The Knight Times / November 2022 Issue 4

THE KNIGHT TIMES

Winter play Julius Caesar hits the stage Chapel honors grandparents in traditional rite

THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer

Grandparents Day is an EHS tradition and an opportunity for students to spend time with their grandparents on campus. Comprised of a Chapel service and lunch, Grandparents Day reminds Episcopal students of the importance of family and gives the community a chance to honor this group of individuals who have taken steps and made sacrifices to strengthen the society we live in today.

Some of the grandparents in attendance served in the final stages of World War II and many saw duty in the Vietnam War. The Baby Boomer generation, the generation of people born from 1946 – 1964, and the Silent Generation, 1928 – 1945, have earned the respect of family, friends, and the nation.

Recognizing these role-models and the tremendous achievements accredited to them, Episcopal High School opened its doors for the grandparents on November 18. The students invited their grandparents in to the Alkek gym for hymns, scripture, and a homily to show their gratitude to all the grandparents in the Episcopal High School community.

When asked about her favorite part of Grandparents’ Day, faculty member Mrs. Kylee Welch replied, “This allows the grandparents to see the amazing work their grandkids are doing at school and celebrate all of their hard work.”

Ultimately, Grandparents Day is the perfect day for students to connect with their grandparents and show them their appreciation.

ANYA PANT Staff Writer

“The main plot point is the conspirators plotting for Caesar’s death. A soothsayer tries to warn him about the Ides of March before it’s too late...Directed by Mr. George Brock, the show incorporated many new and interesting elements not seen this year, such as the group of percussionists who play at the beginning of Caesar.” Learn more about Julius Caesar on Page 2

EHS Music Department performs fall recital

MORGAN HEROD Opinions Editor

At the end of the semester, students of the Music Department will gather and perform to showcase their hard work and dedication. Daily rehearsals take place for this event, and after-school sectionals are held occasionally to focus and perfect specific sections of the group.

Each rehearsal starts with a warmup. These warmups focus on quality tone and production, as well as rhythmic ensemble cohesion. After the warmup is over, Mr. Joe Beam, the band director, checks for the intonation of his student’s instruments. Once this has been checked, he will call a certain selection to rehearse, and a piece will be played to get an idea of where the band is. If any issues arise, they are fixed with lots of practice.

Mr. Beam says that his biggest challenge when putting on a concert is choosing material for his students to play. He always strives to choose music that every student can find excitement in, and with such a wide array of music to pick from, it is hard to narrow down his options. To overcome this, Mr. Beam will often ask his ensemble which pieces they like the best as well as which pieces excite them the most.

Mr. Beam takes rehearsals seriously; however, he does not take himself all that seriously. With constant rehearsals and the lingering “pre-show” anxiousness, he likes to maintain a level of humor whenever long practices take place. When the students are having fun, he says, they are more likely to want to work hard and do

their best. He says that it also keeps him from getting hyper-focused on some of the negative aspects of rehearsals. Positive energy, when mixed with humor, keep long rehearsals upbeat.

Mr. Beam is excited for the EHS community to see what his students have been working on.

EHS students bring classic Shakespeare play to Underwood Theatre

Episcopal musicians and vocalists performed during a special fall recital in Benitez Chapel. Photo by

Students of all grades come together to bring this classic to life. Julius Caesar ran for three nights. The show ran from November 11 to November 13 with a Sunday matinee. Photo by Tessa Twiford.

Senior Lydia Berckley pursues theatrical passions at EHS

CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer

Senior Lydia Berckley has been very involved in the theatre program, working in most school plays.

In addition, she also serves as the President of the International Thespian Society this year and Vice President last year.

In the dance program, she has been taking classes all four years, including Impact, and has been a part of all the dance concerts.

Outside of school, she was a part of the pre-professional troupe in Theatre Under the Stars downtown at the Hobby Cen-

ter and is now in one of their mainstage shows in Sarofim Hall.

Lydia has had a long history in the performing arts since her early childhood. Her first show was at Wildfish Theatre in fifth grade, acting in Godspell. She would continue to participate in community theatre at Wildfish Theatre and Inspiration Stage alongside several school performances. Starting in high school, she moved her way up from Beginning Dance freshman year to Impact this year to focus more on her technique. In acting, she has taken Acting I, Theatre I, and is currently in Masque.

For her demonstrated talent in performance, she has received multiple awards in singing competitions like the National Association of Teachers of Singing and

CS Music Competition as well as an arts award last year in the dance program.

When asked what motivates her to perform, she answered, “Many things motivate me to perform, but the thing that drives it all for me is my love for everything theatre. I don’t think there is anything that gives me more joy than being in a show. Not just the adrenaline and feeling of Opening Night, but also all the laughs, friendships made, and discoveries found during the rehearsal process. And I feel like that is something often forgotten, but the rehearsal process is one of the best parts of making a show, not just the end result.”

So far her favorite plays she has had the chance to participate in have been the wife in Into the Woods this past May and The

Secret of My Success, which she is currently a part of as her first mainstage play, both at TUTS.

Regarding her love for theater, she said, “I have a few favorite things about theatre. One is the process. I love seeing something start from scratch to become a moving piece of art. It is amazing when I see that my work has an impact on the audience and leaves them thinking about that specific performance.

