff Writer In February, the Episcopal High School newspaper team conducted a survey of nine faculty & staff and 50 students from a range of grades. In this survey, each participant was asked to estimate the average amount of sleep he or she gets on a typical night, whether the average amount of sleep is a functional level of sleep, and whether or not he or she uses some form of caffeine or energy drink to keep going throughout the day. Unsurprisingly, the results showed that freshmen get the highest average amount of sleep, coming in at 7 hours and 9 minutes, while the lowest average was among juniors with an average of 5 hours and
54 minutes. Of the 59-people surveyed, 27 stated that they needed more sleep to feel fully functional throughout their day, showing that around half the people on campus personally feel that they are not getting enough sleep every night. It calls into question whether the Episcopal High School students and faculty practices are healthy and what can be done to improve these practices? On top of that, 52.5% of the people surveyed say they take some form of caffeine or energy drink to keep them going throughout the day. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), teenagers ages 13-18 should get 8-10 hours per day. That is a benchmark that no grade or group surveyed is near. In conclusion, sleep more; it’s good for your health.
Comparison of Average Hours Sleep Per Day 7:09
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Juan Adams, former assistant freshman Episcopal football coach and wrestling coach, is living out his childhood dreams of becoming famous through the UFC and MMA fighting circuits. On February 8, Adams fought a pay-per-view match on ESPN. He was two fights under the main event of Jones vs. Reyes. Despite his loss, he enjoyed the experience while competing at the highest level offered. After graduating from college, the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts called him up for a tryout. He soon discovered he did not like playing football, so he continued his love of athletics and competition on the path of wrestling. Adams spent most of his time training in New Mexico for his big match, and the UFC fight of February 8 opened a new door for him. After the loss he knew that was it for the UFC, and he hoped to find another way to continue his passion. He just recently got a new promotion which will continue to let him fight, but now he will do it overseas. Working as an ambassador, he is bringing the MMA to parts of the world that has not yet discovered it. His new contract will let him compete in matches while giving him more experi-
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The bar graph shows the averge amount of sleep per day through the ratio of hours:minutes at the top of each group interviewed. Graph by Lyndon Walsh.
ence. Down the line, Adams hopes this will lead him back to the UFC. When he was younger, he would use fighting as his outlet to channel his frustration throughout the day, but now it has turned into his career. Adams loves competition, and through this certain type, he expresses himself “almost as an art form.”
Juan Adams discussed living out his childhoood dream of becoming well known in a professional sport. Photo courtesy of youtube.com.
JASH welcomes EHS students CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer
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SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer
Twelve Episcopal High School students, led by AP World History teacher Ms. Shelly Edmonds and chaperones Mr. Steve LEisz and Mrs. Kate Philbrick will embark on an informative, entertaining trip to Japan over Spring Break, courtesy of the Japanese American Society of Houston (JASH). The group will join several Bellaire High School students in touring various cities of Japan, including Tokyo, Chiba, Osaka, and Kyoto, in hopes that they might use the knowledge and experiences gained on the trip to serve as “ambassadors” and help further relations between the U.S. and Japan. In preparation for the upcoming trip, the Knights took an interim Term course led by a JASH member covering the basics of Japanese culture and language that culminated in a final project about a Japanese
company. JASH provides programs in education, culture, language, and business to facilitate vital cross-cultural exchanges and promote friendly interactions between the U.S. and Japan. Its Grassroots Exchange Network-Japan (GEN-J) program was created in 2018 and has been split into three specific stages. Stage 1 involved transferring Japanese speakers and grassroots staff to the U.S. as a foundation for cultural exchange. Stage 2 is the trip to Japan, with Stage 3 finishing the program by endorsing exchange organizers who promote Japanese cultural events in the U.S. The participating students are excitedly anticipating the trip. In regard to why Japan interests him, sophomore Zack Donovan remarked that he looks forward to immersing in Japanese culture and learning about the country’s innovative industries from a scientific and business point of view.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Culture ∙ Page 5
WILSON GRANT Guest Writer
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JOHN BRUTON Staff Writer Una gran tormenta ha devastado la costa de España. Por lo menos trece gente ha muerto, y sigue creciendo el numero de ciudadanos afectados. En los estados e islas de Majorca, Cataluña, Valencia, y Murcia una tormenta ha inundado pueblitos turísticos en una área de tres kilómetros alrededor de la costa, y olas han llegado a la altura de siete metros y ha rebasado varios diques. Además de las tormentas en el agua, también los mismos estados han estado pegados por muchísima nieve. La combinación de estos dos eventos, además de los cinco casos del virus de corona tiene la gente de España muy preocupada y el gobierno de España ha declarado un estado de emergencia
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Hey, EHS, I’m Wilson Grant, the treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta. We had a wonderful turnout at the first Math Club meeting of the semester on February 11. We are eagerly awaiting the scores of the 10 freshmen and sophomores who took the AMC 10, and the 20 juniors and seniors who took the AMC 12 on January 30. The AMC math tests assessed students’ mathematical intellect and required great focus. In addition, the 14-hour MathWorks M3 Modeling Challenge took place the weekend of February 29, and we are excited to see how our two teams, comprised of 10 juniors and seniors, did. In November, three teams from EHS competed in the annual HiMCM, an international math modeling competition. Seven hundred and ninety-two teams across the world were given 34 hours over a week and a half span to develop an answer and comprise a write up to one of two problems. Problem A involved researching the change in energy consumption due to the increase in sources of “free” consumer energy, such as outlets at the airport or
Tesla charging stations in parking garages, as well as to analyze the costs due to such sources and develop solutions to counteract the economic effects. Problem B challenged students to model the impact of the ban on plastic single service water bottles spreading to cities across the country such as San Francisco. In addition, students were asked to model the ban’s impact on airports and develop solutions to increase the benefits and decrease the negatives. We are happy to announce that all three of our teams were awarded with “Honorable Mention,” thus ranking in the 50th percentile of all competing teams. We should add that there was only one other school in Texas, in Dallas, who competed in this worldwide competition. We would as well like to thank all who came out to our February guest speaker, Dr. Neil Pellis, who gave a riveting talk about the field of Space Exploration. Mark your calendar for the annual Pre-Pi Day celebration on March 13 that the Math Club will be hosting during both lunches. During the lunches, there will be games and prizes and a bake sale to support our math competitions. It’s never too late to join Math Club!
