The Anvil - October 2020 - Memorial High School, Houston, TX

the

ANVIL October 2020

Vol. 59, Issue No. 1

11COVID-19 Going on 20

Students and teachers adapt to new norms

Memorial High School

Houston, Texas 77024

Don’t forget to order your 2021 yearbook!

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FEATURE

NEWS 04

Noteworthy

07

Going Up

08

Mail-in voting stations close in Texas, Supreme Court nominations begin, two women earn historic Nobel Prize

Construction for new school buildings progresses

Elect or Reject?

Students discuss merits of presidential candidates as election nears

11

COVID-19 Going on ‘20 Students, teachers adapt to new learning norms

Double Sided Does the Impossible Burger taste like real meat?

20

Trending

23

Mindful Meat

24

Strength In Numbers

25

Happening Hallways

26

Mustang Market

Houston Hotspots, Ask the Anvil, Superstition or Superfiction?, Overheard Vegetarians, meat eaters reflect on pros, cons of their diets

Tik Tok takes off, affects politics, environment and more Who Said It?, Grey Hall Greats, Sign of the Times

Senior Bailey Zhang discusses photography business, COVID-19 donations

OPINION 14

One Week

15

The Great Debate

Junior Giselle Tabibi reflects on cousin’s untimely death

Polarizing political climate divides voters

Photo by Megan Benz.

SPORTS 16

Game On, COVID!

Photo by Tribune News Service.

COVID-19 protocols impact upcoming sport seasons

Cover photo by Elizabeth Carney

CONTENTS

COVER

19

Photo by Isabel Yang.

news

Noteworthy

By Sarah Chirapurath, Editor in Chief, Rachel Lee, Sports Editor and Meah Matherne, Business Manager/Reporter

National Amy Coney Barrett nominated to Supreme Court A MAJOR COMPONENT of this year’s

presidential election is the appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice to fill the spot of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ginsburg passed away on Sept. 18 from complications of pancreatic cancer, which she had beat several times before. Nominated

by President Bill Clinton in 1993, she served as the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court.

An advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, Ginsburg authored several Supreme Court opinions on cases surrounding reproductive rights and gender discrimination.

Ginsburg’s replacement has led to much debate as some believe that it is unfair to elect a new justice with less than a month left before the election. A similar issue occurred six months before the 2016 election, although Barack Obama (D), the sitting U.S. president, had his nomination of Merrick Garland

blocked by Senate Majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R). McConnell claimed, “any appointment made by the sitting president to be null and void” because “the American people should have a say in the Court’s direction.”

Many Democrats find the Republican party’s current stance on the issue to be hypocritical.

However, the Constitution allows for the sitting president to make the nomination, regardless of time left in office.

While there has been much debate over when Ginsburg’s replacement should be appointed, it has been generally agreed that the appointee should be a woman. President Donald Trump has nominated Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the position.

Before her nomination, Barrett was a law professor at Notre Dame Law School, the institution from which she graduated in 1997. As a law professor, she taught federal courts, constitutional law, and statutory interpretation and continued teaching even after being appointed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Barrett is characterized as a “textualist” and an “originalist” meaning she interprets the law based on the ordinary and original meaning of the legal text.

The Supreme Court nominee is married and mother to seven children, two of which were adopted from Haiti. Barrett is a practicing Catholic and opposes abortion, a stance which worries some members of the American public as this is in contrast to the opinion of the late Justice Ginsburg, who was a notorious champion of women’s rights.

“Barrett is the opposite of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whom she would be replacing,” senior Morgan Mouer said. “The people should decide who gets to nominate the next justice with who they elect for president.”

The people should decide who gets to nominate the next justice.

”

-Morgan Mouer, 12

Ruth Bade Ginsburg sits for her Supreme Court Justice portrait. Photo by Tribune News Service.

04 Oct

”

Amy Coney Barrett at her Oct. 13th Supreme Court Justice nomination hearing. Photo by Tribune News Service.

If confirmed, Barrett would tip the Supreme Court into a decidedly conservative majority.

This could potentially bring substantial changes to laws involving health care, voting procedures and gun rights. The historic Roe v. Wade, which made abortion legal in the U.S. in 1973, is of particular interest to both Republicans and Democrats, although Barrett herself stated in 2013 that “it’s very unlikely at this point that the court is going to overturn Roe v. Wade.”

“Barrett is the best choice,” senior Jackson Litts said. “She bases all of her decisions on what is best for the American people.”

The Republican Party hopes that the nomination of Barrett, a working mother, will serve as a base of relatability and re-engage Republican-leaning women who may be unnerved by Barrett’s conservative views.

She would be only the fifth woman to serve on the Supreme Court and the first with school-aged children.

With less than three weeks until the election and many presidential ballots already cast, it’s debatable whether Barrett’s nomination hearings will seriously affect the outcome of the election.

COVID Coverage

Global Two women win Nobel Prize in Chemistry in Chemistry has been awarded to two women who worked together: Dr. Jennifer Doudna, a biochemist at UC Berkeley, and Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier, a French researcher at the Max Planch Institute. Awarded for their work and research on CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors, their advancements allow for the rewriting of DNA in cells.

The Nobel Prize, created by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, has since become famous for rewarding some of the brightest minds in physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine, economics, literature and peacework. Since the Nobel Prize’s creation in 1901, only 57 women have won a prize. In the chemistry field, Doudna and Charpentier are the first partners to win without a male accomplice.

“It was nice to see that more women are coming up in science and are being more recognized,” chemistry teacher Jisun Kim said. “Before, it [chemistry] was a very male centered field.”

Their work has made it possible to alter the DNA strand to correct genetic mutations

that causes diseases like sickle cell syndrome.

Doudna and Charpentier first wrote about the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in 2012. Since then, their discovery has been used throughout the scientific field, from creating new crops to reversing the extinction of animals.

“It’s so cool that we can alter the genes of different species and how this is all happening right after we learned about it in biology,” senior Vanessa Nunley said.

Announced the week of October 5th, other Nobel Prize winners include Mats Malm for Literature, Berit Reiss-Andersen for Peace and Thomas Perlmann in Physiology and Medicine.

Mail-in ballot stations closed across Texas

Texas counties will each be limited to a single site for voters to drop off mail ballots in order to ensure the “strength of voting security.” Harris County, one of the most populated counties with 4.7 million residents, will close down more than a dozen satellite voting locations. Some voters would have to drive up to 50 miles in the 1777-square mile county to drop off their ballots.

“The effect of the Oct. 1 order is to unreasonably burden their ability to vote,” senior Jake Gollapalli said. “They will have to travel further

MHS: 28 total 8 active cases TEXAS: 859,108 cases 17,454 deaths US: 8,090,500 total cases 218,400 total deaths

LATEST NEWS

Local

ON OCT. 1, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that

As of Oct. 19, 2020:

Sources: New York Times, SBISD website

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier collect their Nobel Prize. Photo by Tribune News Service.

Gov Greg Abbott speaks to a crowd about reducing mail in ballot locations. Photo by Tribune News Service.

distances, face longer waits, and risk exposure to COVID-19, in order to use the single ballot return location in their county.”