“Further, I love making discoveries and diving deep into the possibilities of the script while working and meeting amazing, creative people. I also love the performance aspect itself. I love performing in front of others and seeing the joy and emotion it sparks. That is one of the best feelings ever.”

Lessons in Colle e Know¿edge ¿

GARMON ASHBY Performing Arts Director

We do celebrations well at EHS. I love the fact that we are quick to recognize the achievements and attributes of others, and that we take care to celebrate important occasions in our history and identity. In addition to supporting and encouraging our well-deserving achievers, the process of honoring and celebrating them does good things for the rest of us, as it encourages selflessness, broadens our understanding of our peers, and engenders sensitivity toward others. These are all attributes that help us live out our baptismal covenant of loving our neighbors as ourselves and respecting the dignity of all.

Moreover, I believe it is in and through our daily chapel worship that celebration proves to be one of the most nourishing,

uplifting, and unifying aspects of life at Episcopal High School. In a corporate experience, which sets us apart from most of our peer institutions, we glorify God by, as Episcopal priest and author Barbara Brown Taylor puts it, “saying sonorous words in unison, listening to language we did not hear anywhere else in our lives… We [can] even be quiet together, which [is] something else that [does] not happen many other places in our lives.”

More importantly, we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, the “principal act of Christian worship,” regularly and intentionally on important occasions. Through this, one of the principal sacraments, we are reminded of God’s profound love for us, but also, as stated in the Articles of the Episcopal Church, we are provided with a sign of the love that we ought to have among ourselves, “one to another.”

EHS theatre presents Julius Caesar

ANYA PANT Staff Writer

EHS Onstage presented its winter play Julius Caesar recently during a three-day string of performances on November 10 through 11.

With lead Harrison Goytia playing Caesar, this play follows the trials and tribulations of Caesar’s life. For context, before the play takes place, Caesar gets in a battle with Pompey and is victorious. All of the townspeople celebrate Caesar on a day called Lubricale.

The main plot point is the conspirators plotting for Caesar’s death. A soothsayer tries to warn him about the Ides of March before it's too late.

With a fairly small cast of 22, the performance proved successful. Opening night was on November 11 at 7:00 pm.

The second performance was on November 12, and the final show, a matinee, was on November 13.

Directed by Mr. George Brock, the show incorporated many new and interesting elements that have not yet been seen this year. For example, the new group of percussionists who played at the beginning of the play.

While talking about her experience in Julius Caesar, freshman Mary Katherine King said, “Being part of Julius Caesar was a very fun and unique experience, especially with the percussion and being a big part of it. I was excited for the school to see the dystopian world we created out of this well-known play.”

Freshman Taft Mohair added, “Working with the cast of Julius Caesar has been amazing and sharpened my skills in the theater.”

with Mark-Anthony Mey

Hi, my name is Mark-Anthony Mey and welcome to College Knowledge. I started this column in The Knight Times to give students a small insight into prospective colleges in order to help when applying as seniors. While not a heavily-detailed guide, I hope these informative pieces will help those looking for a little more knowledge about college.

Texas Christian University Southern Methodist University

Texas Christian University (TCU) is small private university in Fort Worth with just over 10,000 undergraduate students. The stunning campus is popular among Episcopal graduates with 100+ areas of study and robust student life.

In athletics, TCU is a part of NCAA Division I for football and offers baseball, track and field, and volleyball as a small portion of campus life. In addition to creating a strong sense of community, the campus sports help students to build their skills to prepare for the professional level.

Within academics, TCU is popular for Nursing, Finance, and Communications majors as a part of its 116 undergraduate major options. Having a small student-teacher ratio of 13:1 also allows the school to foster strong connections between professors and students across its many fields.

If you are considering TCU, apply on the Common App or ApplyTexas with early action and early decision I deadlines on November 1. The regular decision and early decision II deadlines fall later on February 1, and the school is test-optional for all deadlines this year. Riff Ram!

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a small private university located in the heart of Dallas, Texas. With around 7,000 undergrads, the campus is home to a spirited student body and traditions like gathering on the Boulevard before football games.

Athletically, as a part of the NCAA for football and thriving programs across all sports, SMU works to promote a strong campus culture through the many games and schoolwide events offered throughout the school year.

In their academics, SMU has over 100 majors and 85 minors with the most popular being Finance, Economics, and Mathematics. The school also offers Honors Communities and Study Abroad programs that are sought out by many students looking to further explore their interests.

If SMU sounds right for you, November 1 is the early action and early decision deadline, and January 15 is the regular decision deadline. All applications are available on both the Common App and ApplyTexas. The school has two supplemental essays and does require test scores.

Go Mustangs!

Reflections...

What are the three biggest changes you have seen at EHS during your time here?

Fascinating question, there have been so many revolutionary changes since I arrived on Episcopal High School’s campus in the fall of 1988.

To me the biggest change has been the brick and mortar aspect. Over the last 35 years several buildings and structures have been constructed. Starting with the Crum Field House/LRC, moving on to the parking garage, Trotter Building, Hildebrand Athletic Center, and ending with the new USC. We have all witnessed the renovation of Borg Field, the field hockey complex, the batting cages, softball field improvements, and added greenspace.

