Vol. 45, Issue #6
The
April 1, 2020
Knightly News
p. 2 Prom To Be Date-Free Dance
p. 6 Trump Chooses Hillary Clinton as Running Mate
p. 7 Self Tanner Banned at Pace
Mr. Assaf Announces Retirement Head of School to Step Down in May 2021 Jamie Kornheiser Managing Editor Class of 2021
is the obvious replacement.” Another frontrunner is English teacher Hayley Conroy. Despite only being in her second year at Pace, Mrs. Conroy exemplifies what a true head of school should embody. “She is a very serious individual, and I think she would provide a great balance to some of the silly antics that occur at Pace,” said sophomore Marissa Goodman. With many candidates to choose from, Mr. Assaf truly has at least one more difficult decision to make before he departs from Pace. However, Mr. Assaf may already have a recommendation for a replacement in mind. “There are many wonderful options, but to be extremely candid, [French and Spanish teacher] David Matanes is definitely the most obvious choice,” said Mr. Assaf “He is all about making his students focus in the classroom, and he is never one to distort the truth.” One of the largest questions that has arisen after Mr. Assaf’s announcement is whether or not he will continue to take photographs at Pace events. “Have no fear,” said Mr. Assaf, “I will still
Photo: Martha Downer-Assaf
Head of School Fred Assaf has just announced that he will be retiring following the end of the 2020-2021 school year and graduation of his youngest son Tommy. After working at Pace since 2005, Mr. Assaf has decided that his 16th year will be his last as he looks forward to spending more time with his wife Martha and two dogs. Reflecting back on his time at Pace, Mr. Assaf recalls how the people he has met have completely changed his life. “People like [Spanish teacher] Paula Pontes and [sophomore dean and science teacher] Ben Ewing have really shown me how to pursue my passions,” said Mr. Assaf. “Mr. Ewing’s applications of biology and chemistry to cooking have shown me that you can truly apply learned knowledge to everyday life while Dra. Pontes’ commitment to Disney has made me realize that love has no boundaries.”
One of the largest influences on Mr. Assaf’s life has been Head of Upper School Michael Gannon. “Mr. Gannon has always been there for me throughout my time at Pace,” said Mr. Assaf. “I do feel that I have been a large presence in Fred’s life,” agreed Mr. Gannon. “I’m not really sure what he is going to do without me.” Other teachers were shocked to hear the news, including history teacher Helen Smith. “I cannot believe he is leaving Pace after just 16 years!” exclaimed Ms. Smith. “I have been teaching at this institution for almost 50 years, and I most certainly do not plan on stopping anytime soon.” Since Mr. Assaf made his announcement fairly early, there is plenty of time to find and acclimate a new head of school. With all of her teaching and leadership experience, some people wonder if Ms. Smith should be handed the position. “I think she would make a fabulous head of school,” said junior Noah Levenson. “With her organizational skills and ability to calm a crowd, she
Mr. Assaf looks forward to retirement so he can sunbathe like he did on his spring break vacation to Grand Cayman. be taking pictures at as many Pace events as I can. I was even considering pursuing photogra-
phy since I am going to have so much more time on my hands.”
comed guests ranging from NFL quarterback Matt Ryan to Golden Globe-winning actor Robert Downey Jr., both of whom shared their words of wisdom with the graduating classes. With a simple walk through the school hallways in the past, one might have heard numerous students placing bets on who this year’s special guest will be. However, with the special circumstances students and teachers now face with distance learning, Head of School Fred Assaf decided that the time is right to reveal the speaker. World famous TikTok star Chase Hudson, better known as Lil Huddy, will grace the senior class with his eloquent words and shrewd advice regarding the students’ futures. Lil Huddy is a social media influencer and will be Pace’s youngest guest speaker to date, as he is only 17 years old. Lil Huddy’s most popular platform
is TikTok, a social networking app where users share short lip-sync, comedy and dance videos to the world. With over 16 million followers on TikTok, he’s considered a charming heartthrob who has fully captured the attention of Gen Zers across the globe. Young teenagers aspire to be able to move their hips and legs the way he does when dancing to songs like “Lottery” (Renegade) or “Watch Me Throw It Back.” He also uses other social media platforms like Instagram, where he posts inspiring photos, like a recent one captioned “ehhh cheer up sport,” in which he is running his fingers through his hair and biting his lip. Some of his other moving Instagram captions include “hashtag for you,” “cheezin cuz life is good” and “i walk into the party and rock the party.”