Limited transportation, especially in lower income areas, make it more difficult to reach mail in ballot stations. The added challenges that come with this change will often deter people from voting. Consequently, Abbott’s announcement has brought up the issue of voter suppression.

“Mail in ballots have been part of our electoral process since the Civil War,” history teacher Anthony Gallos said. “In light of the current pandemic, mail in ballots are even more critical for voters with health conditions.”

If people are unwilling or unable to face these new burdens, they will be able to send their ballot through the US Postal Service. However, concern is rising about the effectiveness and reliability of the U.S. Postal service.

“I do trust the U.S. Postal Service,” senior Ellie Hilgert said, “but people need to have a convenient and affordable way to vote in a way that they themselves believe is safe. Voting is a right, not a privilege.”

• Oct. 2: President Trump tests positive for COVID-19 • Oct. 12: Harris County daily case count under 600 for 8th day • Oct. 14: France imposes curfew with threat of • second wave

FROM THE SOURCE

”

AFTER 119 YEARS, the first Nobel Prize

With the test positivity of the US at 5.1 percent...

We’re starting to see a number of states well above that, which is often, and in fact invariably, highly predictive of a resurgence of cases

”

-Dr. Anthony Fauci Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Photo by Tribune News Service.

Anvil

05

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Going Up

SBISD bond used to upgrade classroom buildings, athletic facilities

By Bo Espey, Reporter

AS STUDENTS AND STAFF returned to school on Sept. 8, it was

hard not to notice the lack of lockers in the Orange Hallway, the new carpet in the Blue Hallway and the construction zone outside of the White Hallway. Thanks to a 2017 SBISD bond, the campus is receiving numerous upgrades in a three phase project for both its academic and athletic departments.

Opened in 1962, Memorial is the oldest high school in Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) and has received no major renovations to the campus in more than 20 years.

“It’s pretty exciting, actually,” Principal Lisa Weir said. “Everything is going really well.”

Phase I, which started last spring, highlights the completion of a new building on the northwest corner of campus. The new building will be four stories tall and house math and science classrooms, assistant principal offices as well as a new cafeteria.

“We will be ready to move into the new building by next summer,” Weir said.

The current cafeteria is expected to be converted into career, technology and special education classrooms. Phase II and III will bring the rebuilding and renovation of the remaining wings throughout the school.

Architects and designers considered multiple factors when planning the new campus. For Associate Superintendent of Operations and the Interim Director of Planning & Construction, Travis Sanford, the expansive high school renovations are an exciting experience. Sanford has worked with representatives of both the Master Plan Advisory Team and Project Advisory Team in revitalizing Memorial’s campus.

“Our vision was to design new additions to the campus that would give students and staff a 21st century learning environment,” Sanford said.

“We want to be flexible for any future changes.”

Sanford and his team also took into account the school’s lack of parking, entrance points and congested traffic flow. Over the summer, a new row of parking spots were added to the field house parking lot and a student drive was put in on the west side of the football field with easy access to Gaylord Drive. The next step is the addition of a new bus circle that will be added where the Aqua and Silver Hallways currently stand.

While the main school is months from completion, a new state of the art tennis complex has been moved and completed near the field house.

The facility boasts eight lighted courts, covered back-to-back stands that run the length of the courts, surround sound speakers, locker rooms for players, public restrooms, a storage room and ice room, and a coaches’ office.

“It’s great that all of the tennis teams are finally able to enjoy such a wonderful complex,” varsity tennis Coach Budd Booth said. “Playing on such high quality courts is a privilege.”

The tennis program has been practically unbeatable, boasting the title of district champs for 15 consecutive years and regional champs for 11 years. On top of that they have gone to the state tournament the past 11 straight years with three semifinal appearances, six finals appearances and two championships in 2017 and 2019. The new facility showcases the program’s success just as the new school will highlight the amazing work and learning that takes place daily.

“The new courts are so amazing,” varsity team member Kylie Imperial said. “My favorite part about them are our new locker rooms and the surround sound speakers.”

Construction contractors work on demolishing the parking lot in the area where the tennis courts used to stand on Gaylord Drive.

Photo by Callie Maxwell.

An artist’s rendering of the new building, complete with a spacious bus circle and added parking spots. Photo by SBISD architects

The new building is expected to be ready by next summer. Photo

by SBISD architects

Anvil

07

Elect or Reject?

Joe Biden, Donald Trump go head-to-head in the 2020 presidential election

By Clara Carrabba, Design Editor

2020 HAS BEEN ONE for the books. In the last 365 days, the nation

has faced a global pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, watched a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of protest and riots across the country, seen wildfires decimate more than four million acres of west coast land and mourned the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In a matter of weeks, the nation will vote for one of two presidential candidates whose starkly different viewpoints have contributed to the widening divide between Republicans and Democrats. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are running against former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris in the race. The first debate on Sept. 29 left many Americans feeling confused, as it did not provide much insight on the two candidates’ policies.

“The debate made me feel very frustrated and sad,” AP government and DE US history teacher Mrs. Laree Stone said. “It was not what I had hoped for and was basically just two men shouting at each other.”

Many young people feel powerless in political matters, as only six percent of current high school seniors are eligible to vote. Others are simply uninterested in politics and do not feel inclined to follow the election or politics in general. In an Anvil survey, 30 percent of surveyed students said they would probably not vote even if they could because they do not know or care enough to do so.

“I don’t think I would vote in this election because neither of the two candidates really appeal to me,” junior Cole Johnson said.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has promised tax cuts, the elimination of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and increased immigration restrictions such as the Mexico border wall and eliminating DACA. Critics say he has handled the COVID-19 crisis poorly, is insensitive to racial tensions and disrespectful to women. His supporters cite his economic success such as record-low unemployment rates and tax cuts. No president in modern history has inspired such ardent support and harsh criticism. “[I would vote for] Trump because he has done a lot thus far in his presidency,” senior William Johnson said. “I don’t want America to start moving in the direction of socialism and later, communism.”

The Democratic candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, has campaigned on the promise of uniting a fractured nation and promises new policies such as investing in green energy to create new jobs and spending trillions of dollars to reverse climate change. He plans to loosen many of the immigration restrictions set by Trump and supports the Affordable Care Act. Others support Biden simply because they are so opposed to Trump, but his critics says he is not fit to be president due to his age and supposed mental decline.

“I have listened to many interviews with Trump and his policies never make sense to me,” senior Sabine Waldron said. “The way he’s handling oronavirus doesn’t help.”

According to CNN, 17 million people had already voted as of Oct. 15, 19 days to Election Day. Regardless of which side voters lean towards or stand firmly with, most Americans agree that Nov. 3, 2020 is a day that will be remembered.

08 Oct

RED is a better candidate “ Trump because he did a great job

running the country and tried his best to keep everything under control.

”

-Margo Kieschnick, 9

WHITE I like neither Trump’s nor “Biden’s policies, but I can’t vote anyway. ” -Andy Wang, 9

BLUE is a more respectful “ Biden person because of his policies on climate change, women’s and reproductive rights and immigration.