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La tormenta de Gloria en España devastó a muchos y mató al menos a diez personas. Photo courtesy of nytimes.com.
Junior Cotillion attire makes sure to Peter Webber steals the hearts of keep up with all the latest trends many in this season of The Bachelor LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer The night of February 1, EHS juniors and seniors attended the annual cotillions. At these events, the girls typically wear a dress with either sneakers or heels, and the guys typically wear black tie attire. Since I am a junior, I went to the Bayou Club downtown along with Kinkaid and St. John’s eleventh graders. The fashion at this dance is never too out of the ordinary; it makes sense that no one wants to show up in a bright green, crocheted dress with sleeves that are bigger than her head or one of those interesting blazer dresses. I saw a few outdated outfits that took me back to my eighth grade, off-the-shoulder, denim dress days. You know the exact dress I’m talking about. Others followed the current fashion
Guys can never go wrong with the classic black suit with a cummerbund for the fancy occasion Photo courtesy of dressforthewedding.org.
trends, such as sequins, silk, or bright, vibrant colors. However, from a girl’s perspective, the boys have it so easy. They can rent a black suit on the day of Cotillion or even wear their suit from eighth grade if it still fits; shower; and be ready to go. No one would even think twice. Then there are some boys who take it the extra mile and get a colored suit or add an addition to their ensemble, but that happens rarely. Technically, girls have the option to follow this style as well, but most look for the perfect dress for weeks and choose to get their hair, and maybe even makeup, done. It’s a daylong process.
EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer
The denim off-the-shoulder dress that everyone remembers from eighth grade. Photo courtesy of lulus.com.
The Bachelor appears every Monday night at 7:00 p.m. Many fans have been loyal since the show’s beginnings, dating back to March 25, 2002. Overtime the iconic TV show has amassed eight million viewers per episode. Photo courtesy of ktar.com.
Sequins, vibrant colored, and silk dresses a were all seen at the Bayou Club the night Junior Cotillion. Photo courtesy of neimamarcus.com.
This season of The Bachelor features leading man Peter Weber along with 30 women from all over the country and some outside. Photo courtesy of parade.com.
Season fifteen of ABC’s The Bachelorette gave us Peter Weber, an airplane pilot who fell in love with Hannah Brown last season but never quite got the ring, which left him as the bachelor for Season 24. At twenty-eight-years old, Peter has officially stolen the hearts of Bachelor Nation and keeps the dedicated fan base on the edge of their seats every single Monday night when the show airs at 7:00 p.m. With 7.5 million viewers, The Bachelor always has its twists and turns, aided by the producers who know everything about each contestant on the show. The drama is constant this season, circulating around Peter, who is just trying “to follow his heart,” while telling every single girl that he is really “excited” about “where this is going,” leaving Bachelor Nation to form
their own opinions about who will really get the ring. The show is kept alive with Peter and the girls. For example, after Hannah Brown’s engagement fell through with Jed, she gave Peter a surprise visit, shocking Bachelor Nation. But the drama doesn’t stop there. When Victoria F was on her “one-on-one” date with Peter, the couple attended a Chase Rice concert, only for Peter to find out that Chase Rice was Victoria’s ex-boyfriend. The contestants don’t make any money, leaving us wondering why someone would want to go on the show in the first place. Why would someone go without being paid? While most of the girls claim that they came “to find love,” most of them have their eyes on the cash that flows in after the season ends. With brand deals and influencer careers, the girls can make a living even if they don’t get the ring.