Lil Huddy to Speak at Graduation
Photo: Fred Assaf The Class of 2020 poses with Lil Huddy (center), who will be their graduation speaker or possibly dancer in May.
Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief
Class of 2021
Each school year comes to a close with a very special, celebratory day for the seniors: graduation. And with each graduation ceremony, the anticipation
of students, parents and faculty heightens as everyone waits to discover who the esteemed guest speaker will be. In the past, Pace has wel-
(Continued on page 6)
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Apri Fools!
April 1, 2020
The Knightly News - Page 2
Prom To Be Date-Free Dance Darren Rosing Opinion Editor Class of 2021
Photo: Jordan Upchurch
Prom is one of the most idealized staples of a high school experience. Popular movies and television shows have created a romanticized image of prom that continues to dictate what exactly a “successful prom” should include, and the list typically begins with having a great date. In the past, Pace has enthusiastically let students ask dates to prom every year – and in some ways, encouraged it. Students have used the Pace campus as a location for elaborate and showy prom-posals, and the Castle has served as an iconic backdrop for couples photos at each prom picture party. One Pace faculty member, however, has brought to light the troubling downside of such a pro-date emphasis. “Allowing students to bring dates ruthlessly cuts single students, like I was in high school, out of the narrative,” said Class of 2021 Dean Krista Wilhelmsen. “Not being asked by a date and then being forced to watch all the happy couples together on prom night led to deep psychological effects that still haunt me today. No student should have to endure this pain.” Mrs. Wilhelmsen noticed this past prom (April 2019) that a few of the then-junior girls attended without dates, including
All prom guests must attend with their friends from now on, just as this current senior friend group did for their junior prom in April 2019. current seniors Jordan Upchurch and Maya Kaplan. After asking the girls how it felt to attend prom single, Mrs. Wilhelmsen was met with an onslaught of emotion. =Upchurch began crying immediately, as her pent-up feelings of heartache finally found an escape. “I’m miserable,” Upchurch admitted. “It makes me feel worthless that nobody wanted to take me.” Mrs. Wilhelmsen used the
girls’ candid confessions of shame as evidence for why Pace should prohibit students from asking prom dates in the future. “I recounted the stories of my own sad prom years ago and the stories of certain dateless attendees [like Upchurch and Kaplan] this past year to Mr. Gannon, hoping he would find value in making a change,” she said. Mr. Gannon plans to announce over a Zoom morning assembly in the near future that
are a variety of different colors. Like our current Google Groups, each of these symbols represents a group like “Upper School News & Announcements” or the newest addition to the Pace online community, “Wellness and Connection.” Students may also change these graphics to build a desktop that is aesthetically pleasing to them. At the same time, students may check their email on the server, giving the program a larger and more continuous feeling compared to the Google family. First Class also makes multi-tasking across several different messaging platforms easier. For students who have not turned on notifications from Google Groups or find that they receive too many notifications from the wide variety of groups on the site, using First Class will allow for a happy medium, where students have a constant reminder of the variety of groups that they should check without having their inboxes flooded with messages. First Class also takes care of any security concerns that families, as well as the school, may have. At this point, Google is so widely used and database hacks are so common throughout the world that it is quite possible that there could be a security breach
in which information is taken not only from Pace but also its students. First Class is much less common and has added extra security measures to prevent such breaches, which makes it safer for the Pace community as a whole. These measures also help prevent spam emails from being sent to Pace students, making the Pace community safer and more secure. Apart from all the other “pros” for moving back to First Class, there is also the simple fact that the platform is more streamlined, pleasing to the eye, modern and reliable. As students who have experience with the site know, the software is constantly being updated and rarely glitches, making it much easier for students to rely on and use on a daily basis. While the site does not contain its own service to match Google Docs or Slides, many teachers prefer using Microsoft Word anyway, especially English teacher Bailey Player. “Google just makes poetry journals and other assignments so difficult to grade,” said Mr. Player. “It just makes more sense to have paper copies because Google’s comment feature is unreliable and confusing. This change was needed.” Other teachers are sad to see
no students are allowed to bring a date to this year’s prom, now set for May 23 with the extension of distance learning through April. The event will still be held at Ponce City Market’s Rooftop. “In an effort to reduce potential stresses and to ensure that no Pace Knight feels excluded, all students will attend prom as a community – without dates,” said Mr. Gannon. “The dance culture will be constructed the same way Homecomings at
Pace have been done in the past: everybody arrives and shows up together as friends.” While this decision is life altering for the singles of Pace’s student body, the news was devastating to many couples who had dreamt of going to prom together since their freshman year. Iconic senior couple Thomas Siegenthaler and Rachel Wray have already started a petition to try and reverse the recent change.
