News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
April 2020
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Coronavirus puts stress on mental state in isolation
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 34, Issue 9
The E-Learning Experience
EHS initiates online instruction to help flatten the COVID-19 curve
NICK HELD Staff Writer As more and more time passes, the term stir crazy is starting to hit a little too close to home as people begin to show signs of agitation due to prolonged restriction, but going stir crazy is a legitimate ailment. The term was originally used as slang for going insane in prison - more specifically, solitary confinement. According to Farlex, an online dictionary, to go stir crazy is to become acutely anxious, restless, irritable, irrational, and/or depressed from remaining for too long in an unstimulating, confined, and/or isolated environment. These symptoms are due to the way every human’s brain is wired. Humans normally tend to have paranoid thoughts, but we usually have the ability to “reality test” something so see if the paranoia is valid or not. So, when that ability is no longer available, these paranoid thoughts have no way to get out of the brain, so they build and grow. The U.S. National Library of Medicine tested the importance of social interaction in a 2015 experiment. They found that humans literally cannot lead a healthy life without social interaction. Business Insider said that people with weaker social relationships are 50% more likely to die over a given period of time compared to people with strong social relationships, making toxic loneliness comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The Social Baseline Theory suggests that over time, humans have evolved to expect access to social interaction and will react negatively when access is removed. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, says, “In evolutionary terms, when humans were around other people, they could outsource a lot of mental energy to the group, and they didn’t have to be as vigilant against external threats,” so when people are alone, they feel they are in physical danger. But these “periods of quiet contemplation and mind-wandering can facilitate learning, meaning-making, and other critical cognitive processes” says Dr. Terry Kupers, a faculty member at the Wright Institute.
INSIDE
Restaurants Tiny Boxwoods, Carrabas, and other restaurants support social distancing
PAGE 4 Sports
Local sports lead the way in donations to support those in need during these hard times
PAGE 8
Features ........................ 2-3 Culture.......................... 4 Entertainment .............. 5 Knight Shift ................. 6 Opinion ......................... 7 Sports ........................... 8
Clockwise, top left, Chorale sings a virtual choir piece for Chapel. A triptych titled “Dad.” Mrs. Willcutts shares her work space for her art classes. Students from Ms. Cunningham’s Mixed Media classes start her embroidery unit. Photos courtesy of Mr. Ashby, Courtney Davis, Mrs. Willcutts, and Ms. Cunningham. LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer
With Episcopal’s e-learning preparations, the EHS community has the upper hand in this new form of education. Although the situation is not ideal, the community has overcome many of the challenges that has come its way and continues to thrive. Learn more about E-Learning on Page 2
Episcopal remains online for the rest of the year CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer During these confusing times, many EHS families and students may wonder what the remaining year of school will offer. With classes and school events completely online, what does the near future hold for Episcopal? To start, school is canceled. Since Spring Break, Episcopal has decided to remain in an online environment, and the remainder of the year will continue to be online. This comes after Governor Greg Abbot announced statewide public and private school closures on April 17, saying, “The team of doctors advising us has determined it would be unsafe to allow students to gather at schools for the foreseeable future.” This closure means that all events that would have occurred on campus have moved to the online world. Some of these events occurred during the scheduled Chapel time throughout the weeks. Arts Chapel took place on April 22 during the regular morning Chapel video, and Awards Chapel will have a similar event. Also, senior recognition events will be held as well. Many of these changes have not only affected events but systems of grading and even AP testing. Grading for the fourth
quarter now has a “no harm” policy, meaning that student grades cannot drop below the third quarter grades. However, Principal Mr. Kim Randolph notes that students must continue to arrive at classes and turn in assignments or they could receive a grade reduction. Finals have also been canceled, but teachers are allowed to assign major projects or essays in their place. AP testing has also changed, as most tests will be administered online on a chosen day. These changes are meant to help students
throughout this pandemic and new online school. With all of these modifications, The Knight Times remains uncertain about a few major end-of-the-year events and encourages the community to check the school website periodically for updates. As of this article submission, there are no plans for graduation, yearbook distribution, or Leaving Tree. In the future, these events may join the ranks of the many new online experiences for the Episcopal community.