”

-Lydia Lauritsen, 12

WHERE THEY STAND BIDEN Vows to raise minimum wage, tax highest income earners, create new jobs with green investments and add unemployment benefits

TRUMP

ECONOMY

Advocates for cutting payroll taxes, boosting domestic manufacturing and approved a one-time COVID-19 relief check for Americans

HEALTHCARE Supports the Affordable Care Act, pledges to lower prescription drug prices and Medicare eligibility age

Plans to replace the Affordable Care Act and restructure pricing to reduce costs of prescription drugs

ENVIRONMENT Wishes to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035 with $2 trillion plan to reverse climate change; supports investing in fracking

Reduced many Obama-era regulations, such as auto emissions; supports investing in fracking and coal

RACE/CRIMINAL JUSTICE Wants to get rid of the death penalty and solitary confinement; plans to make college tuition-free or more affordable

Signed First Step Act in 2018, has signed order to begin police reform, acclaims lowest ever Black unemployment rate

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COVID-19 Going on 20 Students and teachers adapt to new ways of learning during COVID-19

By Zarmin Shah, Assitant Editor-in-Chief, Chandler Gartner, Reporter and Lauren Wall, Reporter

FOR THE FIRST time in over six months, 1,659 students woke up bright and early on Sept. 8, put on their first day of school outfits and grabbed a protein bar before heading to class. Greeted

by PTA moms handing out individually wrapped donuts, MHS themed masks and hand sanitizer, students made sure to pull up their face masks and stop by the nearest hand sanitizer station before making their way to first period.

The remaining 915 students snoozed their alarm three times left their pajama pants on while making breakfast and sat down at the kitchen table in front of their laptop for the third week in a row, logging in to first period at 7:45.

The first day of classes looked stranger than ever before.

Photo by Megan Benz.

WH

mo pan up As iso

Classroom Chaos

As Sept. 8 drew nearer, students were faced with the difficult choice of whether to return to campus and risk their safety or to stay online and miss out on social interaction.

During the month of October, online students attempted to tackle technical issues while inperson students struggled to maintain their health outside of quarantine. Within the first nine weeks of school, 28 students contracted COVID-19, leaving teachers, parents and students nervous about a possible spike in coming months.

“I think we’re all anxious,” Principal Lisa Weir said. “It’s a weird time, but I feel like our Spring Branch and Memorial family have really helped each other out.”

With 36 percent of students opting for virtual learning, teachers have adopted more computerfriendly resources, often abandoning traditional pen and paper assignments. However, it’s not just teachers who are facing challenges with the predominately online system of teaching; students are also acclimating to a new style of learning. Discrepancies are felt between both online and in-person students as teachers struggle to provide equal attention to both groups.

“I feel overwhelmed, tired and sometimes frustrated, but I still enjoy what I do every day,” biology teacher Jo Ann Strait said. “I guess you could say I am like a first year teacher trying to learn a new subject — technology!”

Testing, now online for a third of the student body, is conducted in bedrooms, dining rooms and home offices, often surrounded by the chaos that comes with being at home.

“Testing online can be stressful at times with outside factors such as internet problems or background noise from your family,” senior Martina Fuentes said. “In-person people can just focus on their test in quiet classrooms.”

Technical difficulties are another challenge online students face, as much of the schoolwork relies on programs like Zoom and ItsLearning, both of which require constant, uninterrupted internet access. With hundreds of students attempting to log into ItsLearning at the same time, the program is known to experience connectivity problems.

“It’s hard to do classwork being an online student because Its Learning crashes a lot,” junior Grace Davis said.

Cheating by online students can be reduced with lock-down browsers and GoGuardian, a software used to monitor students’ computer

screens, however access to multiple devices and printed notes may provide them with unfair testing advantages.

“I’ve noticed that online kids are doing better grade-wise,” senior Camille Smith said. “In some of my classes, the grade discrepancy is so large that the test averages went from B’s and C’s to A’s with the only difference being online vs. in-person.”

For current juniors and seniors, one of the biggest issues has been the cancellation of SAT and ACT testing days. To compensate for numerous missed tests, many universities have adopted a test-optional admissions cycle this year, allowing students to apply without submitting any standardized test scores. Testoptional schools employ a “holistic review “ system: one that judges a student’s potential based on several factors besides test scores, such as GPA, extracurricular activities and volunteering projects.

“It may affect the admissions process because it is impossible to compare a student with a test score to one without a test score if they have identical grades and extracurriculars,” senior Mary Kate Skrabanek said.

”

It was scary because I didn’t know how my body would react to COVID-19.

- Logan Agee, 12

12 Oct

”

Worth the Risk?

For senior Logan Agee, returning to school in September was not an option. After fighting cancer for nearly a year, she was beginning the recovery process when COVID-19 hit in late February.

“I had to be really careful when going out in public,” Agee said. “It was scary because I didn’t know how my body would react if I did get COVID-19.”

Logan, like many other students, has a comprised immune systems, leaving her vulnerable to COVID-19. According to the CDC, six in 10 U.S. adults have underlying health conditions, leaving them struggling with new fears and restrictions that the virus has caused. Even though many are not afflicted with these issues, the vast majority of students know or have close contact with someone who does, be it an elderly person or someone with underlying health conditions.

“One of my immediate family members has high blood pressure, high cholesterol and asthma, so it was safer for me to stay home,” freshman Deveny Gilmore said.

One of the biggest risks COVID-19 poses to this population, specifically those with lung and blood conditions, is the disease’s tendency to fill the lungs with fluid and cause blood clots.

COVID-19 also includes the risk of leaving

In-person and online students recite a digital script together in Ms. Sierra’s Spanish class.

Photo by Zarmin Shah. previously healthy patients with lifelong health conditions. Some recovered patients are left vulnerable to future lung issues such as pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Lasting damage to the heart is possible, even in mild cases, and may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart problems.

Since COVID-19 can lead to complications such as sepsis, an infection that spreads into the bloodstream causing organs to shut down, some patients might recover from the virus, but die from another illness.

Highs and Lows

One of the most widespread issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on

stay home to protect family members,

MASK ON mental health. As most of the state was shut down for months, people of all ages were left in isolation. According to a Centers for Disease Control survey of 5400 Americans, 40 percent said they have experienced mental health issues related to COVID-19. Depression and anxiety have increased as people experienced loneliness, financial strain or losing their homes due to lack of income. People who were living paycheckto-paycheck before the pandemic began now face added hardships such as unemployment, which can cause feelings of hopelessness. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the number of clinically depressed or anxious people has dramatically increased since midMarch, now affecting a third of all Americans.

High school students and young adults make up a substantial portion of these numbers, although the pandemic left people of all ages feeling powerless by changing everyone’s daily lives. Not only did new cases of mental illnesses appear, but thousands of Americans relapsed or fell back down the dark hole of depression or other mental problems.

“I have always had depression, but it definitely escalated the first few months of quarantine,” junior James Loftis said.