Pace Moves Back to First Class Isabel Battista Lifestyle Editor Class of 2021
Photo: Isabel Battista
Starting with the 2016-2017 school year, all Pace email accounts and online services moved to Google platforms such as Google Drive, Gmail and Google Classroom. Some of the upperclassmen and much of the faculty remember when Pace used First Class as its main server for email and online announcements. Google’s large popularity and mass market, especially among schools, has raised concerns within the Pace community over the past few months. Threats of security breaches, privacy concerns over use of search data and other user information, along with the issue of having multiple school and personal accounts tied to one device have become too much. As a precaution to maintain the security of Pace’s online accounts, the Pace administration is set to announce that Pace will be switching back to using First Class for the 2020-2021 academic school year. Those who remember First Class will likely remember its adorable, modern graphics that
Pace is moving back to the First Class server (shown above) beginning in the 2020-2021 school year. the beloved Google platform go. English teacher Don DuPree, an avid proponent of Google Docs and an expert in how to use Google Classroom, is most upset about the change. “It’s only been a few years using Google, but I instantly knew that Google Docs was the best way to run classes,” said Dr. DuPree. “It’s just so easy to use.” Time will tell exactly how
this change will affect students, but Pace is working on a plan to train all students in updates and how to use the software. As of now, incoming freshmen and new students will be trained immediately following their orientation, and returning students will be trained later that day so that everyone is proficient with the software prior to the first day of school.
April Fools!
Vol. 45, Issue #6
The Knightly News - Page 3
Mr. Anderson Will Host Upper School Team Challenge Head of Upper School Megan Hardesty Michael Gannon is among those Staff Writer excited about Mr. Anderson’s Class of 2022 return to host this event. “I hope
Photo: Laura Inman
This year, former Head of Middle School John Anderson is coming out of retirement to host the Upper School’s first-ever Team Challenge. The event will be held on May 5, a day after Middle School Team Challenge. The activities will include crowd favorites such as kickball, volleyball, battleball, “Jeopardy!” and, of course, the beloved pieeating contest. However, unlike the Middle School, there will also be cricket and table tennis tournaments. The team colors will include mustard yellow, ketchup red, pickle green and cheddar cheese orange. During his time at Pace, Mr. Anderson brought recess and Team Challenge to the Middle School for the first time. He was always a firm believer that recess and other fun mental breaks were more effective when teaching students than other methods like testing. “As you all know, my favorite saying is ‘It’s a great day to learn,’” said Mr. Anderson. “But sometimes it needs to be a great day to play. High school students are so stressed out with their workload, they deserve at least a day to have fun.”
this day gives students some time to have fun and compete,” said Mr. Gannon. “If the day goes smoothly, I may explore the option of adding recess into a normal schedule.” Other faculty members are thrilled at the opportunity to compete in the student versus teacher basketball tournament. PAPUBA star and upper school science teacher Kevin Ballard has been vigorously training for the big game. “I practice about one to two hours every night to ensure that I will be at the top of my game when May 5th comes,” said Mr. Ballard. “He’ll need to be at the top of his game to compete against us,” said junior Matthew Cleveland, who was recently named state AAA Player of the Year by Hoopseen. Cleveland and his varsity basketball teammates have not stopped training since their state championship win on March 5 so that they will be ready to face off against the faculty. “Other than the state championship, this will be our biggest game of the year,” said AAA All-State player and junior Madison Durr. “We haven’t been able to practice as a team because of social distancing, but everyone is doing what they can to train at home.”