The normally vibrant EHS campus stands closed for the remainder of the spring semester. Still image courtesy of Mr. Scott Cunningham.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Episcopal welcomes new STUCO officers Registration held President, Quon Marion came out as the victor. Helping him next year as Student Body Vice President is Ben Wasden. Student Body Secretary is Craig Choi, and Student Body Parliamentarian is Bailey Junell. These officers serve on the Student Council Executive Board and will rotate on the Honor and Discipline Councils. Next, the Class President elections for each grade transpired on April 2. Similar to the Student Body elections, each candidate submitted an application with a resume and a video, emailed to members of his and her grade. Each grade level then
BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief This year, the Student Council elections for the 2020-2021 school year shifted to a virtual platform. The candidates for both Student Body and Class positions submitted their application, resume, and a video of their speech. A few days later, each candidate’s information was sent out to the school along with a survey for voting. The Student Body elections took place on March 27 and results were announced the following day. For Student Body
voted for the person who they felt was the best fit to lead them as their class president. The results were announced the next day and the results were as follows:
virtually for the 2020-2021 term
9th Grade: President: Chandler Hollis; Co-VPs: Lydia Berckley and Hutch Coward
OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer
10th Grade: President: Beau Edwards; CoVPs: Cory Kardesch and Rawley Lueck 11th Grade: President: Gwen Rippeto; CoVPs: Cori McBean and Keith Sill
2020-2021 Student Body Representatives
Quon Marion ‘21 President
Ben Wasden ‘21 Vice President
Bailey Junell ‘21 Parliamentarian
Craig Choi ‘22 Secretary
Class Presidents
Gwen Rippeto Senior Class
Beau Edwards Junior Class
Class registration is often an exciting time for students as they look ahead to the next school year, but the 2020-2021 registration was a little different than usual. Registration and its guidelines were presented as usual to the EHS community. Placements were sent out to parents and students in an email before the process began. Following this, advisors received a sheet with placements for each of their advisees. While typically a physical copy of the registration is handed to the advisors, due to remote learning, they received an editable PDF replacing the traditional paper version. Registrar Mr. Tom Wright said that he “tried to keep the process as much like normal as possible.” Whereas the regular process required an in-person meeting, advisors and advisees met via Microsoft Teams, and parents had the option to join that meeting. After all of the meetings were completed, advisors gathered the forms and submitted them to Mr. Wright. Once the new freshman class completes registration in May, the schedule committee will begin preparing individual student schedules as school come to its end.
Chandler Hollis Sophomore Class Photos by Alan Ross Photography.
Image by Connor Smith.
Microsoft Teams: The impact These recipes are sure to distract from lengthy time in quarantine of e-learning on Episcopal LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Since the massive change which took place over a month ago, the EHS community has come together to participate in virtual learning. Episcopal had prepared well in advance, with teachers and students working together before the school’s cancellation to workout and fix possible problems that might occur. Nevertheless, issues inevitably popped up during the first few days of this transition, according to multiple departments. In the English Department, Ms. Emily Barron said, “One of the struggles I had when first implementing virtual learning was figuring out the ‘new normal.’ It took a few days to figure out what worked well, kept the kids engaged, and maintained our class culture.” In the Theater Department, which is very much a hands-on activity, Mr. George Brock found that it was difficult to get that “in the room live” experience while working on a laptop screen because it is meant to be performed live in a space with people watching. Although some problems did surface during the first week, classes are moving steadily with the collaboration of the teachers and the students. In the Science Department, Mr. John Flanagan polls his students to find out how it is going, and they said that it is actually working very well. He is also calling on every student practically every class to help answer
questions, fill in calculations, and have class discussions about how to approach problems.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org. In addition, in the History Department, Mrs. Alice Davidson’s classes are going great as they work on bibliographies and notecards in Noodletools and doing some research on the library databases. The library’s Ms. Jennifer Succi has also been in classes several days helping the students along with Mrs. Davidson. “It’s just like going to the library!” says Mrs. Davidson. Despite the intense change which has affected all students, faculty, and teachers, the EHS community continues to come together, work hard, and head down the right pathways despite the small bumps in the road.
EMMA CLAIRE-WHITE Staff Writer While COVID19 might keep you from going out to your favorite dessert shops, it doesn’t keep you from baking in the kitchen. I have some great ideas for you, especially if you are tired of baking brownies and cookies, so keep reading. There is no need to buy the store-bought goodies when you can make strawberry shortcake completely from scratch. This recipe makes tall, fluffy sweet biscuits, especially when you layer them with juicy strawberries and fresh whipped cream. All you need are strawberries (stemmed and quartered), 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons sugar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream. The recipe is a quick twenty minutes and makes the day fly by.
However, if you want an easy no-bake recipe, peanut butter bars are a treat. These peanut butter bars are thick and rich in chocolate. Made from only five simple ingredients, these are a delicious treat anytime of the year and no oven is required! This recipe is perfect for those who like a little bit less sweet and tastier dessert. You’ll need graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk. If you’re a chocolate lover, fudge is everyone’s favorite and has a fast prep time. For this recipe, you will need 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk. You will also need a couple tablespoons of butter and a half a cup of chopped walnuts, but you can switch them out for pecans or leave them out completely. And of course, 3 cups of chocolate chips. While most recipes call for semi-sweet chocolate chips, feel free to swap them for white chocolate chips or even dark chocolate.
Strawberry shortcake is a simple yet deliciously rewarding recipe to attempt during quarantine. Photo courtesy of Driscolls.com.