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The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Coronavirus epidemic now becoming a global crisis BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief In the recent months, the coronavirus has become an international crisis. The first outbreak occurred in Wuhan, China, and now has spread around the world to over 28 countries and counting. With an estimated death toll of 2900 and rising, the virus has created a worldwide panic. As it is a rapidly evolving situation, many people have assumed that the worst is yet to come. The coronavirus family consists of viruses that are common in various types of animals, such as cows, cats, camels, and bats. These viruses rarely are known to infect people; however, the 2019-nCoV (the scientific name for this specific coronavirus) has begun spreading between humans. The virus is thought to have spread from animals to humans in a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan, China. Through coughs, sneezes, droplets of saliva, or any type of bodily fluid, a person can become contaminated. Scientists estimate
the incubation period - the time between contracting the illness and displaying symptoms - of this virus to be around 5-6 days. Symptoms of the illness include breathing difficulties, fever, coughing, and other respiratory problems. In the more severe cases,
“Top CDC official says U.S. should prepare for coronavirus ‘to take a foothold.’” - NBC this infection can potentially cause pneumonia, kidney failure, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and even death. However, many of the cases of death have involved older people or those with pre-existing medical conditions. Since the virus’s symptoms are similar to those of the flu or a simple cold, a laboratory test is required to confirm if someone has the illness. To date, no medicine has been found to prevent or treat the virus, yet there
are various treatments being investigated in clinical trials. Both the United States and the World Health Organizations (WHO) have declared public health emergencies. The majority of cases and death have occurred in China, and only a handful of cases have been reported in America. WHO officials published that only 20 percent of reported patients have developed any sort of severe sickness and only 2 percent have died in Wuhan. Nevertheless, the record states that over 2900 people have died and 79,000 have been infected. However, many doctors fear that the toll is severely undercounted due to strain in testing facilities and hospitals. Recently, the virus has spread to many European countries. The worst flare up outside of China occurred in Italy this past week. It is estimated that around 240 people are infected, seven dead, and 20 in intensive care. The first cluster of cases appeared in Codogno, a town southeast of Milan. Ten towns have been put on lockdown, along with canceled school, sports events, and
fashion shows. Due to the ever-evolving situation, people should be cautious. In order to prevent this illness, people should wash their hands with soap and water frequently. People should concurrently avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. If you travel to a major public place where you fear getting sick, maintain a distance from others and wear a mask. If you are sick, please seek medical attention promptly for your safety.
“At least 150 million people in China, over 10 percent of the population are living under government restrictions on how often they can leave their homes.” - The New York Times
A health care working in Wuhan, China carries a box of medical supplies down a road that showcases how abandoned the city has been on lock down due to the spreading of the Corona virus. Only emergency vehicles and government cars are allowed to drive down the roads. All other citizens resort to walking or bikimg when they are allowed out of their homes. Photo courtesy of nytimes.com.
Coronavirus, a Chinese government-made epidemic? NICK HELD Staff Writer
The virus began in Wuhan, China and has now spread around China and the world. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood.
When patients are presenting with symptoms of the corona virus, patients are quarantined as soon as possible within the area they are to prevent the spread of disease. Medical teams must be in full protective gear in order to prevent their picking up the virus. The majority of the medical workers are now military medical teams from the Peoples Republic of China’s military. The government has publicly thanked the crews for the risks they are taking. Photo courtesy of wfdd.com.
As the virus spreads throughout China, government officials try to contain the spread by enforcing a strict medical checkpoint at airports and train stops to limit the amount of infected travel. Photo courtesy of www.reuters.com.
In order to prevent the spread of the disease, Beijing enacted a piece of legislation cutting off all forms of transportation in and out of Wuhan China. Police officers are tasked to stand on duty all hours of the day. Photo courtesy of www.haaretz.com.
Xi Jinping, a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, said the spread of the deadly virus has “revealed the rotten core of Chinese governance.”
Xi Jinping. www.asiatimes.com.
As more and more people get infected and the understaffed hospitals fill up, the Chinese people are starting to voice their concerns. This obviously does not fly with a government whose first priority is having complete and absolute control over its people. They flooded Chinese media with propaganda complimenting and praising the “transparent and swift” response with “real Chinese citizens” acting happy and healthy while doctors are working themselves to death trying to save lives. On January 30th the Human Rights Watch accused China of withholding information from the rest of the world’s authorities. The scariest aspect of the virus is how little the rest of the world actually knows and the fact that we cannot trust the little information we actually have. Because of this lack of information, conspiracy theories have been created. Though these may be far from the truth, it has added a culture of suspensions throughout the Internet and world. Some of these include, Tito Sotto, the Philippines Senate President, has accused the Chinese government of using the virus for military purposes. It is fair to say the CIA is involved one way or another with the epidemic, but some people think they had a direct role in the outbreak. Some believe that the Chinese stole the virus from a lab in Canada in hopes of weaponizing it. The Russians are of course blaming Trump and American pharmaceutical companies. All these theories may be far from the truth but all add to the media’s coverage of the virus. Chinese people’s responses have mainly remained unchanged- they are overwhelmed and underprepared. Medical professionals dealing with the outbreak have repeatedly said that the Chinese government was completely unprepared for the outbreak. The ridiculous amount of people that flooded the hospital overwhelmed doctors and nurses. We do not know much because of the suppression of information. China has created strict laws about sharing “false information” with the rest of the world. The coronavirus has greatly impacted the entire world economy. For example, in one
day, on February 3, 2020, the Chinese stock market dropped 9.1%. China is responsible for 19.3% of the world’s entire gross domestic product (GDP) and has the second largest economy. The outbreak has cost China $62 billion in lost growth. Other stock market indexes around the world felt similar impacts. So many people were at the risk of infection
that companies such as Samsung, Apple, Google, Tesla, and Microsoft sent home thousands of employees – which says a lot because the amount of money they lost from this was most likely substantial. Also, manufacturers that make component parts for cars and other goods also sent their workers home. This caused widespread disruptions in supply chains around the world.