The basketball game is not the only activity students are looking forward to. “I am planning to use the volleyball game as practice for the upcoming 2021 volleyball season,” said sophomore Taylor Knowlton. “With Westminster no longer part of our region, I’m going to need better competition to help me maintain my skills.” Freshman Ovie Nirgudkar plans on leading her team to victory in “Jeopardy!”. “I watch Jeopardy almost every night and I have flashcards with random facts that I study,” said Nirgudkar. “I am confident there is nothing they will ask that I do not know.” The day will begin with an assembly to showcase each teams’ hype video, and then all of the teams will congregate in the gym for volleyball and pie eating. From there, the teams will split up by grade level with the freshmen beginning with “Jeopardy!” with math teacher Jason Smith and history teacher Helen Smith, the sophomores on the field for a game of kickball with English teacher Don DuPree, the juniors on the upper field for a game of cricket with history teacher Christine Carter and the seniors in the gym for tug of war with English teacher Marsha Durlin. All grades will rotate activities until everyone has completed all of the stations.
Sophomore Alex Karamanolis looks forward to reliving the fun he had in Middle School with a high school Team Challenge. The different grades will then rejoin their teams to cheer on their team-selected table tennis player. Next up is a cookout in the gardens and the student-
faculty basketball tournament. The day will close in the FAC with a family-friendly movie. Team Challenge will take place rain or shine.
Accelerate Pace Campaign Cancelled Ashley Myers Online Editor Class of 2021
Photo: Ashley Meyers
As of March 30, the Accelerate Pace Lower School construction project has been put on hold. Due to the dramatic downturn in the stock market, signaling an impending recession or even depression, major donors are no longer confident that they can meet their financial pledges for the project. Therefore, the new Lower School that was set to open in August 2021 will no longer open its doors. Instead, the designated classroom space that was to be created in this campaign will now be relocated to the Assaf family house. Despite various concerns, the Assaf family will continue living in their house but will coexist alongside lower school students. The Assaf family has already begun preparations for this by clearing their living room for desks, books and smart boards to be moved in. “We are very sad about the cancellation of the lower school project, but as a Pace family we will persevere,”
The project has been put on hold given the current state of the U.S. economy. said Head of School Fred Assaf. Pace junior and youngest member of the Assaf clan Tommy Assaf plans to give up his bedroom in order to make extra space for study rooms. He plans to live in a study room in the Upper School once it reopens. While the lower school teachers are deeply saddened by the situation, they are hopeful that the project will take place in future years when the market recovers. “These students need more space, and I just don’t think the Assaf house will be able to accommodate our
needs,” said second grade assistant teacher Judy Body. Ms. Body plans on keeping all of her students’ books at her home and bringing them to and from the Assaf house daily. The space concerns are not only felt by Ms. Body, but by many of the lower school teachers who worry about the relocation to the Assaf house. “We are more than grateful that the Assaf family is willing to share their house with us, but I’m just not sure if it will be the same as a regular classroom,” said Spanish teacher Poliana Aparicio. “It will
definitely be an adjustment.” Ms. Aparicio’s class is set to take place in the Assaf family’s kitchen. As the iconic Randall House has already been torn down during the first phase of the construction project, there will be no formal entryway to the Lower School anymore. The students will enter directly into the cafeteria when entering the lower school building. The cafeteria will be updated to include a full kitchen along with staff to prepare food directly in the Lower School. “I’m excited for
food to be prepared in the Lower School so it is more fresh, but I know everyone’s a little disappointed about there not being a new cafeteria,” said fifth grade head teacher Rebecca Rhodes. As of right now, the fifth graders will most likely be the students who move into the Assaf family house as they are the oldest and most mature. “We are hoping that this change will show the fifth graders how to be resilient as we make these necessary changes,” said Mr. Assaf. Since the school will not be waiting on new construction to be completed, Mr. Assaf has given the go ahead for classrooms to be relocated to the headmaster’s house at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. The fifth graders are not thrilled to be moving into the Assaf house next year. “I’m just glad that we are moving into the Middle School after next year so we won’t have to work in the Assaf house for too long,” said a fifth grade student who chose to remain anonymous. The Accelerate Pace campaign posters around campus will be taken down and all who contributed to the campaign will be asked if they would like a refund.