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Features ∙ Page 3
Pandemic affects college application Mrs. Secrest offers students timely The College Counseling office recomLYNDON WALSH advice on ways to alleviate stress mends that you spend this time “to help Staff Writer Within these unorthodox times, many students, especially juniors, are worrying about changes to the college application process, so here’s what we know and what students can do to ease the anxiety of the process. First, it’s important to keep in mind that colleges are figuring out how to handle this situation just as Episcopal is, so there are still developments coming. To help students who were hoping to tour colleges during Spring Break, many institutions organized virtual tours online that could be a good use of students’ free time during quarantine. For standardized tests, students should find comfort in the fact that summer is not too late to take them; in fact, college counseling says it is common for students to continue testing into the first semester of senior year. Some colleges are switching to become test score optional (the submission of standardized test scores is optional for application review), in which case greater emphasis is placed on academic performance in the classroom, and lenient with subject tests; it is recommended to reach out to your college counselor for questions about specific colleges as well as a good testing schedule for you. Many students also find themselves wondering how colleges will view grades from the period. The answer from college counseling is “With grace!” The whole world is undergoing massive changes and universities understand this. The colleges are not going to ignore this year’s grades, but they will understand the difficulties everyone is facing. With that being said, don’t stress over extracurricular activities.
those in need in your community” as well as keep yourself healthy and safe. Juniors, here are some things you can do to help with the college admissions process. Go to the website of universities and colleges you are interested in and sign up for newsletters for every school on your list. This will put your email in the school’s database and show demonstrated interest. Try and look at the emails that you receive because many of the universities are sending out valuable information and opportunities. Also start thinking about which of your teachers you would like to write your college recommendation because the time to ask will be coming up soon. Finally, reach out to the college counselors. They are a resource that is available and ready to help students plan their next journey in life. Class of 2021: Do you have questions concerning how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the college search and application process? What if you can’t take an SAT or ACT? How will college and universities review your grades from your eLearning experience? Will it be easier or more difficult to get into the college? Watch the Q & A video chat with Director of College Counseling Mrs. Julie Rollins and Rick Bischoff, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Case Western Reserve University to hear directly from his expertise on these very important questions. Follow the link below:
https://cwru.zoom.us/rec/play/usAsf-2hqzI 3EtWXtgSDU_8sW43veK6s0SZN-fZbnh 3kUCFVOwGhM-QbMeKLfAtm8PUOpc huaMtfuG6u?startTime=1585940570000
LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer Mrs. Mary Secrest, Choices Counselor at Episcopal, shares her professional advice on the best ways to get through this difficult time. How can students reach out to you and Revered Holden? “With Ms. Secrest: you can email me at msecrest@ehshouston.org or there is a link on the EHS Choices webpage that will take you to a sign-up to schedule an appointment. With Rev. Holden: I would suggest reaching out via email at bholden@ehshouston.org.” What do you recommend students do at home to alleviate any struggles with the following: Stress? “Create structure, i.e. create a daily schedule, create a workspace, go to sleep and wake up roughly around the same time each day. Make a daily goal and work towards accomplishing that goal. Limit time on social media/news coverage related to COVID-19. Stay in contact with teachers or grade level dean if you need help with academics” Self-isolation? “Find ways to take care of yourself, i.e. getting enough sleep, maintain personal hygiene, exercise, take regular breaks, drink plenty of water. Practice daily gratitude (write down 3 things you are grateful for each day). Practice mindfulness (one mindfulness activity using the 5-senses: 5
things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste). Practice selfvalidation (recognize emotion you are experiencing, validate that emotion, give yourself space to feel it).” Social distancing from friends? “Find ways to connect with others, i.e. schedule group video chats with friends, connect via social media and check in via text. Schedule virtual lunch, coffee, dinner dates. Schedule a time to check in with a trusted friend each day.” What are your biggest tips for students during this confusing time? “Please remember that all aspects of yourself are important, meaning physical, emotional, and mental health and the EHS community is here to help support you during this confusing time! Reaching out for help when needed is absolutely normal and you do not have to do this on your own.”
Image courtesy of indoindians.com.
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Culture ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Puzzle: A small number of cards has been lost from a complete pack. If I deal among four people, three cards remain. If I deal among three people, two remain and if I deal among five people, two cards remain. How many cards are there?
CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer Por lo general, durante los meses de primavera en España, hay mucho que hacer tanto para los nativos como para los turistas. Por el buen clima, España está llena de vida y es visitada por muchos viajeros en todo el mundo. La ciudad de Sevilla acoge un festival anual que se llama Semana Santa. Semana Santa incluye hermosas carrozas y procesiones. Todo para llegar al día crucial del domingo de Pascua, donde tanto turistas como nativos pueden celebrar misma en la Catedral, en el corazón de la ciudad. Generalmente en Madrid, hay un festival de música que
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President: Craig Choi Internal Vice President: Chris Lahoti, Catherine MacConnell External Vice President: Christophe Merriam, Sean MacConnell, Paige Naughton Secretary: Kathryn Bragg, Ava Gami, Nolan Kelley Social Media Coordinator: Zack Donovan, Hannah Wheless
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Hey, Knights, it’s your Math Club Secretary Craig Choi. The Math Club officers were disappointed that we were unable to have our monthly Math Club meeting in April, but we hope that everyone is safe, healthy, and hopefully doing lots of math. Although in-person math club meetings have been paused, the officers have not let this completely disrupt our plans for the rest of the year. We still held our annual Math Club elections April 16th - 17th. Elections this year were an interesting process since they were held completely virtually. Candidates listed below submitted video speeches posted in Microsoft Teams and voting took place using Survey Monkey. The Math Club officers were very excited to see the number of candidates who ran for positions this year. The results of our Math Club Officer elections will be announced in the next issue of The Knight Times. In the meantime, congratulate the incoming officers of Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society): President – Gloria Ni, VP – Ben Wasden, and Treasurer – Jake Siegel. Stay safe and math on!