The second change has been the increased student population. EHS opened up in the fall of 1984 with approximately 160 students – 63 sophomores and 97 freshmen. We are now over 800 students strong and still maintain a student/teacher ratio under 15:1 per class.

The third change is the most significant to who we are as a community. The instillation of the stained glass windows in Benitez Chapel transformed that space into a place of congregation, community, and provided a sense of peacefulness. Gathering everyday in that location brings us together as one, allowing all to sit back, reflect, and, I hope, give thanks.

I know there are more, but those three stand out.

Cast members perform the fall play, William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, on November 11-13. Photo by Tessa Twiford.

with Dean Colello

Slice of π

CARTER PEELER Guest Writer

Hey, Knights. I’m Carter Peeler, the Mu Alpha Theta treasurer. It has been an extremely busy and exciting month. On behalf of the Math Club and MAT, thank you to everyone who came out to support our events. At our monthly meeting, students took the Texas Math league Contest. Our mathletes continued to participate in our weekly bouts at Math Madness. We also had four teams consisting of juniors and seniors compete in HiMCM: a twoweek long math modeling competition. A

big shoutout to the 30 participants of this year’s AMC10 and AMC12 tests that were held on November 16. We also hosted a very successful annual post-Fibonacci Day Celebration on November 30. It was a fundraiser with all sorts of math goodness. Finally, we hosted our second guest speaker of the year, Matthew Harris, who spoke to us during both lunches on November 9 about his path to becoming a chemical engineer. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @EHSMathClub to be among the first to find out about all our events and to learn about interesting math facts.

MR. JAMES MOYNAHAN Guest Writer

Latina disipula laboraverunt stato ludi annui . Ad initium Novembris nos discemus Romana aedificiaque Romana armaque Romanas technologias. Discipuli Colosseum qui erat praeclarum aphitheatrum ubi gladiotores pugnaverunt, triremes (bellas naves), ballistamas quae magna saxa iecit ut moenia inimicorum perdant vias usae sunt ferre bona trans Romas concretum qui fecit Romani possit Romam aedificare scirent. Dum discupuli has technologias scirunt legunt de bello gallico librum scribitum est Caesar de vicentes Gallos. Liber est unus paucis scriptus habemus de Gallo cultura. Discupli legunt de Perseo, qui erat Graecus vir fortus. Secat caput Medusae, servat pulcherem pullam et occidivit suus avum. In brevis tempore discupli facient brevem fabulam similem Perseum in Latina.

The Latin students have been working hard at the start of the school year. Beginning in November, we will be studying Roman buildings, weapons, and technologies. Students will learn about the Colosseum (famous amphitheater where gladiators fought), the triremes (war ships), the ballistae (ancient missile launchers), the roads that were used to carry goods across the Empire, and the concrete that made it possible for the Romans to build Rome. While students study these innovations, they will also read “About the Gallic Wars,” a book by Julius Caesar about how he conquered Gaul. It is one of the few written sources we have that covers early Gallic culture. Students will also read about Perseus, a Greek hero who cut off the head of Medusa, saved a princess, and killed his own grandfather. Soon, students will be making their own stories like Perseus in Latin.

Senior athletes sign NCAA letters for college sports

CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer

IZZIE SONG Staff Writer

Underwood Library has been celebrating the unique cultures and peoples of the world through informative exhibits. Students surveying the various displays are given a chance to learn about interesting figures, view artwork, and read up on a variety of heritages.

The exhibits are largely curated by the EHS librarians, who put a large amount of effort into the craft. To gather accurate information and artwork, a network of people is utilized, including museums, teachers, and parent volunteers. Thorough research into each month’s topic is conducted to ensure a proper and vibrant exhibit.

Through its showing of different cultures, the library wishes to create a space of celebration and opportunities to learn. With so many backgrounds to explore around the world, these displays aim to show just a portion of the wonder that people hold. As an example, during Hispanic Heritage Month, a mural was created to highlight all the different cultures celebrated throughout its time. Students were given the opportunity to create Amate, traditional folk art, that helped inform them of Hispanic culture in an informative and creative way. Similarly, the Native American Heritage Month display offered a community poster, where students could color together. The displays create community as much as they educate.

A large part of the design and creation process, Head Librarian Ms. Kate Hall

works ardently to give EHS the unique library features. “Our mission statement talks about a joyful community. That is how I see Underwood Library,” said Ms. Hall. “There is a reason it is the center of the campus. It is the heart of our school.”

A center of wonder and a hub for cultural learning, the library will continue to promote diversity through its monthly displays.

The November early signing at Episcopal began with six students signing their NCAA national letters of intent, making their college choice effectively official. These six seniors will join a select few who get the opportunity to continue their athletic pursuits at the next level in NCAA Division sports. At the signing were the families of the signees along students to support their achievements.

The six Class of 2023 seniors are Emily Young, signing for field hockey for the University of Louisville; Mia Tuckwood and Connor Kuenstle, signing to play soccer for Lehigh University; Conor Shanley and Drew Haffner, signing lacrosse letters of intent for the Florida Institute of Technology; and Adam Katz, signing to

play baseball for Davidson College. All of these students have been working for years to obtain their goal of playing a college sport, and it has culminated in signing their letters of intent with classmates.