April Fools!
April 1, 2020
The Knightly News - Page 4
Welcome College Counselor Olivia Jade
he hire someone to take the ACT for him. After raising money at a Pace bake sale, Gannon finally pooled together enough cash. He hired Igor Dvorskiy, an administrator of standardized tests in California, to take the ACT in his place. Gannon was pleased to learn that Dvorskiy earned a 35 on the ACT. Gannon updated his score and proceeded to submit his new and improved application to Yale. A few weeks later, Yale offered Gannon a full ride to the school, fulfilling this young student’s dream. “I truly couldn’t have done it without the help of Olivia. She really is someone special and I don’t know how other students got into college without her help” said Gannon. The Pace Academy faculty were especially thrilled at the idea of welcoming Olivia into the Pace community. Dean of Students Allison Riley was ecstatic that someone as esteemed as Jade was coming to work with the Pace upperclassmen. “I am
just thrilled that she is helping them craft honest and superb resumes so that they have the best chance possible at the college of their choice,” said Ms. Riley. In addition, upper school math chairperson Gus Whyte loves how Jade has helped all of the Pace students. Mr. Whyte has a passion for kayaking and brings students out to the Chattahoochee River a few times during the school year. Junior Anthony Salazar decided to tag along for one of the trips and fell in love with the activity, even deciding to try out for a club crew team. After trying out and failing to make the team, Salazar was dejected that he couldn’t add this experience to his resume; however, Jade explained to Salazar that trying out was enough. Jade advised Salazar to add that he was a member of a professional crew team to his application, and once completed, he submitted his application to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Tech was fascinated by his diverse skillset and invited him to join the class of 2025. In addition, they provided him with $100,000 to start a crew team at Tech when he arrives in the fall of 2021. “I’m so glad I served as an inspiration for this student to pursue what he truly loves and was born to do” explained Mr. Whyte. “Olivia’s help is invaluable, and I cannot wait to see the amazing things that Anthony does at Tech. He is the future of rowing.” While all of the teachers seem to be raving about Olivia, history teacher Helen Smith has concerns about this new member of the college counseling office. “She violates dress code every day and I am sick of it. She is setting a poor example for Pace Academy girls,” said Ms. Smith in frustration. “I will be taking this up with Mr. Gannon and demand that there be stricter dress code rules implemented and enforced for adults in our community.”
According to Jacoby, he thought this was his final chance to try the SAGE dining cuisine as Pace transitions to virtual learning, quite possibly for the rest of the year. Unsettled, students wanted answers. They were excited but bewildered by this historic moment. “We always discuss what the lunch is every day in class and Mr. Smith just smiles or laughs at us,” said senior Meghan McMillin. “Today, though, he seemed intrigued by our discussion. I should have known something was up. Chicken sandwiches are a quality meal for Mr. Smith to try for the first time, and based on his reaction, I don’t think this will be the last time he is seen in the cafeteria.” As students left for the day, they could not stop discussing the seemingly insignificant, but
actually huge topic. It was only right to question the brilliant teacher and find out what was different about that day. After talking to Mr. Smith, he admits that there is nothing wrong with Pace lunch specifically, he just doesn’t have a large appetite and is not very hungry at lunchtime. “Today for some reason, though, I was starving, so I just went for it,” said Mr. Smith. “Also with Pace’s closing for two weeks and maybe the rest of the year, I knew this could be my last chance to try the food.” After hearing the news, many of his students began to make lists of the best Pace lunches for Mr. Smith to try next time instead of his usual fare of stale Cliff bars. Among them include Rodeo Burgers, King Ranch Chicken, Pasta Bolognese and the classic Sloppy Joe sandwich with waffle fries.