Co
2020-2021 Math Club Officer Candidates:
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CRAIG CHOI Guest Writer
i an Sp ur Yo
Slice of π
se llama festival de música Festimad. Cuenta con conciertos nocturnos de pop, rock, hip-hop, y rap. En Barcelona, un evento en particular es el festival de Santa Jordi en 23 de abril. En este día, las personas compran libros para las personas que les importan en para mostrar un signo de su agradecimiento. Finalmente, en Córdoba después de la semana santa, hay una gran prueba de vinos que muestra algunos de los mejores vinos en España y es el mejor momento para mostrar la inmensa belleza de España durante la primavera. Durante la semana santa, las carrozas están decoradas con figuras de Jesucristo y su santa cruz También las flores ayudan a agregar bellez a la procesión general. Foto cortesía de across-spain.es.
Photo courtesy of picjumbo.com.
Staying in style with the hottest of the upcoming 2020 summer trends
EHS family-owned restaurants take on the current pandemic in Houston CHARLOTTE SULLIVAN Staff Writer
Neon brights are all over the runway and working their way into everyone’s wardrobes. Photo courtesy of harpersbazaar.com. LUCY HOWLEY Staff Writer If you are looking to spice up your closet for the upcoming summer season, I researched the new women’s clothing trends from fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle so you don’t have to. Hopefully, we are allowed out of our homes soon so these trendy clothes can join you. I compiled a list of reoccurring themes from these articles, so here are my results. The most common trend in the articles was definitely whiteout. From all white suits to all white trench coats, the runways were full of white, chic, puttogether ensembles. In contrast to the whiteout theme, one popular trend was highly patterned and colorful clothing.
NY fashion week showed off summer colors. Photo courtesy of 813area.com.
The models were mostly covered in neon hues, tangerine, and “happy” blues in an array of psychedelic designs. The models were also wearing a great deal of colorful and metallic leather. Another prevalent trend was “hot pants,” which are short shorts with an angled opening for the legs instead of a straight cut-off. The shorts were pictured in denim, cargo, and cotton. Finally, the clothing trends ended with corsets and waist coats, my least favorite. Last, moving to accessories, the upcoming trends seemed to be weird hats, rope belts/ drawstring pants and shorts, and over-the-top bags, such as clutches, big basket bags, or crossbody bags.
For men, whiteout suits are the trend. Photo courtesy of pinterest.com.
EHS family-owned restaurants are finding creative ways to adjust to the way they have to do business in light of the Covid-19 shutdown. Many have expanded their pick-up and delivery options, a task which Houston restaurateur and EHS father Johnny Carrabba says works best when procedures are already in place. “We have embraced the learning process,” he adds. “Even though I’ve been in business a long time, I’ve had Carrabba’s for 33 years, I’m learning a lot through this process. You learn more in the hard times than you do in the good times.” Likewise, Gregg Thompson, owner of Tiny Boxwood’s and Tiny’s No 5 and father of senior Katherine Thompson, states that their “takeout and delivery business has moved from the smallest part of our business to the largest part of our business“ and has kept workers on the job. He praises his employees, saying that “they’ve all found their inner-entrepre-
neur,” coming up with creative ways to save money and generate revenue, while maintaining safety. He adds that “many great ideas and positive adjustments” will come out of this quarantine. Loyal customers have been a huge benefit, according to Mr. Carrabba. “I always love to show gratitude. A lot of times we forget to be thankful. The community has always been so good to us, and I hope we’ve been good back through the years.“ Customers have been generous with tips, including one who bought a gallon of iced tea from Mia’s and left a $200 tip. Scott Sullivan, owner of El Patio Restaurant, echoes that sentiment. “The support from our customers has been incredible and has allowed us to keep our employees working and bringing home money to their families.” Mr. Carrabba sums it up, saying, “I want to thank everybody for their continued support through many years, and their support through hard times. It’s times like these when the people of Houston shine.”
Tiny Boxwoods has adapted to the pandemic by setting up a to go cart where you can drive up and purchase various foods to go. Photo by Charlotte Sullivan.