Katz said, “The signing day yesterday was truly a dream come true. Listening to Coach [Matt] Fox talk was surreal and putting pen to paper is something I will never forget. I loved having all my classmates there to support me in continuing my career next year at Davidson.”

There will also be three additional signing and commitment celebrations following this event. On December 21, early signing day will occur for football players. The regular signing day with Ivy League commitments at the start of February. Finally, on April 26, signings for Division III and other non-scholarship commitments, will occur.

EHS holds special Coffee House performances

CLARA CRENSHAW Staff Writer

Coffee House, an event when the EHS community gathers to watch students and faculty perform on stage, is a beloved and highly anticipated tradition.

With a wide variety of performances, it’s always exciting to see what the students and faculty bring to the stage. Although enduring a long intermission through Covid, Coffee House is back in full swing. The fall Coffee House was on November 16, and the Spring performance will be April 1.

The fall performances of Coffee House were full of creativity and vibrance. During the 5A Coffee House, Sufia Rahman sang “Demons” by Imagine Dragons along with her band members, and Nicole Blanco and Tallulah Berkeley sang Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me.” Although short, the lunch performances were full of talent and skill.

The 5B performance started strong with Ben Welch rapping an original song for over five minutes. After Ben’s rap, Poema Sumrow sang “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty

while her father Mr. Sumrow played guitar. The planned performances ended with a touching prom-posal from Lexie Masterson and Ava Florescu.

The spontaneous acts soon commenced as Anayla Wilson sang “Baby” by Justin

Bieber, Rob Britton and Adam Deutsch sang “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC with Will Masterson on guitar.

Coffee House concluded with Student Body President Chandler Hollis passionately singing “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé.

Students: Who would you want to see perform at Coffee House?

The student body has spoken. By order of total votes received -- Mr. Travis Smith, Mr. Bob Matthews, Mr. Alan Duncan, Mr. Wayne Jones, Mr. Brad Telford, Mr. Dick Gaston, Mr. Ned Smith, Mr. Johnny Kwok, Mr. David Framel, Mr. George Brock, Ms. Alice Berry, Mr. James Moynahan. One-third of the faculty/staff received votes. Photos by Alan Ross.

The Colosseum at sunrise Photo courtesy of italiandualcitizenship.net

F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay

What’s considered fashionable? I was thinking about this question as I was scrolling my “For You Page” on TikTok, and I came across an OOTD, better known as an outfit of the day.

The girl in the video had on a huge plain white T-shirt with “jorts” that had holes in the front where you could see boxers as the inside lining. In her caption she wrote that she was a fashion student, and this is what she was wearing to class. I moved on to the comments where everyone was scrutinizing and criticizing her…just like I was.

I was really confused as to whether or not this outfit was satire or really what she thought was an acceptable choice of clothing. In the comments, it seemed everyone was asking the question: where do we draw the line as consumers of art for what’s fashion and considered “good” today?

I think it’s hard trying to attempt to answer this question because art is so

interpretive, and there is no baseline or a universally agreed upon standard for what is considered good or even great, other than major designers accepted by the masses. But even then, it’s hard because today’s market is so oversaturated, which really makes it difficult for an artist to create something considered “original.”

I think lots of people throw together random pieces and call it a unit, but to me that only has situational success. It’s cool to try in my opinion. Many of the fashion influences I look up to pride themselves on trying and working to make one collaborative outfit, not necessarily trying to please anyone but themselves, but there’s a certain couth and ownership that comes with styling what you think is the “perfect” outfit.

Moral of the story: it’s cool to try and care about what you’re wearing. At the end of the day, fashion is art and is fluid, and it’s cool to be intentional when it comes to these kind of things.

Taylor Swift’s riveting Midnights

MARK-ANTHONY MEY Staff Writer

October 21 marked the highly-anticipated release of Taylor Swift’s Midnights, her tenth studio album, which includes 13 new tracks. After many months of speculation, fans were very excited for the official announcement of this new album as a culmination of her work in recent years.

The songs are set to tell the stories of sleepless nights throughout her different times working on other albums and work to reveal hidden emotions behind her craft. In true Taylor style, she also released an extended version of the album, Midnights (3am Edition), with an additional 7 tracks.

The album has become increasing popular over recent weeks with its combined feel of her Folklore-era lyrics and 1989

sound. Songs such as “Anti-Hero,” “Snow On The Beach (feat. Lana Del Ray),” and “Lavender Haze” have risen to become favorites of many, helping Swift break many streaming records and become the second most streamed artist on Spotify as of November 7.

With the album release, Taylor has put out two music videos for “Anti-Hero” and “Bejeweled” that include elaborate outfits and hidden details. Additionally, Midnights completes Taylor’s first era of music deemed the Lover House.

As of what’s next for the artist, the global Eras tour has recently been announced and will showcase all her work over the past 16 years. The Houston concert is on April 22 and already has many excited fans geared up to scream their favorite lyrics. Beyond the tour, who knows what the future of Taylor Swift holds, but its sure she’ll leave her fans many Easter eggs along the way.

