10 Feature Nov. 6, 2020
The Show Must Go On
Programs adjust to challenges caused by pandemic Marching Band Bryan Ross | Co-Editor
This summer, the houses behind the band lot were missing a loud neighbor on August mornings. The loud and steady clicks of the metronome followed by 200-300 band members counting and playing were missing. But eventually, that neighbor made their long awaited return. Two months later, about 20 degrees cooler, and with about half the members that were expected, the band took the field for the first time to rehearse Sept. 18. While this year’s edition featured temperature checks, social distancing, and no competitive show to work on for the first time in recent memory, senior John Fortanely says he appreciates the rehearsals this year more than he normally would. “In the previous years it’s just been ‘oh another day of rehearsal I’ve gotta go to,” Fortanely said. “Whereas now it’s ‘I get to go to rehearsal instead of having my band season canceled.’” The band was left without any competition opportunities after Bands of America canceled their fall season along with UIL’s state championship schedule rotating to 6A as the school dropped to the 5A level of competition. “I think the first initial reaction was anger and disappointment, then that turned into hope,” head director James Hairston said. “COVID has affected the
Speech and Debate Natalia Zavaleta | Reporter
Speech and Debate is no exception to the many clubs having to work around new schedules, use new platforms, and more. The Speech and Debate team is no exception to this. From online debates to ‘Among Us’ team meetings, Speech and Debate has been trying to make the most out of the new normal. “It has definitely required creative thinking,” debate coach Kirsten Nash said. “There are completely different problems that exist in the online space.” Debaters must learn new skills in order to be successful in online debates, such as having to be tech savvy in order to be as successful as possible, according to Nash. “It definitely is harder to debate via Zoom considering the internet issues,” junior Afsaneh Masoumi said. Connection issues are the main drawback of
band program a lot, we’ve lost students in the program, but we have enough students in the program to keep hope alive, students participating, students on Zoom, so it started out with anger but ended with hope and positivity.” In response to the lack of competition, the band’s planned fall production was delayed until the fall 2021 season and has planned a new production to potentially be performed for the community this spring if conditions allow. In the meantime, band members have the opportunity to sign up to perform at home football games. “I had mixed feelings leading up to the first football game,” Hairston said. “I am and was super excited to have the students back and be able to go to the football games, but also I’m saddened because we are missing 50 percent of the program. The fulfilment isn’t there, even though we do have 100 kids with us, you want to have the 200 kids all together.” At rehearsals and football games, members are required to wear masks that have slits in them to allow for playing their instruments, as well as other precautions such as social distancing, sitting one to a seat on bus rides, and only allowing a limited number of students in dressing rooms at a time. “I always put myself in the student’s shoes,” Hairston said. “I’m uncomfortable with the mask on, I know that they’re uncomfortable with the mask on, so I try to put myself on their level letting them know that the
discomfort they’re going through we’re going through as well, but we do have to do it in order to maintain safety, and I think with that aspect the kids buy into the fact that I do see it on their side, and we’re all in this together, so let’s all wear the mask so that we can still play together.” Band at the high school level isn’t the only aspect being affected by the pandemic. Hairston said that middle schoolers losing out on time to learn their instrument is a concern for the future of the program. “My worry is the fact that the 8th graders did not get a full 7th grade year, and they’re not getting a full 8th grade year,” Hairston said. “So I do worry that in the longevity of the program, we’re going to be hurting with the younger students as they get older and we’re exiting the older students that can already play. So that’s my biggest fear right now.” While it’s impossible to know what the future holds, Hairston said that he still has optimism for the rest of the year. “It’s been extremely difficult not knowing what this year’s gonna bring for us or what we’re going to do,” Hairston said. “I think the fact that I have hope that we are going to be able to perform Intergalactic and I keep believing in that, and make the safest plan for the students and have them believe in that.I think that’s the only thing that’s really driving me right now to make it through this year successfully with the students is the fact that we are going to be able to do this together.”
transitioning to online, according to team members. “I think that we definitely are missing out on some team building,” Nash said. “By this time we have already had a couple of potlucks and have hosted an in person tournament.” Students have also expressed their troubles of being away from the team. “The hardest thing about being virtual is missing team interactions,” junior Audrey Fife said. “We don't have bus rides or in-person practices to bond together as a team, which is one of my favorite things about being in Speech and Debate.” On the other hand, at least some team members agree that they feel more comfortable debating from home and virtually than in person. “I actually really like online right now because I get really bad anxiety competing in front of people so it’s been a good break for me,” Isaelle Cano, the only
senior on the team, said. “This year has been a huge change because not only am I the oldest and a leader, but the pandemic has changed the way we have to do everything. According to Nash, COVID hasn’t damaged the team's spirit or success. “We have a very young team this year and have been working to acclimate new novices with our small varsity group,” Nash said. “We already have earned 6 state qualifications and have a number of students with state points accumulated already.” By gaining new experiences, the Speech and Debate team is looking forward to new opportunities that will be coming this year. “There are a lot of ‘lost minutes’ in both practice and competitions,” Nash said. “I believe that we are exactly where we need to be at this point.”