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Features∙ Page 5
News and talk shows find creative ways to air Music adapts to CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer With the circumstances surrounding the coroavirusirus, news anchors, tonight show hosts, and radiocasters are all scrambling to find a way to keep their shows going without being at risk of catching the virus. Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show is filming his late-night talk show from the comfort of his own home, telling jokes and keeping the nation’s spirits up during this time. His first at-home show consisted of Fallon singing a (not so far from reality) Corona Prom song about how high school seniors will be spending their prom nights with their families rather than with their close friends. The name of his home show is “Tonight Show: Home Edition,” and you can watch
consumer change
a nine-minute video clip via YouTube. Along with Fallon, other stars like Steven Colbert and Conan O’Brien are taking their shows online until everybody is cleared to go back out. As for news anchors, many of them are staying home to prevent the spread as well. Al Roker, weatherman for the Today Show, has been self-quarantining in his home but still finds a way to deliver weather reports. Roker gives the forecast from his house and has a setup of cameras and lights to give his news in real time. Throughout all of the bustle of this virus, what people have needed most are updates and ways to stay in contact with the rest of the world. As a result of the methods the media and entertainers have found to reach us, Americans have been getting the news they need to hear without risking people’s lives.
Talk show host Jimmy Fallon has found new ways to film during the pandemic, along with other talk show and news hosts. Photo courtesy of today.com.
business has already rebounded much more quickly than the rest. The video game industry continues to see millions of hardware purchases and game downloads as more people partake in social distancing. Valve Corporation, creator of the gaming platform Steam, saw a record of over 20 million active members on March 15. Corporations such as Nintendo, Capcom, Bethesda, Sony, and Microsoft have displayed increased profit gains, as new releases of highly-anticipated games such as “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” “DOOM Eternal,” “Half Life: Alyx,” and “Resident Evil 3,” coupled with the available microtransactions found in existing titles, have drawn particular interest from the rapidly expanding number of players. Stock prices for gaming corporations have already returned to
pre-coronavirus figures, and even more growth is expected throughout the rest of the year. The progress doesn’t come without drawbacks, however. Working restrictions have forced the delay of the production and distribution of hardware components and physical game copies. Major gaming conventions such as PAX, GDC, and TwitchCon, where corporations usually promote new game releases or hardware, have canceled out of caution, and competitive gaming, otherwise known as Esports, has likewise witnessed the closure of a number of major tournaments and matches. Between the recent game releases and millions of new players, the video game industry looks to be one of the few that could benefit from this pandemic.
LEANA GREENE Staff Writer
Videogame companies are rushing to supply their demand during outbreak CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer Economies around the world are still struggling to regain balance throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Stocks suffered critical hits during the early moments of the virus panic, with the S&P 500 dropping by 5.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 6.3%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 4.7%. Small businesses continue to lose revenue, as both quarantines and social distancing create slow business, and families all around the world are prepared to tighten their financial belts should the pandemic worsen. Although relief programs and government intervention are contributing to the gradual revival of the stock market, one
Knights polled on shows to binge while stuck at home SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer At the end of March, The Knight Times conducted a survey and asked students which streaming service was their favorite for binging and their favorite shows on each service. Netflix was the most popular network to binge on and Hulu finished in second. As some might guess, Netflix’s Tiger King was its most popular product. Seven episodes at 45 minutes each tell the story of Joe Exotic, an Oklahoma tiger breeder, and the enemies he managed to make in this interesting world. The Office followed in second with its story of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. If you are looking for something comical to watch, Brooklyn Nine-Nine was certainly the best choice on Hulu. This comedy series, consisting of seven seasons, is a good option in the wee-hours of the morning when watching television. Newly released Disney + has all the Disney shows every created and many movies. The Mandalorian is a continuation of the Star Wars world and great to watch when reminiscing about the finished movie series. This was by far the most popular show among EHS students and brings in the most revenue for Disney +. Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan follows the fast-paced life of a CIA analyst across Europe and the Middle East who saves America and her allies from terrorist attacks. Episodes are long and need watched without interruption to grasp the full plot. Although few students use HBO, Game of Thrones proved to be the most popular indulgence.
STREAMING SERVICE Amazon
Disney
Suite Life on Deck
HBO Hulu
DISNEY
Netflix
The Mandalorian
High School Musical
Hannah Montana
NETFLIX
AMAZON
Grey’s Parks Anatomy and Rec Gossip Girl
Burn Notice
All American
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jack Ryan
The Office
Tiger King
HULU South Park Brooklyn 99
Modern Love
HBO Big Little Lies Vice
The Bachelor
Rick and Morty
GOT How I Met Your Mother
Euphoria
April of 2020 has put a spotlight on virtual entertainment, encouraging the world to stay at home. Top social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer multiple sources for viewers to watch their favorite artists and actors. Twitch Stream Aid 2020 united the world in its cause for COVID-19, a Solidarity Response Fund for The World Health Organization sponsored by Amazon Music, Verizon, and other corporations, along with big time artists such as John Legend, One Republic, and more. Celebrity Miley Cyrus has put together a daily talk show, “Bright Minded: Live,” airing every Monday through Friday, with Diplo, Anitta, and many others. She gives mini performances of her musical talent while also attempting to “stay lit throughout [the] dark times” (Decider). Made possible through Instagram Live, followers receive a notification when someone goes on the virtual stage. Migos streamed Hip-Hop rapper Quavo’s twenty-ninth birthday on Thursday, April 2. On this stream, Migos performed their classics along with unreleased music, a welcome surprise to all fans. Pop artists Camilla Cabello and Bebe Rexha have been featured on iHeartRadio’s Instagram Live, whose goal is to keep the energy and hearts positive. Using YouTube as their broadcasting platform is the Royal Opera House, giving opportunities for many to view performances of their most classic productions, such as “The Caterpillar” from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and “The Dance of the Knights” from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet.