The Car reflects evolution and growth in lyrics

LILY O’GORMAN Editor-In-Chief

On October 21, The Arctic Monkeys released their most adventurous and daring record to date, turning the band in a new direction yet again for their seventh studio album. The Car most notably subverts the grungy, gritty, down-to-earth garage rock sound that the band gained international acclaim for with their 2006 debut, replacing it with cinematic, orchestral, and elevated lyricism and discography.

The album explores belonging, doubt, and love, with unpredictably meandering melodies that consistently leave you unsure of where you are headed next. Lofty symphonic strings and front man Alex Turner’s falsetto-heavy vocal performance are punctuated throughout with unexpected swanky guitar and rhythm that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Moreover, unlike earlier albums, The Car is not easily digestible; its unique style is such a departure from past AM records it certainly takes a few listens to settle into its distinct groove. However, as a progression from recent albums, The Car, though distinctive, makes a lot of sense. Between Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino (2018) and front man Alex Turner’s recent albums as a member of band The Last Shadow Puppets, the more mellow, croony, style of The Car is merely a continuation in a larger musical transformation.

Arctic Monkeys historically has not shied away from evolution, despite backlash from diehard fans of their first few albums. This album, I think, above all else, demonstrates the introspection and maturation of the band as they continue to push boundaries and evolve with each new album they create.

Series of tragedy: Who Killed Sara?

ALYSSA WALL Staff Writer

Who Killed Sara? is a Netflix Mexican mystery thriller in which a man is falsely convicted for the murder of his sister, Sara. After spending 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Alex Guzmán dedicates his life to finding out who really killed Sara and exacting revenge on the Lazcano family, the powerful and wealthy family who framed him for the murder.

Alex believes that Rodolfo Lazcano, Sara’s boyfriend, is to blame. The show begins with Sara, her brother Alex, siblings Jose Maria and Rodolfo Lazcano, and their servant Elroy out parasailing on a speedboat at the Lazcano family’s lake house. Sara offers to go first, and minutes

later she plunges to her death. Two key factors were discovered following the accident: she was pregnant at the time of her death, and her death was in fact, no accident. The parachute’s harness had been damaged; but by who?

Throughout the series, details and clues are uncovered about the events leading to Sara’s tragic demise. Was it her boyfriend’s father, the father of her unborn child, who refused to diminish the family name? Was it her boyfriend’s mother; who found out that Sara was carrying her husband’s child and convinced her to try out the new parasailing chute? Or did Sara kill herself to avoid facing the consequences of her actions?

Watch this chilling Netflix original to find out Who Killed Sara?

Timothee Chalamet on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards. Photo courtesy of gq-magazine.co.uk.

Pitchfork rates the rock album an 8.0. Photo courtesy of pitchfork.com.

Ongoing US sanctions fail to prompt Iranian reform

LILY O’GORMAN Editor-In-Chief

Sanctions: the most frequently wielded tool in America’s foreign policy toolbox, and, somehow, also one of the most inefficient. Using US-Iran relations as a case study, it is increasingly obvious that economic sanctions are neither harmful nor potent enough to force a regime to capitulate to US interests, no matter how strictly enforced they be.

It is undeniable that US-imposed sanctions on Iran have choked out Iran’s economy; according to NBC, Iran’s 2020 trade deficit amounted to about $3.45 billion while in 2019 its trade surplus reached $6.11 billion, meaning a staggering $9.56 billion drop in only one year. The effects of this economic catastrophe are real for Iranian citizens–high unemployment, a weak job market, declining world trade, and skyrocketing inflation have surged across the country. However, the Iranian regime, unlike democratic governments like the United States, is not concerned by the plight of its people enough to enact significant change. The Supreme Leader, a theocratic authoritarian ruler, simply does

not face the same obligation to represent his people as a democratic leader would. As stated by NBC, “the usual concerns of a civil government–such as national income, average family income, rate of inflation, or jobless rate–may not be important to the religious leaders.” Thus, the Iranian regime has been able to hold its ground against the Biden Administration, resulting in a USIran stalemate.

Additionally, with US sanctions against China and Russia, Iran has found itself in an unlikely friendship, and one that significantly weakens the blow delt to Iran’s economy by the United States. According to Axios, a Chinese diplomat called it “only natural” that countries such as Russia and Iran work together in the face of shared sanctions by the US. This relatively new development in foreign relations is an example of the adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Dave Lawler of Axios stated, “The relationships among these three countries are defined not by deep bonds or shared values, but by specific interests and the mutual desire to challenge Washington.”

Russia and China’s support of Iran through purchasing Iranian oil and other means have, at least temporarily, helped to

keep Iran’s economy above water amidst heavy US sanctions. Alexander Gabuev, a Russia-China relations expert, summed this up, saying, “A marriage of convenience can be much more durable than a romantic relationship.”

Looking forward, especially amidst ongoing conflict with Russia, the United States must reevaluate its use of sanctions and consider their historical inefficiency. The Biden Administration has stated that its recent sanctions on Russia are based on the “Iran model,” a model that, as Robin Wright of The New Yorker put it, has “repeatedly failed to change the Regime’s calculus.”