For some, the time the quarantine provided

was somewhat of a positive development. Some students used their time to focus on bettering themselves and their mental health by spending more time with family and exploring new interests, such as baking, exercising or simply catching up on their Netflix queue.

“I grew to rather like isolation at times because it let me develop as a person,” junior Rita Reul said. “I’m happier than I was last year, and I am more grateful for the little things, since now I know that life should not be taken for granted.”

As thousands of Americans grapple with their new normal, students search for the sense of familiarity that school provides.

It provides some structure in students’ daily routines, but the differences between online and in-person learning are stark and problematic for many.

The fear still surrounding the virus, especially for immunocompromised students or students with sick or elderly family members, keeps some students home in an to protect themselves or their family, and the effects of quarantine on millions of Americans’ mental health are still being felt. Nevertheless, the uncertain, and at times frightening, environment created by COVID-19 has bonded people across the globe.

I am more grateful for the little things, since now I know that life should not be taken for granted.

”

- Rita Reul, 11

”

What is it like wearing a mask all day at school?

Victoria Stokes, 9 “In the beginning it was kind of annoying, but now I’ve gotten used to it.”

John Genung, 12 “I think masks are a great option to keep everyone healthy and keep school running.”

Drew Morris, 12 “I personally don’t like wearing masks.

I think they’re irritating, but better than nothing.”

Students wear their masks as they stop to mingle in the courtyard between classes.

Photo by Megan Benz.

Anvil

13

column

One Week

Anvil staff member faces struggle of losing a loved one during a global pandemic

By Giselle Tabibi, Reporter

The last picture of Milad with my mom and aunt while water rafting over the Fourth of July weekend. Photo by Giselle Tabibi.

IT HAD BEEN one week. One week since we had last seen him. One week since we had left and were not expecting to go back for at least another year. One week, and now he was gone forever.

Since Nov. of last year, my mom and I had been planning a trip to California to visit my family for my younger cousin’s birthday. After being exposed on flights and in airports, we spent a few days keeping our distance to make sure we would not infect the rest of our family, just in case we had COVID-19.

The rest of our time was spent visiting famous attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Mystery Spot. My older cousin, Milad, didn’t go out with us, instead opting to stay home and do online college work.

During the Fourth of July weekend, we decided to go water rafting, a strange endeavor for my unathletic family. It was exciting to have everyone there, including Milad, because we had not hung out a lot since we arrived. I was looking forward to it. We made the long drive up to the river, bright and early, stopping for snacks and coffee along the way. At every pit stop, we laughed and goofed around, making the long drive fun.

When we arrived and got out onto the water, Milad took the initiative. He made sure to steer us in the right direction and ensured our safety when we hit bumpy currents. Even after rowing and guiding us the whole way down the river and looking out for all of us, he still had the energy to jump in the water and splash around when it became unbearably hot.

I think about these small but precious moments a lot. I didn’t realize our only time together would be so short. After ten days, we said our goodbyes and boarded our plane back to Houston.

One week after our return, my family and I were relaxing in our rooms; it was one of those lazy days when you lay inside all day binging movies, not worrying about anything. I headed downstairs to get a snack when my mom got a call. The call.

I immediately knew something was wrong. Her expression went dark, her mouth fell open and her eyes began to well with tears. I could already piece it together.

Someone had died.

I could not tell who or how, but I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally got off the phone and told me what had happened.

Milad had died in his dorm room.

It did not make any sense. He was young and healthy. He was perfectly fine. I could not understand how someone could be here one day and gone the next.

It had only been one week since I saw him in California, since I said “See you soon!” since we drove to get bubble tea and he told me to live my life to the fullest, never backing down to my fears: “You shouldn’t have to live the life other people want you to live,” he had said to me.

“Do what you want, live on the edge.”

I brushed the words off at the time, not realizing the importance of them until they were painfully relevant.

When my mom gathered her senses, she was on her laptop finding the next flight to San Francisco.

I couldn’t go with her due to safety complications and was forced to cope from afar. In this time, I thought back to my favorite memories with him; the times when we would just sit in each others’ company happily playing iMessage games or driving to get food and catching up on life.

I wanted to be in San Fransisco for my cousins, aunts and uncles, but it was not possible. I called my mom every day for the two weeks she was gone, hearing a combination of the same things every time: “You wouldn’t want to be here.” “It’s not fun.” “We visited him today.”

Even though it was difficult for me to sit back and watch from the sidelines, I tried my best to support everyone from afar. I knew it was hard on my mom when she went back because she had to be the rock for everyone. Her courage motivated me to stay strong while she was gone.

Through this loss, my outlook on life has changed for the better. My cousin’s life - and death - has inspired me to take more chances and stop holding myself back. While I grieve for my cousin, I celebrate his life and love every day.

”

You shouldn’t have to live the life other people want you to live. Do what you want, live on the edge.

14 Oct

”

editorial

The Great Debate

America’s political scene is tense, the result is a nation divided THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION has turned into one

of the most polarizing election in history. Now, more than ever before, the nation has been divided into two distinct sides, and the results are upsetting the harmony of the country.

Instead of voting on a president who represents social, economic and political policy, the election has turned into something equivalent to a sporting match. Spectators, or voters, aggressively advocate for their “team,” party or presidential candidate to win, no matter who or what the candidate supports or represents. Fox News and other media outlets have even set up online betting systems where voters can win prizes based on what outrageous claims, actions or reactions viewers think will be said or done during the presidential and vice presidential debates.

Once a display of policy and negotiation, the most recent debates have been reduced to shouting matches between the candidates.

Instead of debates serving to inform voters of policies and proposals, thus providing security in voters’ political opinions, they have created chaos, further enraging voters, and dividing the nation even more. As evidenced in the first presidential debate, politics are no longer about right or wrong, moral or immoral, but who has a bigger “wow factor”, who can talk over the other person more, deny the most claims or cover up the bigger scandal. A lack of information due to distracting “wow factors” in the first presidential debate has led to widespread confusion and hesitation amongst first time and undecided voters in their decision of who to vote for, or to vote at all, in this election.

Partly to blame for the nation’s extreme division is the presentation of the candidates themselves. Through unfiltered words and actions, both candidates influence the reactions and actions of their supporters.

The results isolate moderate and undecided voters and further drive a political wedge into the country.

The increasing influence of social media and the press both contribute and benefit from this. Voters constant need for new information means the more wild and outlandish content the press provides, the more views and reactions a media source can generate, resulting in more revenue. Although the presidential election has been wild, chaotic and downright entertaining, by solely capitalizing on the “wow factor” content, media sources are confusing the average voter by blurring what is fundamentally important with what is merely entertainment.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have become a double-edged sword when it comes to informing voters. The platforms not only spread awareness and information but are also home to misinformation, disinformation and hate-driven news. Although widely known as an unreliable news source, social media continues to consume many students’ lives and often serves as their primary mode of information.

Students often draw their opinions and viewpoints based on possibly false information and what their peers believe and promote. Social media’s increasing presence in a voter’s daily lives compromises the integrity of the election as many form their opinions and beliefs based on a platform where bias is allowed and encouraged.