Counterculture investigated in On the Road SYDNEY COWARD Staff Writer On the Road by Jack Kerouac captures the post-war Beat Generation and counterculture perfectly within 300 pages. Kerouac met many Beat Generation influencers like Allen Ginsberg and Carolyn Cassady that inspired his novel. Originally written in notebooks during the course of his journey, Kerouac typed out his story on a reel of paper for three weeks. The story follows protagonists Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty as they road trip across America. Divided into five parts, On the Road takes place in the years defined by the rise of jazz, 1947-1950. The narrator, Sal, is Jack’s doppelganger and his free-spirited friend Dean takes the role of Cassady. Both traverse across America meeting different people along the way who had defining qualities of the beat culture. Sal’s recordings of his journey illuminate the thriving society in a way that no other literature has yet to accomplish. The rise of music, specifically jazz, added a nuance to Kerouac’s novel. Described in many scenes, jazz was often featured when Sal and Dean went to clubs to hear a British jazz pianist. Many musicians were influenced by this novel, including Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. On the Road holds less of a cultural importance today but is still a must-read because it brings the reader into the Beat Generation for a more in-depth understanding of the lifestyle.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Speaks Out
What are you most looking forward to once the quarantine is over?
ALYSSA WALL “Friends, traveling, Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee”
CHANDLER HOLLIS “I am so excited to make contact with other people”
Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
MARGRETHE JENSEN “Seeing my friends and going out to eat”
CORY KARDESCH “Hanging out with the boys at Genghis Grill”
CORI McBEAN
KEITH SILL “I am just really looking forward to seeing my friends again”
“I am looking forward to dining in at a restaurant with all of my friends”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
The Senior Class of 2020 worked on team bonding while participating in a high ropes course during Senior Retreat. Photo by Julia Toups.
(Celebrity Look-Alikes) ELAINA MANALAC “I am hoping to graduate this year”
SRA. ALCALA “Lunch al fresco at Tiny’s, shopping, attend church, and see my students”
FLETCHER MEGARITY “Being with my friends in person”
MR. JONES “Going to the barbershop and getting a professional haircut”
The facial similarities between junior Chloe Butler and Maleficent celebrity actress Elle Fanning are astonishing. Photos courtesy of Alan Ross Photography and justjared.com
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Opinion ∙ Page 7
Bernie drops out, but how does that affect Trump? NICK HELD Staff Writer It can be difficult to think about politics during a time when our country is in complete disarray, but one of the only things COVID-19 can’t postpone or cancel is the Presidential election this November. COVID-19 has shown how important competent government is and how the results of elections matter. The race between Bernie Sanders, an independent Vermont Senator, and Joe Biden, Obama’s Vice President, for the Democratic nomination, has come to an end with Biden emerging victorious. Biden’s victory leaves the Democratic Party split between the younger progressive voters and older moderate voters. Sanders’ campaign lost for a myriad of reasons, but it all comes down to electability, and voters felt Bernie was too progressive. His campaign represented a complete rework of our country’s politics. He pioneered many movements such as raising the minimum wage and multiple environmental initiatives such as the Green New Deal and started a dialogue for some sort of Medicare for All; on top of that, he has been hailed an “historic social justice pioneer.” Many simply know him as “the socialist candidate,” and that is what ultimately killed his campaign. His progressivism was so strong that it scared the Democratic National Convention and the media, giving him the crutch he needed to actually continue his campaign because everyone knew his steam was running out. His uphill battle to be President created a cult-like following; another thing that made his campaign unappealing for anyone that was the least
bit moderate. So, now that Sanders has dropped out and endorsed Biden, it should be a straight shot to getting Trump out of office, right? I know that it should be because Democrats and Bernie supporters alike desperately want Trump out of office, but you underestimate how strongly Bernie supporters despise Biden. The fact is that if Biden can’t figure out a way to sway the progressive vote, the Democrats are going to lose for the same reason they did in the 2016 election. The media constantly bashed Sanders’ campaign and supporters, calling their ideas radical and manipulating their audience into thinking that his movement was fueled by a bunch of PC babies and communists. This, consequentially, further radicalizes groups because when a big news source targets a group of voters, that group of voters is going to double down on their beliefs to fight back against the news sources. So now we are left with a pretty sizable yet passionate and involved voting bloc that has been targeted by their own party for months, and now that party is asking for their vote. It was unbelievably stupid for the DNC, other campaigns, and the media to alienate their only hope of winning the 2020 election. There is good news, however. It looks like the Biden campaign is willing to work with Sanders and his supporters to make Biden’s agenda more progressive. When Bernie suspended his campaign, his various youth support groups, such as NextGen America and Student Action, came together to collect his previously laid out policies, including wealth taxes, climate change initiatives, and healthcare reform.