Sloane Wagreich Staff Writer Class of 2021
Photo: Lori Loughlin
As the juniors and seniors make their way through their college application processes, Head of Upper School Michael Gannon expressed concern that three college counselors were not sufficient to meet the needs of 229 students. As a result, he consulted with Director of College Counseling Jonathan Ferrell, and together they hired America’s most desired person for the job over spring break: Olivia Jade. Jade is an expert in the college application process, as she was admitted to the University of Southern California, finishing college with a Bachelor’s degree in social psychology and receiving a Master’s in counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to applying this extensive knowledge to her work, she makes sure to radiate the positivity and support that came from her parents Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli throughout her life. With amazing skills in her back pocket, Jade knows all of the tips and tricks on how to make the college process as smooth-sailing as she can for Pace students. So far, with her help, the seniors are headed to extraordinary places and the juniors will follow in their footsteps. Pace students were thrilled with the news of Jade joining the Pace community, and they have benefitted from the advice she has been providing. Without her, students’ resumes would not be nearly as good as they are. Junior Laura Romig was filled with joy when Jade helped her add some extracurriculars to her application. “I barely made the cross country team this year and was never allowed to run in the meets because I was too
Olivia Jade poses in front of the iconic Pace Academy castle on her first day as a college counselor. slow,” explained Romig. “At the end of the season, at the state meet, they finally let me run; however, I got dead last and all I received was a participation medal because the coaches felt bad for me.” Romig was distressed that she couldn’t go to college for running. Thankfully, Jade swooped in to save the day. Jade explained to Romig that while it was only a participation medal, Romig still received an award that she should be very proud of. Jade helped Romig compose her transcript, writing on her resume that she won first place in the state meet. Now, thanks to Jade, Romig is already committed to Harvard University and will enter as the No. 1 runner on their cross country team. In addition to Romig, senior Aidan Gannon has had nothing but positive experiences with Jade. While Gannon has a consummate list of extracurriculars on his schedule, his grades and standardized test scores weren’t quite satisfactory in the
eyes of his dream school: Yale University. Gannon failed to take rigorous courses throughout high school, with no AP classes and receiving low Bs and Cs in most classes. In addition, after taking the ACT six different times, he has received scores of 15, 18 and 19. “Every day I look on Naviance and see the Yale scattergram with my placement surrounded by red dots,” said Gannon in tears. “I work so hard, but Yale won’t give me a chance because I don’t have a 4.0 GPA and a 36 ACT,” he said. Jade heard the news and immediately set up a meeting with Gannon. She then proceeded to review his high school transcript with him, going through every grade he has received. After a while, Jade recommended that he try to change his grades. With the help of tech-savvy computer guy Neil DeRosa, Gannon was able to hack into the school system and alter his grades, updating all of them to As. Jade also recommended that
Mr. Smith Tries Pace Lunch for First Time Aman Hashim
Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2020
Photo: Meghna Singha
Math teacher Jason Smith is one of Pace Academy’s most brilliant minds: an intellectual man who seems to have all of the answers to students’ most difficult questions. In addition, he prides himself on being the co-founder of the Pace Academy Pick-Up Basketball Association (PAPUBA) and one of the best faculty players out there. Students describe him as easy going, relaxed and friendly. But one thing that Mr. Smith does (or actually, doesn’t do) surprises the entire Pace community. He refuses to eat the Pace Academy lunch provided by SAGE dining… until now. On March 13, Mr. Smith
Mr. Smith sits down in the cafeteria with his first Pace lunch: chicken sandwiches. was spotted in the cafeteria as school let out early for the day with a plate full of one of Pace’s trademark dishes, a fried chicken sandwich. Senior Jack Jacoby, one of Mr. Smith’s AP
Statistics students, was admittedly confused at the sight. What could possibly be the reason Mr. Smith decided to cave and taste the delectable combination of crispy chicken and soft bun?
April Fools!