The combined presence of social media and the hostile political environment has only served to increase voters’ competitive spirit

During the first presidential debate Trump and Biden talk over each other and the mediator, degrading each others past actions and decisions. Photo by Tribune News Service. and narrowing their mindset, solely focusing on their candidate winning rather than voting for the best suited nominee. Instagram accounts such as “Settle for Biden” demonstrate this idea; the account is dedicated to promoting president elect Joe Biden by running on a platform that claims Biden is the right choice by default because Trump is the wrong one. Accounts like these rely less on statistics, proposed policies and promises and more on the opponent’s character, more specifically their faults in character. In response to accounts driven by social rather than political background, both candidates have numerous accounts working to minimize and justify their past actions. These accounts are not only meant to sway undecided voters but rile up committed ones.

While every previous presidential race has been high stakes and heated, this one, in particular, has the country divided by extremes. Even worse than first-time voters not understanding the election and making uninformed decisions (or not voting at all), is that first time voters’ first exposure to politics is during a time of such political unrest. Leaders who are supposed to represent democracy, peace and understanding are instead demonstrating childish, contradictory and polarizing behavior, setting up a future of voters with a skewed understanding of what politics should represent.

In modern politics, the position of president elect has become less about choosing the best candidate, and instead about a candidate winning for the sake of winning. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, social media and many other inhibitors, voters must overcome numerous obstacles in order to cast their vote knowledgeably. If the country does not take steps to ease the hatred between parties, candidates, decisions and opinions, America will be stuck in another decade of corrupt and disgruntled politics.

”

The presidential election has been wild, chaotic and downright entertaining.

”

Anvil

15

sports

Game On, COVID! Athletes return to play after months at home

By Kristina Pham, Reporter and Delaney Polocheck, Reporter

Junior Samantha Cousins and seniors Lauren Elie and Lyla Traylor wait for the serve. Photo by Callie Maxwell.

ONCE PACKED BLEACHERS

are now sparse, crowds’ cheers no longer fill stands on game-days, uniforms come paired with a mask and post-game handshakes are a thing of the past. For athletes across the nation, COVID-19 has drastically changed their seasons.

A Difficult Decision

The kick-off to sports seasons has many athletes holding their breath, and not just because UIL (University Interscholastic League) has mandated masks. COVID-19’s cancellation of practices and games led many to question whether they would have a season at all, and if so, could their love of the game trump personal safety concerns?

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Harris County ranks first among Texas counties on the official COVID-19 count, totaling 152, 673 cases as of Oct. 14. To slow the spread of the virus, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), Texas’ governing body for high school sports, released a set of COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Guidelines. Among these are the requirement of face coverings, daily disinfection of equipment, screening protocols and a 50 percent maximum capacity limit for stadium spectators. Still, many athletes are skeptical of the safety of team sports, complicated further by shared locker rooms and equipment, as well

16 Oct

as close-contact play.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most cases of coronavirus in children younger than 18 years present themselves as asymptomatic or mild, so even if a student athlete contracted the virus, they likely wouldn’t know. These students run the risk of unknowingly infecting

immunocompromised family members and friends.

“A lot of young people act like they are not capable of contracting the virus,” junior varsity tennis player Kinari Hirano said. “I’ve heard of some ill effects you can experience, even after healing, so I am a bit scared.”

“

An Era of Change and Adaptation

obviously. Still, they’ve found a way to march past the obstructions of face coverings.

“Wind instruments have specific fabric masks with a small slit for the mouthpiece to go in,” senior drum major Ava Speros said. “The biggest issue is when you’re out of breath running laps in the heat, and the mask has to stay on.”

Other changes for the band include not being able to share water coolers, members filling the width of the stands at football games in order to socially distance themselves and taking seven buses to football games as opposed to five.

For other sports, like cross country and track, masks are not a requirement.

“When running we have to stay farther out at practice, not bunched in a pack like normal,” junior varsity cross country runner Ryan Fraser said. “I don’t like not being able to run right with your buddy, but because of the changes, I don’t have any fear of contracting the virus.”

As long as we’re together, I don’t think anything really bothers us.

High school sports play a large role in forming a tight-knit community; from tailgates, pep-rallies, and Friday night lights, to finding friendships in teammates and spectators, sports have brought the community together for decades.

Under social distancing policies and virtual learning, the solidarity that sports foster for students is now especially important. The sporting community provides a sense of normalcy amidst disrupted routines and the chaotic backdrop of COVID-19.

The influence of high school sports extends beyond students. Football is embedded in Texas culture, but there’s no denying its incompatibility with COVID-19. Between blocking, tackling and team

-Alice Scafide, 11

For the Markettes, classic, fan-favorite football dances, such as the hoop and kick routines, must be altered thanks to COVID-19.

Practices with the band in the church parking lot, shared locker rooms and routines that require team members to touch are all obstacles they have to overcome.

“We’re not able to high five each other after a good run anymore, and we can’t do my favorite dance, kick, which is super upsetting,” junior Markette Alice Scafide said.

“But I love my team, and as long as we’re together, I don’t think anything can really bother us.”

For the marching band, most instruments NO are played by mouth, which makes the problem of wearing masks difficult,

Unwavering Passion

47.4% 52.6% YES

”

Do you feel that masks considerably affect your sports performance? *60 student athletes polled

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE huddles, players sharing the same airspace all pose legitimate health risks. However, a regularly scheduled COVID-19 testing policy is too costly for the district. Still, players are keeping a positive outlook.

“I have confidence in SBISD and our coaches that they are doing what’s best for us,” junior football player Carson Zahn said.

Players are running less, getting their temperatures checked, and minimizing time and capacity allowed in the locker room at one time. When the helmet comes off, the masks must come on.

School sponsored sports and clubs are getting creative in how they honor their opponents’ traditions and in how they keep team spirit alive.

Handshakes, once the standard in sports used to acknowledge a competition well played, are transitioning to contact-less forms for sports like tennis.

“It isn’t that big of a deal,” sophomore Ava Annino said. “We can just say ‘good game’ and shake rackets.”

“

Tennis players are now required to wear masks off-court, spread out on-court and ask for permission when getting water.

There’s unshakable optimism in the soccer department as well.

“A couple of changes to our daily routine is a small price to pay to remain playing,” head girls soccer coach Lindley Amarantos said.

“Being adaptable and problem solving are key components we preach in the soccer program, and this is just another opportunity where we can use these skills.”

Changes include wearing buffs or face masks during practice and requiring separate water bottles. Many locker rooms are now staggered in an effort to adhere to social distancing policies.

Even in a time of such uncertainty, one thing is for sure; Memorial’s fighting spirit is relentless and the ‘stangs are not backing down.

“This is definitely not what I imagined my first year of volleyball to be like,” freshman Daisy Vannuis said. “But I think our team has risen to the challenge and made us stronger.”

I think our team has risen to the challenge and made us stronger.

-Daisy Vannuis, 9

”

Freshman Jade Lawson-Ho discusses her experience as the only girl on the football team

Q: What position do you play, and how long have you been playing football?

A: I play kicker, and this is my second year playing football.

Q: What made you decide to play football?