China’s travel industry is being put on hold and will most likely take years to recover due to lingering stigmas. That is why they changed the name of the virus. Experts warn that if the pandemic continues to worsen, businesses might not be able to survive and might shut down entirely, resulting in mass layoffs, unemployment, and housing foreclosures.
A new 5000 bed hospital called Huoshenshan was built in Wuhan, China, after only 10 days of construction. Over thousands of workers toiled hours of hard work to complete this two story 645,835 square feet building. The hospital only admits patients with the coronavirus to take pressure off the existing hospitals and stop the spread of the illness. Photo courtesy of independent.co.uk.
Entertainment∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Justin Bieber releases a new album CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer Everybody loves Justin Bieber. Well, most people. Mr. Framel doesn’t. Some may not admit it, but at some point, many people have sung along to his songs. Making his big break in 2008, Bieber has grown to be among some of the most well-known names in the 2000’s pop music industry. After he went on his Believe Tour in 2013, he went M.I.A. From 20152018, Bieber had his fair share of assault charges and DUI’s. In November of 2016, Bieber was accused of punching a Bieber fan in Barcelona, and only a year later, he hit a paparazzo with his truck.
Since 2015 he hasn’t released a new album, only some singles. Bieber has now become more public through his new YouTube documentary, Justin Bieber: Seasons. This 10-part series gives insight into his 2017 breakdown, which caused him to cancel his Purpose Tour. Now, he has just released his new album Changes on Valentine’s Day, most likely as a result of his infamous marriage to Hailey Baldwin. Following the release of the album, tickets for his North American tour went on sale and kicked off in Seattle. As Bieber makes his musical comeback, everybody should get ready to buy tickets to see him in Houston on July 2 for the first time in four years.
Chiefs’ comeback brings Super Bowl title back to KC, leaves 49ers shocked SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer Super Bowl LIV, the game of possession, came down to keeping Patrick Mahomes on the bench, yet the San Francisco 49ers were unable to complete that job. Mahomes, the comeback king for the Kansas City Chiefs, rallied his team from a 24-10 deficit in the fourth quarter. With 7:13 left on the clock, the Chiefs’ had a 3.9% win expectancy. No one thought it could be done, but Mahomes did it. Damien Williams, Chiefs running back, said the Chiefs offense was clicking while the 49ers defense got tired. The defense switched players in and out, unable to hold out until the end. Mahomes had one of his worst games for the first three quarters, leaving him to make a legendary comeback. The Chiefs needed one more play in order to win. Williams running left is what finished the game and the play they needed to secure the win. Forty-niner quarterback Jimmy
Garoppolo also needed one play, be he was unable to execute. On a third-and-1, Garoppolo overthrew a double-covered Emmanuel Sanders by two yards even before he was out of his break. This play could have changed the game for the 49ers, and Jimmy G went 3-11 in the fourth. In addition to Garoppolo, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, ironically the play caller for the 2016 Super Bowl-losing Atlanta Falcons, tried to preserve the win for the 49ers. By ignoring general manager John Lynch’s signal for a time out and also snapping the ball with 15 seconds left on the play clock, Shanahan gave the Chiefs the opportunity to call a time out. Additionally, choosing to send out Robbie Gould to kick a 42-yard field goal instead of attempting a first down, Shanahan dropped the 49ers win expectancy by 5% and ultimately left the 49ers defeated. Who was really responsible for the defeat of the 49ers? Jimmy G or Shanahan?
Singer Justin Bieber started his Purpose Tour in 2017 but decided to cancel it halfway through due to personal problems. Photo courtesy of popsugar.com.
Monster jammin’ at NRG NICK HELD Staff Writer If your mother or father never took you to Monster Jam as a child, you seriously missed out. Monster Jam is a live show where tons of jacked-up trucks smash cars and do tricks on a dirt course. I would compare the monster trucks to WWE wrestlers. Each truck has a persona, like Monster Mutt, the dog-shaped car labeled the “canine of carnage” or El Toro Loco, the “raging bull who can the smell fear of its competitors.” Each monster truck has a custom build and driving style. But what’s the point, you ask. The main objective for each competitor is to get the most style points in different events, similar to the X-Games. The experience is exhilarating. I have never seen people go so crazy over trucks, but I immediately understood all the hype once flames shot out of Grave Digger’s exhaust. I would highly recommend this event to anybody that has $15 and doesn’t mind loud noises.
Chief’s player Patrick Mahomes leads the team to a victory in the Super Bowl with a wining touchdown in the fourth quarter. Photo creds wsj.com.
Houston Livestock Parade kicks off the start of this year’s Rodeo season CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
Monster Jam, a truck show, has been around since the 1980’ and brings in around 1,000 people. Photo by Nick Held.