I genuinely believe that Biden will listen to the progressives and enact their policies because the fact is - Joe Biden isn’t going to be making new laws and policies – he is too old and dated, but if he were to listen to his team and his supporters, I think everything will be alright for the Democrats. Just to make things clear: I don’t support Biden because of his past and what he stands for, so I’m not voting for Biden. I am, though, voting for everyone in his future administration because he will appoint a qualified staff and make sure the
Supreme Court doesn’t end up with another Kavanaugh, but most importantly, I am voting to keep Trump out of office. In order to win the election, Biden needs to not only motivate anti-Trump voters to turn out and vote for him as the only means to oust Trump, but he also needs to excite Bernie supporters by offering a positive, pro-active agenda that offers real change and progress, not just a “no Trump vote.” Remember to actually go and vote or we will have another four years of being embarrassed by our country’s leader.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is captured in a sea of campaign posters during his tour. He is now endorsing Joe Biden as the party’s presidental nominee. Photo courtesy of vox.com.
COVID-19’s positive impact on the environment and why it should last CONNOR SMITH Staff Writer As of today, some of the biggest threats to our lives tend to be the unseeable. Through the long-term impact of global warming and the newly discovered pandemic called COVID-19, our lives as we know them could be completely altered in the coming years. But what if I told you that one of these threats to our way of life decreases the severity and damage of the other. With the recent events involving COVID-19, many countries and states alike have experienced decreased levels of carbon dioxide and an abundance of wildlife returning to their original habitats at the cost of economic insecurity and mass worldwide quarantine. With the multitude of workers now staying and, in some cases, working from, home, less traffic occurs along major roads, and many sources of earth warming emissions have stopped completely. In the UK, the BBC reported that all car and truck-based nitrogen dioxide production has decreased by 50%, while in China pollution drops have been even more dramatic. As China was the first country to experience COVID-19, it became the first to issue a nationwide lockdown. The Chinese stopped all travel, enforced quarantine, and shut down many factories and businesses that continuously produce carbon and nitrogen dioxide. With NASA satellite images showing how the density of nitrogen dioxide (measured in micromoles per meter squared) has dropped from 500 in major cities to 100 or lower, many studies have come out explaining the effect this has on China’s population. Professor Marshall Burke writes that the lockdown of China “likely has saved the lives of 4,000 kids under 5 and 73,000 adults over 70” (GFeed). On a lighter note, the overall environment has and will continue to improve through
quarantine and the decline of pedestrian traffic in many countries. In Italy, there are reports of dolphins reclaiming waterways now that boats and crowds have dispersed, while in India and Thailand, animals frequently now roam the streets. In India, the decline in pollution has allowed the sky to become bright blue as car manufacturers and other factories shut down. These events all lead up to the same thing: the impact of COVID-19 shows how the environment has changed from human interaction and interference. However, this doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is good, as we have all seen in the last month of quarantine and economic struggle worldwide. As of today, 6.6 million people filed for unemployment in one week alone, and many small-scale businesses have closed their doors to the public. But even with all of the problems that come from this virus, we can focus on the good things that will benefit our future. When global quarantine ends and the virus is finally controlled, we shouldn’t forget how the world looked when no one was there to hurt it. We can’t shrug aside the decrease in carbon and nitrogen emissions or forget how many people were saved with the reduction in pollution. When the world can leave home safely, we should use the momentum created by the virus to end carbon emissions and strive for a safer environment worldwide. New protocols must be put into place to slow emissions, and people must attempt to think about how their actions impact the environment. Staying inside for only a month has impacted the environment so much, imagine what would happen if some of us rode bikes to work, took advantage of public transportation, or recycled more. Though COVID-19 has impacted almost all ways of life, including the decimation of many nation’s economies, we must realize the environmental impact of the virus and understand how to use this momentum to help save the earth from our interference.
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400
Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg Principal Kim Randolph Dean of Arts and Innovation Dr. Jay Berckley Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel 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.
Sports∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ April 2020
Episcopal senior athletes take their sport to the next level Due to their hard work, perseverance, and pure love for their sports, senior athletes Jahari Long, Tanner Witt, Trinity Watts, and D’Avian Houston plan on taking the next step in their future as D-1 college athletes, but that future has been clouded as the world deals with the global pandemic COZVI-19. EHS varsity basketball Co-Captain Jahari Long has joined Seton Hall University’s basketball program. With the recent events of the growing pandemic, Seton Hall has
not set a report date for preseason. Feeling weird not knowing how the future will turn out, Jahari “will always miss the student section” and competing with his friends in Alkek Gym. Tanner Witt, a four-year varsity baseball star, committed to the University of Texas at Austin, continuing a legacy and becoming a fourth generation Longhorn. Reporting for preseason training will hopefully not have as much affect on spring sports, and Tanner is “excited to play the game [he] loves at the next level,” but he will miss the relationships with his teammates and coaches of the EK Nation.