A: I heard we needed a kicker in eighth grade. I knew I could kick well because I play soccer, so I decided to try out for football, and I made it. I enjoyed it last year, so I decided to play freshman year too.

Q: What’s it like being the only girl on the team?

A: Honestly, being the only girl is a little uncomfortable, but the coaches are extremely welcoming and the boys are nice. I think it’s important to show that women can take on roles they weren’t traditionally expected to be able to.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about playing football?

A: My favorite thing about football is that I get to experience the challenges of playing a male-dominated sport, while also being able to try something I wouldn’t normally do.

Junior Anna Graber cheers with her mask on, socially distanced in the stands. Photo by Jacqueline Wright.

Anvil

17

WELCOME HOME s g n usta M

1399 S. VOSS ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77057 • 713.468.0868 • CARRABBASORIGINAL.COM

feature

Double Sided

Two students debate their favorite burger: Impossible or meat burger?

By Rachel Lee, Sports Editor

THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER is a plant- based alternative to traditional meat burgers. It supposedly mimics the flavors, aroma

and texture of beef. Some claim that the impossible burger is more nutritious and environmentally friendly than the beef-based burgers.

Others argue that certain ingredients in the impossible burger may not be optimal for health.

James Shea, 12

Jackie Nguyen, 12

Fake meat never tastes good to me.

Even if the Impossible Burger tastes similar to a real meat burger, I would prefer a real meat burger with no tricks regarding the added sodium and additives that make it have the same nutritional value.

For me, It’s not so much the taste that entices me to eat the Impossible Burger over a regular beef burger, but moreso the morals behind it. I think we undervalue the lives of the animals we eat, and it makes me feel a little better to eat Impossible burgers.

First of all, a real meat burger is much better than the Impossible burger. A real burger has no tricks or anything added to it. I like not having to think about the plants or additional additives in my burger. Just because something is plant based does not mean that it is better for you. I also hate the idea of being fed something that is fake, no matter how much it tastes like the real thing. They are also full of processed ingredients to mimic the taste of the burger. Just keep it simple with the real thing.

JAMES:

By the way, impossible burger does not taste like a fake burger. I like the Impossible Burger more than a real one because I am not a huge fan of beef. I have been trying to slowly cut out meat from my diet, so I think it is a pretty good substitute. Also, I can’t really distinguish the difference between those two burgers, so I would like to eat the healthier one.

JACKIE:

What? There is no way you can’t distinguish the difference between a real beef burger and an Impossible Burger. They DO NOT taste the same. Knock offs are always slightly different from the originals. Maybe it is just psychological, but it was not as good as meat.

JAMES:

19 Oct

James, I agree that they don’t taste exactly the same, but I can definitely taste the similarities between the two.

JACKIE:

Well, okay I appreciate your opinion. Whether they taste similar or not, I hate the fact that I can’t really put my finger on it. It seemed almost as if the burger was wetter, but not in a juicy flavorful way. Almost as though it was compensating for the flavor.

JAMES:

I mean.. I believe that the texture of the Impossible Burger is tougher and a little smokier in my opinion. I really like that unique texture of the burger.

JACKIE:

I am sure that I will not order the Impossible Burger again.

I don’t have any moral reason for not eating meat, so I don’t have an incentive to try something I do not like as much. I will definitely order a beef burger over the Impossible Burger!

JAMES:

JACKIE:

I would definitely order it again.

Trending

By Meah Matherne, Business Manager/Reporter and Kristina Pham, Reporter

Houston Hotspots Anvil’s must see H-town spots Goodwill Outlet Store

Houston Botanic Garden

1001 Bissonnet St.

7960 Long Point Rd.

1 Botanic Lane

Art freak? Just bored? The Museum of Fine Arts is the perfect place to engage your mind and get your steps in for the day! Located in the Museum District, MFAH is one of the largest museums in the United States and has displays that span over 6,000 years of history and varying artistic styles. Better yet, general admission is free on Thursdays and there is an ever-rotating cast of exciting exhibits.

Goodwill is the perfect place to buy a new wardrobe at a low cost while supporting sustainability. The Goodwill location on Long Point is an outlet style store. It is quite literally a competition to grab what you want before other shoppers. New bins are rolled out every hour and all items are on a first come, first served basis. Your finds are weighed and priced by the pound, excluding items such as books which are counted individually.

The Houston Botanic Garden has recently opened off of I-45 and is designed for “attendees of all ages to deepen their understanding of nature.” The tranquil outdoor space features free events intended to highlight the cultural and historical significance of plants from around the world, as well as those native to Texas. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Houston Botanic Garden is the perfect place for a relaxing weekend walk or a break from the stress of school and extracurriculars.

Museum of Fine Arts

Long Point

Museum District

Park Place

Ask the Anvil You ask, we answer!

Q: What type of classes are even in the green wing? I’ve never seen anyone there.

Q: How do you balance sports, school, homework, church events, friends and family in high school?

A: All you need to know is that the classes in Green are taught by Chicago Cubs fans and rock band members.

A: You have to make something your main focus and understand that you don’t have to be perfect or prioritize everything you are involved in.

Q: What’s the best way to study last minute?

Q: Why are there people walking around school in hard hats, construction vests and short shorts on game days?

A: If it’s past midnight, just go to bed. If it’s not, Khan Academy is your new best friend.

20 Oct

A: Don’t mind them... they’re just the new construction workers.

Overheard

Superstition or Superfiction?

Mustangs Poll How superstitious are you?

Very; Firm Believer Somewhat Not at all; Total Skeptic

9%

Blue Hall

Superstitions bewitch their believers, putting them into a spell of fear of the unknown or trust in magic or luck. Believers weave their lives around superstitions, hoping to prevent whatever terrible fate awaits them if they don’t. Dying to dissect MHS’ top superstition? Abandon all science, ye who read on.

Where is fourth floor Aqua?

White Hall

Uncover Memorial’s spooky underbelly in time for Halloween

I’m growing a ratchet mustache, but you’d never know that because of the mask.

Does stepping on the mustang in the courtyard means bad luck for the entire school year and/or you won’t graduate?

Yes, avoid at all costs No, it’s no big deal

17%

33%

74%

67%

MHS’ Most Popular Superstitions

10% 22%

Green Hall

22%

Drug dogs are here.

12%

100 students were surveyed on their superstitious beliefs

Key #13 and/or Friday the 13th is unlucky Breaking a mirror is 7 years of bad luck

Knocking on wood to ward off bad juju Black cats/ravens/ owls are bad omens

Grey Hall

16%

Stop sleeping on the ground!

Orange Hall

18%

Jay-Z would obviously win in a tennis tournament against Shaq.

3 a.m. is the witching hour

Walking under a ladder is bad luck

Friday the 13th Behold the dreaded date, Friday the 13th.

12 and 13 have quite the contrasting history. 12 is positively associated with the heavens: 12 months, 12 zodiac signs. 12 is also the number of completeness. It forms two 12-hour halves of night and day, and 12 months complete most calendars.