New movie, Sonic, disappoints many CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer Having been delayed three months after backlash from fans across the world, the new movie Sonic has finally come out in theaters. After watching it, one can describe Sonic as a low tier kids movie that does good when using the videogame franchise. One of the good things that stood out in the movie was Jim Carrey’s acting. His crazy nature brought the character of Doctor Robotnik to life while embracing the movie’s childish yet fun humor. Along with Ben Schwartz, who voices Sonic the Hedgehog, both characters repeatedly use comedy and fun action sequences to make the movie enjoyable, but that doesn’t mean the movie was entirely good. With a movie derived on humor, some jokes and references can be a little annoying and even invoke an element of cringe, one of which would be the advertising
throughout the movie for the restaurant Olive Garden. Placed coincidently throughout the movie, the topic of Olive Gardens “never ending pasta bowl” come up randomly, breaking the already flimsy plot of the film. In the end, the film Sonic allows people of all ages to remember their childish past while using forced humor and nostalgia to produce a perfectly decent and acceptable video game movie.
Ben Schwartz plays Sonic in the upcoming movie. Photo courtesy of tvguide.com.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade took place on February 29. Dating back to 1938, this Houston tradition is an attempt to recreate the Old West and is the culmination of all the trail rides coming to town for the show. Floats and wagons accompany the 2,000 trail riders who literally ride into town on horseback. Marching bands, special guests, and local dignitaries such as Mayor Sylvester Turner, Senator John Cornyn, Senator Ted Cruz, and Congressman Dan Crenshaw have all participated in this iconic Houston tradition. An event of this size and complexity is
no easy task, and according to past Parade Chairman Scott Sullivan (who is also my dad), “The parade is a huge committee effort with over 550 people on board.” He adds that “the committee works in conjunction with the City of Houston, HPD, the Sheriffs’ Department, and many other entities to ensure the day is a success.” Volunteers from several committees work all year to prepare for this one day, and over 200,000 spectators from all over Houston congregate to watch this extraordinary event. The parade kicks off the Rodeo, and this year the HLSR will have raised over $500 million in scholarships and grants for the education of Texas youth. Not bad for a humble group of cowboys and cowgirls.
The Houston Rodeo Parade begins the start of the annual Rodeo. A few of this year’s performers include Chance the Rapper, Lizzo, and Willie Nelson, making the group of singers different than the Rodeo has ever seen. Photo courtezy of chron.com.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Knight Shift ∙ Page 9
Speaks Out What’s the best way to start the day?
WILL JONES Yoga
OLIVIA CHAPMAN Eating food
SEAN MACCONNELL More sleep
CATHERINE MACCONNELL Breakfast
A SCHOLASTIC TRAIL OF TEARS. Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
STEPHAN PENA Going into class with friends
SAM NEWLAND Coffee
WILSON GRANT Coffee from the cafe
LEXI SAGERS Jamming in the car
An EHS swimmer digs deep into the water during a recent meet. At Winter SPC, the girls team finished sixth and the boys finished ninth. Five school records were set in the process: Boys 400 Freestyle Relay 3:27.84; Estefania Lopez-Salas 100 Breaststroke 1:08.47; Jake Klucznik 100 Backstroke 55.80; Girls 200 Free Relay 1:46.63; and Sam Randall 50 Free 22.06 Photo by Maya Basra. MR. INSTAGRAM Taking photos
MRS. BOREN Saying, “Today’s going to be great”
(Celebrity Look-Alikes)
Sophomore Kathryn Bragg and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs star Sam Sparks share a striking resemblance. From their blonde hair to their bright green eyes, the resemblance is uncanny, despite the fact that Sam Sparks is a cartoon. Photos by Jazzmin Duncan and courtesy of reddit.com.
Remember Connect the Dots? (Of course you do)
Opinion ∙ Page 10
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Bipartisanship dies through the acts of a new administration NICK HELD Staff Writer Last month was undoubtedly one of the most exhausting in politics. If you are anything like me, you would rather hear a fork scrape along a plate than suffer another minute of the seemingly pointless impeachment trial. As the trial came to an end, America watched President Trump’s State of the Union, which couldn’t have been a more perfect ending to such a perfect month in politics – all started by a “perfect” phone call. The most notable part of the President’s speech would be Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House and at the forefront of the battle against the President, ripping up a copy of his speech on live television. Many people see this public display of disapproval as childish; others see it as a stand against the President’s tyranny. To understand why she thought it would be appropriate to rip up the speech on live television, one must examine the entire spectacle. The ceremony started with tensions dangerously high. Everything changed as Trump approached the podium and gave copies of his speech to Vice-President Pence and Pelosi. She extended her free hand for a handshake, and Trump blatantly ignored the gesture. This set the tone for
the rest of the night. Petty. As the President turned back to the podium, Pelosi laughed at the absurdity that the world just witnessed. Some people say it was an accident, but these are either blind or conservative. As the camera panned out to the room full of senators, viewers noticed an abundance of white outfits among the Democratic female senators. This was a coordinated movement meant to signify “unity and a commitment to defending the rights of women and disenfranchised groups” in America, according to Time magazine. When Pelosi approached the stand to introduce the President, she said, “Members of Congress, the President of the United States,” rather than “I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States,” an appropriate response to Trump’s pettiness. Fighting fire with fire. The speech itself was built around how much he had done for the economy and all the jobs he created. Obviously. It is the only thing he can brag about. I just think it is funny how his greatest accomplishment was taking credit for his predecessor’s work, but that is an entirely different argument. The speech sounded like it was written by a middle schooler who had just learned the words “most” and “best.”