In the past four decades, ebbs and flows in American domestic politics have effected no significant changes in the US approach to Iranian sanctions–Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran Nuclear Deal, for example, “failed abysmally” at inciting Iranian capitulation, and Biden’s approach does not appear any more promising.

Ultimately, as economic powerhouses across the global stage attempt to halt Putin’s power-thirsty rampage, economic sanctions only provide limited leverage, leverage that, at least alone, is simply not enough.

Pink Tax shows gender gap still a problem in US

JALYNN WOOLLEY Production Editor

Even into the twenty-first century, women continue to suffer the costly price of paying for pink.

In addition to only earning, on average, $0.79 for every $1.00 earned by their male co-workers, women all around the world face the invisible Pink Tax, which raises the cost of products targeted toward women by about 13% as compared to similar “male” products. Things like razors, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and so much more are all affected by the Pink Tax, when the only difference between these products and those targeted toward men is the products’ feminine design.

The Knight

ISABEL O’GORMAN Managing/Copy Editor

In October 2022, Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz avoided the death penalty as the jury recommended life in prison. Cruz’s 2018 massacre in a Florida High School shook the country and caused the brutal death of 17 individuals–the deadliest mass shooting at an American high school. However, Cruz’s defense claimed that Cruz’s life and upbringing justified only a life sentence due to prenatal alcohol exposure and an abusive mother who supported his early drug use. Because of these circumstances, the jury sparked controversy by recommending a life sentence rather than capital punishment. This decision greatly disturbed the victims’ families and called for a nationwide dispute over the use of the death penalty and the implications of such mental deficits. Furthermore, many individuals wonder why the country has this extreme penalty if such disturbing crimes do not merit its use and posit the

declining support for such punishment.

Because the jury uniformly decides capital punishment, there have been fewer and fewer death sentences over the last decade, partly due to a gradual shift in popular opinion. According to Death Penalty Information Center, in 2006, 71% of survey respondents believed capital punishment to be morally acceptable. However, in a similar survey in 2021, only 55% of participants considered the death penalty ethically admissible, marking a record low. Furthermore, demonstrating this same gradual decline in support of capital punishment in the U.S, 37 out of 50 U.S states have either abolished the death penalty or have avoided executions for ten years or more, according to deathpenalty.org. This rising skepticism will only be augmented as younger generations begin to raise more questions about this punitive action.

Through these trends, it is clear that the rising generations of our country are willing to make changes and approach such debates through a unique lens that our predecessors failed to grasp.

Overall, the Pink Tax costs women an average $1,300 a year and is not only limited to personal hygiene products. This tax can also be seen in women’s clothing, traditionally feminine cars, and dry-cleaning costs. Even the youth of America cannot escape the Pink Tax unscathed as manufacturers charge up to $10 more for the pink version of a certain toy.

Retailers have practiced the upcharge of the Pink Tax for decades and will continue to until they face a serious punishment. Manufacturers are aware that women are more likely to spend more money on personal care products, and until more women are made aware of the invisible taxation they face, many will continue to be subject to the cost of being a woman.

For now, avoiding the Pink Tax is easy enough. Many women have gotten into the habit of wandering into the men’s aisle for personal care items, and even have grown accustomed to purchasing men’s clothes. Some companies such as Billie and Harry’s have protested the Pink Tax by completely eliminating its existence within their company.

Although avoiding the Pink Tax is relatively simple, how far must women go to avoid the cost of being female in 2022?

Is capital punishment a relic of the past?

Recent oppression sparked protests across Iran and led to increased American sanctions. Photo courtesy of CNBC.com.

SPC Sports

Girls volleyball triumphs in SPC championship game

ALYSSA WALL Staff Writer

Over the course of several days, the girls varsity volleyball team took on Kinkaid, Greenhill and Hockaday in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) tournament on Episcopal’s home court.

Going into the tournament as the first seed set expectations very high. True to form, in both the Kinkaid and Greenhill games, the opposing teams did not come within nine points of EHS in any sets, and EHS won in three sets in each match.

In the SPC championship game, the team took on Hockaday, who was the second seed. The stakes were high, as the Knights, comprised of several seniors who wanted to leave a lasting legacy, led the way. They exceeded all expectations and

won three sets in a row, claiming their rightful place as SPC champions, just as they had done their freshman year in 2019.

Junior setter Kara Thomas noted how she was “so happy [they] could do this for [their] seniors” and was “extremely proud” of what they accomplished.

Many characteristics come into play to be able to work cohesively as a team and leave a legacy as these girls have. Coach Cydryce McMillian noted how the girls “made it look easy,” but there’s no doubt about the amount of effort and persistence they put into this season. Coach Mac also noted how “fulfilling and surreal” it was to see all of their hard work pay off throughout the season, and she is so proud of the seniors who “put the vision out there and trusted the new coaching staff” to lead them to this victory.

Girls cross country wins SPC

MARK-ANTHONY MEY Staff Writer

With the fall season coming to a close, the 2022 cross country teams really ran it out of the park at the final SPC meet. Despite the hilly course, the girls took home a second consecutive conference

ting a great end to weeks of persistence and hard work.