13, however, has notorious misfortune. The 13th guest to arrive at the last supper betrays Jesus. The arrival of Valhalla’s 13th god, Loki, upset the balance of the 12 gods, wrenching treachery and mischief unto the world. Friday is the day Jesus was crucified and Eve gave Adam the forbidden fruit. Together, Friday and 13 make a wickedly ominous pair.

Critics, are you convinced? Does bad luck lie in the eye of the beholder? When strange happenings align, is it mere coincidence, or do you get a sense of something spooktacular? Superstitions are what you make out of them, so truly, anything ghosts.

Anvil

21

Chivalry is not dead… Say it with Flowers!

SPRING BRANCH

cityflowersSB.com

(832) 598-8703

City Flowers Spring Branch is locallyowned and ready to serve you for all your flower arrangement needs. Let us be part of your special events, all occasions are welcome! – Prom, dances, birthdays, teachers’ days, or if you just want to make someone’s day extra special. We make Homecoming mums! Check out our online catalog. We look forward to be YOUR trusted florist!

FREE SAME DAY DELIVERY IN SPRING BRANCH!

Mindful Meals

Food trends inspire meat-free, guilt-free options

Tastes Like Chicken Buffalo Chickpea Wrap

By Sarah Chirapurath, Co-Editor-in-Chief and Chandler Gartner, Reporter

THE CHEESEBURGER HAS long been

thought of as the classic American food, but for 18.4 million, the burger has been reimagined.

Instead of the traditional carnivorous meal, many are turning to black bean, quinoa, or chickpea alternatives; however, the question remains, is a plant-based lifestyle beneficial or harmful?

Health has become a leading reason for many turning to vegetarianism. Reduced meat consumption has been tied to a decrease in risk factors associated with heart disease, stroke and diabetes because fat in red meat clogs arteries and lead to high cholesterol.

In a survey of 100 students, 17 percent cited a desire to improve health as the reason behind their reduced meat consumption. Other reasons include religion, climate change and animal rights.

“I have started to reduce my meat consumption because it makes me feel better on a health level, as well as for animal rights and climate reasons,” senior Alex Yang said.

Inexpensive and often lower-grade meat is widely available at fast food restaurants, providing a convenient option for an on-the-run meal.

“I like the easy protein, so I eat meat,” senior Sabine Waldron said.

However, meat is not the only source of cheap, fast protein. According to registered dietitian Jill Corleone, one cup of soybeans contains more protein than three ounces of beef tenderloin.

Other benefits that are a direct result of reducing meat consumption is a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change. The United States is responsible for emitting 16.5 metric tons of greenhouse gas per person per year, compared to a worldwide average of about five. Meat production alone produces 22 pounds of carbon dioxide per pound of meat while vegetable production produces only two pounds of carbon dioxide per pound.

On the flip side, the problem with eating a vegetarian diet occurs when people cut out all meat abruptly. One of the most common issues that vegetarians encounter is iron deficiency, otherwise known as anemia.

In a 2017 study conducted by the Journal of Nutrition and Food Science, they found that while vegetarian women have a lower average Body Mass Index (BMI), they also had higher rates of anemia with 60 percent of the group being mildly anemic and 40 percent being moderately anemic. On the other hand, women who consumed meat averaged 47 percent mildly anemic and only 7 percent moderately anemic.

“When I tried to go vegetarian/vegan, I got really sick,” freshman Margo Kieschnick said.

“I think it was because I wasn’t getting enough protein.”

Additionally, vegetarians can suffer from Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and zinc deficiency, as meat provides healthy levels of these minerals and vitamins. A consequence of B12 deficiencies is an increase in depressive disorders in vegetarians.

A 2013 Harvard Health study found that 24 percent of plant-only eaters suffered from depression while 10 percent of meat eaters in the study claimed to suffer.

“Humans are naturally omnivorous,” certified nutritionist and Instagram food curator Sara Haven said. “A more reasonable alternative to veganism is encouraging increased vegetable consumption and mindful meat consumption.”

The bottom line is, when people begin their meat-free journey, on a nutrient level, it must be equivalent to that of their carnivorous lifestyle.

Whether it means adding another serving of kale to a morning smoothie or eating some chickpeas for lunch a few times a week, it has to be supplemented somewhere.

“I would never consider cutting meat out of my diet,” senior Duncan Heath said. “There are extremely valuable nutrients in meat that cannot be found in other foods.”

“ Reducing my meat consumption makes me feel better healthwise as well as for animal rights and climate reasons.

-Alex Yang, 12

”

INGREDIENTS 1 tbsp 1/2 tsp 1/4 tsp 1 (15 oz.)

1/4 c 1 tbsp 1/4 c 2c 1/2 c 4

White vinegar Cayenne pepper Salt Canned chickpeas, rinsed Greek yogurt Hot sauce Choice of cheese Chopped romaine lettuce Shredded carrot 8-inch tortilla wraps

RECIPE 1.

2.

3.

Preheat oven to 400° F. Mix vinegar, cayenne and salt in a large bowl. Pat the chickpeas dry and add them to the vinegar mixture.

Spread the chickpeas on a baking sheet and roast for 30-35 minutes, stirring twice until browned and crunchy.

4.

Combine yogurt and hot sauce in a small bowl.

5.

Divide the lettuce and carrot among the wraps.

Top each with 1/4 cup of the chickpeas and 2 tablespoons sauce.

Roll up. Enjoy!

Anvil

23

Faces of TikTok

Strength In Numbers

Paige Pesek, 10 “I went viral in September of 2019, posting a TikTok of my friends, while saying I wasn’t allowed to be in it.”

TikTok’s growing platform influences Generation Z to action

By Zainab Siddiqui, Reporter and Ariana Mehdizadeh, Reporter Following

For You

58K followers

Styling and Designing Following

Following

For You

For You

Dakota Dalton, 11 “I posted a video of clothes and outfits that I’ve made. It has around 800,000 views.”

#Black Lives Matter Movement

Viral “Call Your Crush Challenge”

IN ONE MINUTE videos, TikTok, a

26K followers

Alireza Teremah, 11 “TikTok got me in touch with a lot of influential people in the music industry. It even helped me reach my goal of 150,000 streams on Spotify.”

66K followers

Mike Mohr, 12 “Once you understand the algorithm and what’s popular on the app, it’s really easy to go viral.”

98K followers

24 Anvil

viral video-sharing app owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance, allows teens from across the world to communicate through trends and movements. TikTok’s “For You” page, a customized content page, provides users with an endless scroll of eye-catching videos, from creative art videos to entertaining dances.

TikTok reclaimed its fame in 2018 when the app was redesigned and rebranded from Musical.ly to TikTok. During the six-month COVID-19 quarantine, TikTok usage soared and so did its ever evolving, trend-based content. According to Music Business Worldwide, a music industry analysis platform, during the week of March 16th, the first week the majority of Americans began quantining, the app was downloaded two million times. TikTok’s quick rise to fame can be attributed to its ability to provide a form of communication in a time of isolation.

“It is a diverse space where a lot of information can be spread to the public,” junior Hoan My Lee said.