(Google “who is best known for exaggeration.”) Both sides’ senators did, however, have something in common that night: they made the U.S. government look like a joke. The Republican senators cheered like high school students and even went as far as chanting “Four more years,” even though the impeachment trial was still in process,
Bipartisanship is dead. Photo from NBC News. which is almost textbook conspiracy. The Democratic senators also chanted, but most of the time they pouted and looked angry; rightfully so, but they could have just not shown up like some of their colleagues chose to do. Trump honored Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio host, with the Presiden-
tial Award of Freedom. This medal is the highest honor a civilian can receive, as the recipient exhibits “exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to the White House website. This is laughable and a disgrace to all the medal’s prior recipients. Limbaugh is openly racist, and it can be argued that he normalized low key racism among conservatives, a person who has no place in this day and age (maybe this is why you have not heard of him). Limbaugh quotes exemplify his personality: “Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it;” [To an African American female caller]: “Take that bone out of your nose and call me back;” he was horrible to the Obamas, calling them “Halfrican American” and playing songs such as “Barack the Magic Negro” on his radio show. Not to mention our President awarded a racist the Presidential Medal of Freedom when there was a Tuskegee airman in the crowd. So yes, I would argue that Speaker Pelosi ripping up President Trump’s speech stood as a reasonable protest against him. I mean, what is she going to do? She already tried to impeach him.
Why colleges should embrace Affirmative Action for applicants CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer As students from all over the United States begin their college admission process, they need to be aware of one key idea that has been around for the last 60 years, Affirmative Action. This idea has been the center of debates in the last century and has found itself in the middle of countless lawsuits, such as The University of California v. Bakke, and recently the case of Fisher v. University of Texas. The millions of high schoolers applying to colleges this year need to realize the benefits of Affirmative Action and how it can benefit the future of the workforce. To fully understand the argument for Affirmative Action, one must know the history of it. Created from an executive order by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the purpose of Affirmative Action, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.” Simplified, this idea acts to promote social and educational equality of people who have been historically oppressed in our country. In today’s world, Affirmative Action is commonly used when talking about college admissions and less about job occupation. Many of the arguments for Affirmative Action cite that students from low income areas have less access to a higher level of education than those who go to school in high income areas. This is absolutely true. Research from the U.S. Department of Education shows that only 21% of students whose families have a combined income of less than $25,000 a year are highly qualified for college. On the other hand, 56% of students from families who make above $75,000 a year were highly qualified for college. This gap is disastrous for students in low-income areas as it shows that they are unable to have access to better levels of education. And with 72% of African American and Latino children living in these areas, how are college admissions fair? Before moving on to how Affirmative Action helps people with less opportunity in the college admission process, we must
understand that not all parts of Affirmative Action are good or even legal. For example, the use of racial quotas. The idea for racial quotas is good in spirit, but in practice it is not beneficial for applicants of the entirety of the admission process. Racial quotas are set by colleges to make sure they have enough students from different minorities. For all schools, diversity is shown to produce many academic benefits, but reserving spots for ethnically diverse students is not what helps colleges at all. That is why in the case of Gratz v. Bollinger, racial quotas were seen as unconstitutional, but colleges should be allowed to use information on race to judge the quality of a student. And this is where Affirmative Action is truly tested. For a student, is it better to have grit or a high GPA?
they will choose who they think will perform better. With Affirmative Action, these ethnically diverse students who don’t have the same access to education as students from high income areas, who are predominantly white, will have the chance they deserve to be equal in the college admission process. It is the right for all people in the
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The argument for Affirmative Action creates a divide in the United States. Image courtesy of Miami Herald. When colleges look into their applicants, they see a wide variety of details from test scores to socioeconomic status. This is where the question arises. Who is better for the college: a student who had the money to use tutors and went to a top tier school with better access to education so that his overall test scores would be higher or the student who came from a low-income area with less access to education but was still able to maintain high grades due to perseverance? Will the college choose GPA or will it choose grit? In the end, it is the colleges’ decision, and
United States to be equal, so why should Affirmative Action, an action that strives to promote equality of all people, go away? That is why, in my opinion, Affirmative Action should continue to be used in the college admission process until there is equal access to education in the United States.
Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Julia Toups Amelia Traylor
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Junell Social Media Coordinator Olivia Hopwood Staff Writers Nick Held Chris Lahoti Sydney Coward Jazzmin Duncan Claire Frankfort Lucy Howley Tinley Kane Connor Smith Charlotte Sullivan Lara Verstovsek Lyndon Walsh Emma Claire White Leana Greene
Photographers Christina Amelio, Paris Bailey, Maya Basra, Sophia Black, Karma Elbadawy, Colby Gay, Annie Katz, Sydny Kelso, Sophie Martin, Christophe Merriuam, Nina Plemenos, Sarah Pulaski, Jami Rassy, Mimi Elizabeth Wilson, Skyler Witt 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.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Sports ∙ Page 11
Teams warming up for spring seasons BASEBALL SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer Looking forward to spring varsity baseball, Coach Matt Fox has promising expectations. With many returning players, the varsity team is looking experienced, and most of its pitching will be back on the mound with proven arms. Since last year was sophomore heavy, many leaders will rise this season. There are four returning seniors this season: Tanner Witt, Max Madison, Jason DeGeorge, and Ethan Tuckwood. Fox explained that the “overall ability of the team is really exciting,” and the boys are good at what they do by living out the culture every day. The “accountability of the program, especially varsity, is an asset and a foundation of everything we do,” states Fox, “which is fun for me to watch.”
BOYS LACROSSE LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer As the winter season comes to an end, the spring sports are starting their seasons strong, especially boys lacrosse. The Knights are going into the 2020 season excited and ready to compete against tough competitors. “Personally, I’m most excited about our returners on defense. Jack Carpenter, Cameron Thornton, and Keith Sill are going to hold it down. When you add in our sophomore Caldwell Graham and senior midfielder Fletcher Megarity to the
mix, we are really tough defensively and have a great man down unit,” says Coach Bradshaw. The main goal of the team this season is to go out and get better every time they step on the field, while playing smart and hard.
SOFTBALL
coaches have attended lacrosse conventions, upgraded game strategies with new technology, and even planned for a lacrosse tournament in Orlando, Florida, during Spring Break. The varsity will begin the season with upcoming games against St. Pius and Stratford and a play date at St. John’s.
TINLEY KANE Staff Writer Episcopal High School’s softball program is officially off to a start. This time around the team has managed to lose just two seniors, so the team has for the most part remained intact from last year. For this upcoming 2020 spring season, the girls are on a chase for an SPC title fourpeat. Defensively, the infield will have some new players willing to step up and take on different positions. The outfield will, for the most part, remain the same. Pitching should be an essential key as the team has multiple pitchers to rotate in and out, unlike many other teams in the SPC. On the offensive side of things, the team has all the tools for a lethal lineup.
GIRLS LACROSSE LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer Over the past few weeks, girls lacrosse has worked hard during preseason practices and workouts to ensure a strong start to the spring season. After a sixth place finish in SPC last year, the varsity team is looking forward to improving its ranking and showing off the hard work. In hopes of helping the team’s progress, the
The girls lacrosse team prepares for an aggressive 2020 season. Photo by Lucy Howley.
GOLF LEANA GREEN Staff Writer The 2019-2020 Episcopal varsity boys and girls golf teams are getting ready for their season and the challenging courses the tournaments have planned for the athletes. One of the many tough courses the teams will be playing is Wolfdancer, at Hyatt Lost Pines. The golfers play with extreme elevation changes, numerous blind shots, and many bunkers and hazards. With an SPC title win in mind, the girls’ team plans to watch out for St. John’s; they currently hold the SPC title and have players who have received multiple D1 offers. The boys have their eyes on Kinkaid due to their consistent players who score regularly in the 60’s.
TRACK LEANA GREEN Staff Writer With a strong start to the 2020 Episcopal track and field preseason, Head Coach Isaiah Coleman has high hopes for this year’s prospects. Having no issue with the number of participants who plan on coming out, the coaches look forward to seeing the new talent the newcomers have to bring to Spring SPC competitions. The consistently intense practices have left most of the athletes with morning soreness, but many would not stop and continue to push for the SPC title. The plan is to train the student-athletes to where they compete with strength, not only physically but mentally, while facing the pressures of SPC.
TENNIS CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer After a solid appearance last year, Episcopal High School’s tennis team plans to carry the momentum into the coming 2020 season. Tryouts for both JV and varsity teams were held on February 17th-19th, and the new varsity team played its first matches in the annual Episcopal Tennis Invitational at the Downtown Club at the Met on the 21st. Head Coach Keith Christman leads the Knights in practices dedicated to refining fundamental skills and developing players’ match experience. As the season progresses, he hopes to encourage camaraderie and instill a full-effort mentality among the team members.
Merrell Middleton 12000 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77079 281-368-1482 mmiddleton@westsidelexus.com Call Coach Middleton today for EHS preferred pricing!
Sports∙ Page 12
Sports Brief
The Knight Times ∙ February 2020
Wrestling strives for many victories during SPC TINLEY KANE Staff Writer
The EHS Knights wrestling team totaled 190 points and a third consecutive runner-
James Ogunrin finished first in the 210 weight group. Photo by Claude Cody.
Jake Berlin finished first in the 106 weight group. Photo by Claude Cody.