On the boys’ side, the team placed third overall by only five points, the highest placement in school history. Sam Marino set a school record at this event with a 5K time of 16:09.0 and placed second over all. With him in the top 20 were junior

Runner-up finish for football following a remarkable season

THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer

The Episcopal High School football team had a commendable regular season, which led it to the Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship. The Knights met The Kinkaid School, the defending SPC champions, in the final large school game, a team they beat 21-15 in an exciting contest two weeks prior.

The first touchdown of the game went to the Kinkaid Falcons in the second quarter to go up 7-0, but the Knights quickly answered back and reached the endzone on a 36-yard toss and catch from quarterback Karson Gordon to Lane Linebarger.

Without a healthy kicker, the Knights were forced to go for the two-point conversion and failed to convert. With under one minute to go before halftime, the Falcons scored again to go into the locker room ahead 14-6.

In the third quarter, the Falcons started what would become a 20-minute possession running late into the fourth, though they had to settle for a field goal. The Knights rallied for another touchdown but time expired, leading to a 17-6 Kinkaid win.

The Knights say goodbye to 13 amazing seniors who will be missed next year.

victory with a score of 42 points and beat the competition by a wide margin while the boys finished a respectable third. The final times for the girls included first and second place finishes for sophomore Madison Morgan (18:55.4) and senior Lucy Holden (19:04.0), leading Episcopal as two of five runners in the top 20. Additionally, there were three personal records across the 10 girls who ran, put-

Evan Ringwald (16:39.0), freshman Will Pacey (17:08.2), and junior Henry Smith (17:21.3), who all set personal records and look forward to continuing to push themselves in the upcoming track season.

With many new members in the program and a successful season of many personal achievements, both teams look to very promising future seasons and many more SPC championships to come.

Boys volleyball places second

ALEXANDER GONZALES Staff Writer

A relatively youthful program at EHS, the boys volleyball team has already propelled itself to a significant position and cemented itself as a formidable competitor in its division. This team executed exceptionally in each game and worked tirelessly even when down points.

Prior to the SPC tournament, the team maintained an undefeated record, an admi-

rable achievement on its own, but even more so when considered in conjunction with the program’s youth.

Though the team did not finish first in the SPC tournament, they “played their hearts out” and were the first Knights boys volleyball team to compete in the championship. The success of this year’s team was surely due to the team’s tenacity and dedication; this meant keeping solid even while losing and not giving up any morale in the face of adversity.

Improvement is clear in field hockey program’s finish in SPC

MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer

After a great regular season, the varsity field hockey team entered the SPC tournament as the 4A division’s fourth seed.

Playing at St. John’s, the team played three games over the weekend, finishing fourth in the bracket. The first game took place on Thursday against Hockaday. On Friday, they went up against Kinkaid, ending in a loss. On the final day of the tournament, the team lost 3-2 against St. Stephen’s.

Two months of daily practices took place in preparation for these series of games. Head Coach Emily White was proud of the progress made during the season and the hard work each player brought to practice

and games.

At the end of the tournament, the team took a moment to honor its four seniors: Emily Young, Janie Thomas, Jessie Horton, and Margaret Ellison. Coach White

is grateful for the dedication they have shown the program throughout their time at EHS.

Girls cross country celebrates their back-to-back SPC championship win. Photo by Mya Broughton.

Girls volleyball comes together after a point during their road to the SPC championship. Photo by Mya Broughton.

Knights Field Hockey looks to shoot, beating Hockaday High School. Photo by Mya Broughton.

Brayden Crow intercepts Kinkaid and looks for a touchdown. Photo by Mya Broughton.

Winter Sports Preview

Girls basketball trains with purpose

IZZIE SONG Staff Writer

Varsity girls basketball welcomes back returning starters Emrie Holt, Lauren Pearson, Ivonna Llyod, Emma Poirot, and Olivia Chapman.

Working on dribbling, running on the track, and moving weights around in Alkek Gym, the JV girls basketball program has its sights set on an SPC run as it enters its winter season schedule.

Under the direction of Head Coach Courtney Arnold, the girls experienced much success last year, and with a renewed focus on teamwork and schoolwork, the girls intend to practice with a purpose.

The season opened up November 10-12 as the varsity competed in the Lady Gander Tip-Off Classic at Baytown Sterling.

Episcopal’s JV girls basketball team will be starting a new season this fall with returning players Bella Woodcox, Kennedy Green, Ella Voss, Berklee Lyons, Morgan Maxwell, Amber Marshall, and Vanessa Reed.

“I look forward to building new memories with a new team,” said Assistant Coach Chief Achilefu. “We have a lot of

new players that are coming back, but we also have a slew of freshman who are getting their first taste of freshman basketball.”

SPC title hopes drive boys team

JULIA SHERMAN Staff Writer

This winter, varsity boys basketball is getting prepared to bring home another SPC championship. The boys have a big season ahead of them, playing highlyranked state teams.

Head Coach Wayne Jones said, “We are playing one of the toughest schedules in the area. Our pre-conference schedule is packed with state and locally ranked teams, and we are traveling to Washington DC to compete in the Sleepy Thompson Invitational, which is a national tournament.”

New players have joined the team and heightened the anticipation of a successful year.