TikTok’s pop culture and its impact on today’s teenagers is becoming more and more evident. The app has set the stage for many upcoming artists and influencers, as it provides a platform for users’ talents to be showcased.

TikTok’s fashion trends have also inspired styles and accessories like alligator hair clips and 90’s mom jeans, both of which have taken over the closets of Gen Z users.

“I like watching people design and make clothes,” freshman Audrey Hwang said. “I also like seeing how people style things together.”

TikTok has become a political outlet for movements such as Black Lives Matter and

#SaveYemen. With its growing platform, TikTok users have become bolder in their attempts to voice their opinions.

On June 20, a rally was held at the Bank of Oklahoma Center by President Donald Trump to further his re-election campaign. Ticket sales unexpectedly skyrocketed, leading many to believe that the stands would be filled by Trump supporters. However, an unexpected outcome occurred. Anti-Trump TikTok users started a movement that led thousands of like-minded users to buy tickets and reserve seats, only to not attend, leaving them far less crowded than initially expected.

In August, talk of possibly shutting down TikTok began to circulate because of its ties to China. President Trump claimed that China was able to access TikTok user information, making the app a threat to national security.

In a statement to the press, Trump said, “It [TikTok] is not a great asset in the United States unless they have the approval of the United States.”

After much uproar from its millions of users, TikTok was given a chance to be bought by an American company. After weeks of negotiations, TikTok came to an agreement to sell the app to computer software company, Oracle.

TikTok’s national, and even global impact, has stemmed from its diverse capabilities. By educating and connecting people all over the world through 60-second videos, TikTok has become the leading face of social media for Gen Z students.

“TikTok has not only been an entertainment app for me but a place where I’ve learned so much about the world and life,” sophomore Alyssa Landa said.

TikTok global downloads (in millions) 400 300 200 100 0

2017 2018 2019 Jan.-Jun. 2020

Happening Hallways

Gray hallway hosts an array of classes ranging from foreign languages to art

By Megan Benz, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Cameron Bowman, Reporter and Giselle Tabibi, Reporter

GRAY HALL GREATS

GUESS WHO?

Which gray hall teacher fits these descriptions?

1.

Calls her students "my loves"

2.

Roasts kids in Spanish

3.

Has a dog toy that looks like a green pig that squeals when squeezed

Three students spend their time tucked away in gray Ava Speros, 12 “I ran for president because Mrs. Young asked me to run for an officer position, but also because I really wanted to be able to make NEHS more impactful at our school.”

Zayn Syed, 12 “Art helped me and my friends find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. I feel like I’ve grown up in the gray hall.

Nadia Troung, 11 “German IV is a really fun class and language. German may be uncommon in Texas, but that’s what makes it cooler in my opinion.”

1.

NEHS President

Mrs. Cullen Ms. Sierra

2.

Mrs. Jungklaus

3.

SIGN OF THE TIMES Q: How have masks affected you, your class and your students both virtual and online?

Q: How would you describe your job so far this year given the current circumstances?

Q: What are some things you have had to do differently or change in your class this year?

Art IV Student

German IV Student

ASL teacher Becky Jungklaus adapts to challenges posed by mask mandate A: My students have had to sign more and read our eye expressions, as I could not read their lips, but we do have see-through masks in class.

A: It is so different and hard to communicate with masks. The work, preparation and videos are just exhausting.

A: I try to interact with the in-person students so they can sign with each other more, but internet problems have made it hard for the online students.

Anvil

25

the

Mustang Market

Anvil STAFF Megan Benz

Co-Editor-In-Chief

Sarah Chirapurath

Co -Editor-In-Chief

Zarmin Shah

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Clara Carrabba

Design Editor

Rachel Lee

Sports Editor

Meah Matherne

Business Manager/ Reporter

Cameron Bowman

Reporter

Bo Espey

Reporter

Chandler Gartner

Reporter

Ariana Mehdizadeh

Reporter

Kristina Pham

Reporter

Delaney Polocheck

Reporter

Zainab Siddiqui

Reporter

Giselle Tabibi

Reporter

Lauren Wall

Reporter

The Anvil Memorial High School 935 Echo Lane Houston, TX 77024 (713) 251-2500 Principal: Lisa Weir Questions? Comments?

Interested in buying a subscription or an ad for your business?

Contact: holly.hartman@springbranchisd.com The Anvil is published once every seven weeks by Memorial High School Publications and uses high school-appropriate advertising to offset costs. The Anvil is a nonpartisan newspaper. The editorial board writes an unsigned editorial which represents the opinion of the majority of the staff. Spring Branch Independent School District and MHS cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in its educational, career and technology education programs, cervices or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1973. The Anvil is copyright 2020-2021 by MHS Publications, all rights reserved.

No portion may be reproduced by any means without written consent from MHS Publications. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year. The Anvil is printed by Southern News Group and is designed by students using Apple Macintosh Computers, Abode InDesign CC2020, Abode Photoshop CC2020.

The Anvil is a member of the Interscholastic League Press Conference, the Colombia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. The Anvil welcomes Letters to the Editor. Please enclose your full name (which we withhold upon request) and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Please bring letters to R-206 or mail to the address above.

Photographer Bailey Zhang captures seniors’ final year, helps supports COVID-19 relief and immigrants

By Sarah Chirapurath, Co-Editor-In-Chief

What inspired your interest in photography?

My parents and my sister have been the biggest influence on my photography. We would always have compact cameras lying around that I would always be using. Then, when I was older, I would take my dad’s camera and my sister and I would use it to have photoshoots, which is how I first got into photography.

Do you have any advice for kids who want to start their own business in high school or be a photographer?

Do it. What’s the worst that can happen? It’s a learning process, and it’s so rewarding. People who are interested in photography, don’t have to take traditional photography classes, they just have to have a good eye and a passion for it.

What was the strangest photo session you’ve ever had?

I photographed a family and the dad pulled out his gun and asked me to take a photo with him and his guns. He had three guns in his hand and his family was just watching. I just thought it was cute because he was really proud of his guns, but I also was scared that I would accidentally get shot.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you started the business?

You should have a duality between friendship and business because they are your clients.

However, you still need to maintain professionalism and establish a distinct boundary between yourself and the other person.

What is unique about your business?

For me, I prioritize my client. No matter how many photos I have to edit, as long as they are good photos with good lighting, I want my customers to have those photos.

I also have the benefit of being my age I get to really personally know my clients so that I can best capture their natural and best moments.

Why is COVID-19 relief the mission for your business?

I read a story about a family who was completely wiped out by COVID-19, and that shouldn’t happen to anyone. We should have some type of funding and backing for COVID-19 victims.

That’s when I decided that I wanted to donate to COVID-19 relief. I had the ability to contribute this cause, so I decided that I should. When George Floyd was murdered, I re-branded to Bailey Zhang Photography, so that I could have more freedom in where I contribute to. So, I’ve been donating to COVID-19 research, as well as the National Immigrant Labor Union Protection.

Bailey Zhang Photography @baileyzhangphotography

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baileyzhangphoto.wixsite.com/website

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We use simple ingredients you know and love to make simply delicious snacks.