SWIMMING LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Going into the SPC tournament this winter season, the Episcopal swim teams’ main strategy was focusing on each athlete trying to outperform their in-season results. All of the swim teams’ relays stood a good chance of toppling school records and all swimmers had their sights set on taking those down. Specifically, Estefania Lopez-Salas, Sam Randall, and Jake Klucznik were all looking at specific times on the board. While the Knights had seen many of their South Zone competitor schools this season, they had not faced anyone from the North. Therefore, EHS looked toward the tough competition and looked forward to some challenging races during the exciting weekend. When asked what he was most excited for when going into SPC, Head Coach Evan Chastain said, “Swimmers and divers worked incredibly hard. They were up early and finished late in the water in all weather. I was excited to see their hard work and dedication pay off. It was a long season with one day, one meet, one swim, as the final result.”
BOYS SOCCER TINLEY KANE Staff Writer The chase for a five-peat fell short for the boys soccer team at the SPC Championships with tough losses during the playoffs to Kinkaid and John Cooper. Ironically, the team’s only losses throughout the season were to these two SPC schools as the Knights finished with an overall record of 5-2. Their first game in Dallas was against St. Mark’s, who also had a record of 5-2. The Knights were never really able to get things going in what would be a 3-1 loss to the Lions. Their final game would be against their in-season loss, John Cooper, for fifth place. Playing for vengeance, the Knights knew they couldn’t let the Dragons beat them twice and came out on top 3-0. Junior Hamilton Estrada said, “We’re gonna be more prepared for next year. We’re going to win it back. You can count on that.”
GIRLS SOCCER BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer Despite the outcome, the girls soccer team had a fun weekend at the Winter SPC tournament. They played two games which were both hosted by Hockaday. Through two hard fought losses, the team learned a great deal and cannot wait to see how they can better themselves to win it all next year. The Knights went into the tournament as the South Zone’s second seed, which gave them a bye in the first round heading in to the weekend. On Friday morning against Greenhill and after a hard-fought game, the girls fell 1-0. The following day they were matched against Kinkaid for 5th place. After another intense game, they fell short and lost 1-0, resulting in sixth overall finish in SPC. Although they came up short, both of these games were some of the most put together and well played games of the season. The team is saddened with the loss of five seniors but can’t wait to see what’s in store next year.
up at this year’s Winter SPC tournament hosted in Dallas, February 15. Unlike other winter sports, wrestling competed for just one day. The team fell just short of the St. John’s Mavericks, who completed a state championship and a sixth consecutive SPC title with a total score of 242 points. Eleven Knights finished in the top three and earned All-SPC accolades. SPC champions in their weight classes were senior James Ogunrin in the 220-weight class and freshman Jake Berlin in the 106-weight class. Second place winners were Lane McCool, Ben Sanders, Lane Robinson, Quon Marion, Paul McGarry, Christian Husted, and Beau Edwards. Third place finishers were Greg Ross and Will Adkins. The Knights ultimately sent nine wrestlers to the championship round. Winter SPC is not the end for some of the grapplers as five Knights qualified to compete February 20-22 at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania following their performance in the 2020 Texas National Prep Qualifier hosted by St. Thomas Catholic High School.
Girls varsity basketball finish in third place SPC EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer Episcopal High School’s girls varsity basketball finished third this past weekend in the Southwest Preparatory Conference Tournament. Led by co-captains Gwen Rippeto and Kalyn Watson, the team had an incredible season with a 23-6 record. This year the team set high expectations for next year as they beat the Kinkaid Falcons for the first time in twelve years as well as winning the Houston Christian Tournament for the first time in Knight history. While girls’ basketball did not place in SPC as expected, the third place finish is respectable and a portent of things to come in the improving program. Gwen Rippeto says that she “is so proud of our team. Not only did we have an incredible and record breaking season, but we grew closer together and became one of the strongest (if not the strongest) and most skilled teams in Southwest Preparatory Conference. Although I wish it ended with a gold trophy to bring back to Episcopal, it was a season I will never forget. I know that we all can’t wait to come back together next year and fight for the trophy we all believe that we deserved.”
Senior Trinity Watts receives the ball and works diligently to keep it away from other defenders. Photo by Maya Basra.
Boys basketball works together during tough weekend JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer SPC weekend is typically a stressful time of the year, regardless of which season EHS teams find themselves competing. Players and coaches get excited and anxious to compete, joined by students, teachers, and families who root for their respective Knights and are kept on their toes by team contests and results. This remained true for this year’s boys basketball squad in search of an SPC title. The hunt for the title concluded in Dallas over three days from Thursday, February 13 to Saturday, February 16, where the Knights entered the tournament as the number two seed in the South. The Knights began their quest with a game against Dallas Greenhill after a firstround bye, beating the Greenies convincingly 60-42. Unfortunately, the Knights title hunt came to an abrupt end when they fell to the St. Mark’s School of Texas 5647. St. Mark’s went on to win the entire bracket after beating Houston Christian in the finals 85-57. Overall, the Knights placed third in the SPC after a solid win
over St. Stephen’s Episcopal 60-42 to end their season. After a good season filled with improvement from the players but wrought with injuries, the team is disappointed yet
proud of what they accomplished. The players are eager to return, dominate the rest of the conference, and retrieve their title as champions next year during their winter season.
Boys varsity basketball works together to defend the goal during the home game against St. John’s. Photo by Jami Rassy.