Coach Jones said, “I look forward to the individual growth of each player. We get better by all the little things we do every day in practice. We return some of

Boys soccer begins winter schedule

JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer

The EHS varsity boys soccer team has begun its training for the 2023 winter season. This year’s team consists of a promising group of mostly senior athletes that intend to improve their skills and ability to work cohesively as a team unit.

The boys have a loaded schedule this season, packed with challenging competition and difficult opponents like San Antonio Central Catholic and Bellaire, who will certainly test their capability

as athletes. The team has been consistently training for the arrival of this year’s opponents with rigorous daily practices designed to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Travis Smith, the Knights have displayed promising potential in their preseason training and intend to perform favorably throughout the winter season. As the year unfolds, the group of athletes hope that their dedication and skill will carry them to the SPC championships where they have a chance at a title

the best players in the conference, and we are looking forward to how they match up against some of the teams that we will play.”

Coach Jones and Assistant Coach Jonathan Kwok look forward to getting to know new players, having a successful season, and conquering other teams in tournaments, especially SPC.

New coaches mark soccer kickoff

JALYNN WOOLEY Staff Writer

After finishing its 2021-2022 season with a third-place title in the SPC championship for the first time in EHS history, the girls soccer team is thrilled to kick off another season with a bang.

With an array of new and returning players, Coach Rachel Stelter held tryouts November 7-8, and was excited to welcome so many new faces to the JV and varsity teams.

In addition to these new players, the team also welcomed three new coaches to both teams. Both Coach Kent, a former player at Rice University, and Coach Nairn, a retired professional player, will mostly help with the varsity team, and Coach Rizo, who just finished up a season

playing for HBU (HCU) will help coach JV.

The girls are extremely excited to begin the winter season and hope to achieve the program’s first SPC championship title.

Swimming expects promising season

CLARA CRENSHAW Staff Writer

The Episcopal girls and boys swim teams are ready for a full and exciting season. This year they welcome back returning seniors Rowan Vogelsang, Chase Anderson, Keya Aurora, Nicole Wotring alongside juniors Luke Waters, Lilly Mach, and Sara Doan. Both the boys and girls teams are showing promising results and Coach Shawn Flood is excited to see what they bring to the table. The first swim meet was

on November 12 against St. Agnes and Strake Jesuit.

There is a strong group of girls returning to compete for the swim team. With the strong women’s relay group and senior female diver Nicole Wotring, the girls team is set for success. The boys team has valuable swimmers returning and is also looking forward to a successful season.

Coach Flood said, “We are excited to have a solid start to the season and can’t wait to see what happens throughout the year.”

Wrestling ushers in first girls team

JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer

This season marks the first year in the history of EHS in which the school has recognized an official girls wrestling team. This change occurred because of the pre-

tially began its training for the upcoming season by scheduling off campus practices at Paradigm Training Center where the athletes who were not participating in a fall sport were able to get a head start on their conditioning.

The team recently returned to their regular practice location in the EHS mat room where they have been tirelessly preparing for the arrival of the winter season.

vious year, when junior Thalia Vogelsang became the first female athlete to compete in SPC as a wrestler. These groundbreaking transformations to the wrestling program are bound to result in an exciting season for this year’s athletes.

The boys and girls teams practice together under the leadership of Head Coach Steve Leisz and Assistant Coach Tom Estus.

The EHS Knights wrestling team ini-

Junior Thalia Vogelsang squares off against opponent Photo by Lauren McGinnis.

Yousuf Saeed makes a move on his opponent. The senior hopes to lead his team to an SPC title. Photo by McKenna Foteh.

Kennedy Greene follows through on a free throw. Photo by Olivia Chapman.

Justin Begg fires a skip pass to a teammate. Photo by Mia Broughton.

Ava Gonzales dribbles upfield during home action on Simmons Field. Photo by Lauren McGinnis.

Speaks Out

Jester

PhotoJ Photo of the Month

Celebrity Sighting

It’s not very often that you see an animated character come to life, but this resemblance is so uncanny it’s almost as if we have

the Wreck It

is almost identical to Fix It

of the right arm to the

the two evoke the same quiet confidence. The

brown hair adds to this resemblance, which, paired with

blue eyes and rosy pink cheeks, makes it nearly impossible to distinguish one from the other. The only missing elements, it seems, are the blue baseball cap and brown work belt. Luckily for us, Kraft lacks these elements purposefully to avoid a catastrophic mix-up and assist teachers in marking attendance. Thanks, Kraft!

Photos courtesy of CBR.com and by Julia Sherman.

JOCELYN VALENCIA “Firefighter”

The cross country teams huddle before the SPC meet. Photo by Maya Broughton.

CRAIG RINGWALD “Engineer”

KYRIAKY POSTOLOS “President”

DJ TAYLOR “Engineer”

JULIA NEWMAN

“Construction Worker”

JUSTIN BEGG “NBA Superstar”

BELLA MARQUEZ

“Astronaut”

ETHAN TOH “Forensic Scientist”

MS. GOBEA “Vet”

MR. CODRINGTON “Paleontology Food Critic”

fallen into

Ralph cinematic universe. Kraft Eidman’s stature (right)

Felix’s (left); from the elegant elongation

assured grasp of the magical golden hammer,

gentle swoop of Kraft’s

piercing