Trinity Watts, a four-year varsity volleyball starter and long-time club player for Skyline, a team ranked second in the nation, has proudly announced she will continue her academic and athletic career at Liberty University. Training is scheduled as early as July at Liberty, and Trinity “feel[s] prepared to compete at the next level.’ Though, “excited and nervous” to play ball in college, Trinity will miss her teammates and classmates, who “have
pushed [her] to become the athlete [she is] today.” DA Houston, also a varsity basketball co-captain, has committed to the College of Charleston and is scheduled to leave May 31. With a new journey ahead of him “it is going to be different being away from home, but [he’s] ready for the challenge” and will miss simply everything about Episcopal High School back in Texas.
Jahari Long commits to Seton Hall University in New Jersey for basketball. Photo courtesy of Vype Sports.
Tanner Witt commits to the University of Texas in Austin for baseball. Photo courtesy of Vype Sports.
Trinity Watts commits to Liberty University in Virginia for volleyball. Photo courtesy of Liberty University.
DA Houston commits to the College of Charleston in South Carolina for basketball. Photo by Mr. Scott Cunningham.
LEANA GREENE Staff Writer
Decision-making takes place for the Southwest Preparatory Conference JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer The COVID-19 virus has caused many schedule changes in and outside of the EHS community. Among online school and self-quarantine, the fate of SPC (Southwest Preparatory Conference)
competition was up in the air until the SPC made an official unanimous decision to cancel all competitions for the remainder of the spring season. This includes not only official competitive events between SPC schools but also practices. Spring training for the SPC Championship winning football team has been temporarily suspended until further notice as well.
Prior to the official cancellation of SPC events, Coach Jason Grove, head of the Athletics Department, stated that there were hopes to follow UIL (University Interscholastic League) and TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) and resume competition for spring sports on May 4. Although the entire spring season is
cancelled, if students return to campus, administrators will work with other schools in the community to organize athletic events. Students, staff, parents, and whoever else may have questions are welcome to contact their respective coaches and/or Coach Grove about any questions regarding this subject.
National sports are placed on hold while deciding future actions TINLEY KANE Staff Writer National sporting events of every kind have been either canceled or postponed in these hectic times. For sports fans, the big question is when will sports officially return? From March Madness getting the boot to the Olympics being delayed no sooner than July 23, 2021, it has been quite the shock for the sports industry. This time of year is normally the early weeks of the baseball season, but for Major League Baseball, postponement has put a hold on full ballparks and fantasy leagues. With the recent optimism of baseball beginning in a limited fashion in South Korea, the MLB has thrown around the idea of starting in May and possibly
Sporting events from the NBA, NFL, NBL, and NHL have been placed on hold. Artwork by Nicole Hopwood.
playing on a rotating schedule in Arizona. One of America’s biggest sporting events, the National Football League draft; will go on as planned in a slightly modified venue. The league, as always, will televise the draft, but in a non-spectator, virtual format, to be held April 23-25. The National Basketball Association decided to suspend its season, and as of now, there is no date to resume. The NBA draft is still set for June 25, 2020. Like basketball, soccer and hockey, nationally and internationally, have been put on pause. The Major Soccer League stopped with teams having only two games under their belt. Champions League, Euro 2020, and the men’s World Cup qualifiers have all been postponed, and league officials are unsure when they
will resume. The National Hockey League managed to play approximately 70 contests per team of its 82-game season until stoppage. The draft that was to be held in Montreal was to follow, but that is now postponed as well. As for individual sports, such as golf and tennis, delays and cancellations abound. For golf, the PGA Tour has come to a stop and is said to start back up August 6. The U.S. Open is scheduled for September 17, the Masters for November 12, and the British Open has been canceled. Tennis made history with the cancellation of Wimbledon for the first time since World War II, and the French Open was moved to September 20. On the brighter side, the U.S. Open has kept its start date of August 31 for now.
Many professional athletes donate to the Houston community TINLEY KANE Staff Writer Aside from local sports figures’ stellar performances on the field or court, their contributions to the city of Houston has recently made the biggest impact for Houstonians during the national pandemic. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has lent a hand in this time to local hospitals and nurses. The Deshaun Watson Foundation partnered with Sticky’s Chicken to provide more than 400 emergency care nurses at Ben Taub Hospital. The help didn’t stop there as Watson donated to the Restaurant Workers Relief Program to produce more than 300 meals a day for those who are jobless or suffered a reduction in pay.
In a collaborative team effort, the Houston Rockets showed their love to hospitals as well. Easter Sunday the team sent meals to the staffs at Memorial Hermann Hospitals in the Heights and Katy. Current Rockets point guard Russel Westbrook decided to take part, but for the youth of Houston. Westbrook’s foundation, Russel Westbrook Why Not? Foundation, donated 650 computers to Comp-U-Dopt for kids in need. Come-U-Dopt’s nonprofit organization has had over 25,000 applications for computers, and with Westbrook’s contributions, it has made computers more accesable for students of the Houston area to continue education Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation contributes to local Houston schools and communities. Photo courtesy of Why Not Foundation. online.