Vol. 45, Issue #6
The Knightly News - Page 5
Bernie Sanders, The Messiah
tric transportation fleet, which
Sam Webb means there will be no more
Staff Writer Class of 2021 Democratic presidential nominee Bernie Sanders is the only person that can save America from the terrors of conservatism and capitalism. Capitalism has destroyed the country and the only possible solution is the democratic socialism supported by Bernie. In some minds, socialism carries a negative connotation because of its past failures in countries such as Venezuela and North Korea; however, Bernie’s socialism is “democratic.” With that said, Bernie is a man of the people, especially the upper class. Economically, Bernie and many other like-minded Democrats are pushing the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal basically centers all economic decisions around climate change, which is the most pressing issue to America and the world today. In order to achieve zero carbon emissions, the plan hopes to create a 100% renewable energy sector and a nationwide elec-
gas-fueled cars, buses, trucks or airplanes. There is just one tiny obstacle with this idea: it is estimated to cost 50 to 90 trillion dollars over the next decade (according to various sources and think tanks). This plan is incredibly ambitious but I believe Bernie can get it done through hard work and grit. Another big policy point for Bernie Sanders is his “Medicare for All” hopes. This wonderful plan will expand free healthcare services to all Americans through a single-payer system. Also, prescription drug prices will have caps so even the sickest patients will only have to pay at most $200 per year. Bernie has been using the COVID-19 outbreak as an example of how badly the U.S. needs a single-payer healthcare system, and he is absolutely correct. However, Italy (one of the the worst affected countries) has a single-payer system and the number of cases is exponentially growing, which does not support his beliefs, sadly. The U.S. private health industry has already sent two COVID-19 cures to the
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(L-R): Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, weather forecaster Al Roker and junior Sam Webb enjoy the “Today Show” together.
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Food and Drug Administration for approval all in the matter of a few weeks. Still, the singlepayer system is necessary for the future prosperity of the medical industry and health of the American public. Bernie’s beliefs on the immigration system are far from the policies of President Donald Trump, thank goodness. Bernie plans to institute a temporary suspension on deportations once he enters office, which will allow for a massive influx of hardworking people and illicit substances, like methamphetamine and heroin, into the U.S. He also wants to dissolve the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a disgusting institution, and probably put the money into something worthwhile. Lastly, Bernie’s College for All idea is flawless. Instead of promoting trade schools so that people can become electricians, plumbers or carpenters (something there is a scarcity of), Bernie and others want all public colleges and universities to be totally free. Additionally, all student loan debt will be cancelled under Bernie’s watch. All of this will cost upwards of $1.5 trillion
Co-Editors-in-Chief: Mary Childs Hall Aman Hashim
Web Content Editor: Ashley Myers
Managing Editor: Jamie Kornheiser
Social Media Editor: Bennett Boushka
News Editor: Francesca Vaneri
Lifestyle Editor: Isabel Battista
Staff Writers: Megan Hardesty Amalia Haviv Gabriel Kadoori Meghna Singha Sloane Wagreich Sam Webb Jayla Wideman
Sports Editor: Zachary Howard
Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson
Visuals Editor: Kathryn Hood
Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker
Opinion Editor: Darren Rosing
The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students. The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by School Publications Company. The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor and but that is no problem because the 1% will surely pay for it. The Green New Deal, Medicare for All, College for All and all of the other much needed programs will be funded by major, wealthy corporations. Hopefully, these people and companies can combine their resources for over $100 trillion for Bernie’s tenure in office. In the past, Bernie has notably praised communist regimes in the Soviet Union and Cuba, which is a great thing. He backed a Marxist-Leninist Party during the Iranian Revolution that took Americans as hostages
guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy. Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org. as well. While Democrats and Republicans alike were united in rescuing the hostages, the brave Bernie Sanders opposed the calls for freedom. This demonstrates Bernie’s ability to break with traditional American norms. Until recently, he also supported the authoritarian government in Venezuela headed by Nicolas Maduro. Some people may view Bernie’s past endorsements as bleak, however, these endorsements show how he will not be afraid to implement extremely radical changes when he becomes president. FEEL THE BERN BABY!
America Cannot Survive Without Trump strengthened our international
Jayla Wideman community. It is no doubt that he Staff Writer Class of 2022
(Continued on page 6)
Photo: Mike Pence
Since the beginning of President Trump’s term, America has truly been made great again. Countless improvements have been made to our country’s economy and society. His presidency has brought America together as people rally behind him, rather than splitting along party lines which many presidents have experienced before him. Trump’s kind and compassionate policies, particularly towards immigrants, have truly
has made our country’s borders stronger and safer. One example of Trump’s empathy towards illegal immigrants is his expansion of the family separation policy. Pulling children away from their illegal parents truly demonstrates the American values that Trump espouses with every part of his being. The state of the detention camps are also of the highest quality, with near hotellike conditions; just another example of President Trump’s true love and care for even those who are not legal citizens of our country. President Trump’s social
media presence also casts the U.S. in the best light. Each tweet is carefully crafted and with ultimate accuracy, both in facts and spelling. We have never had a president so closely engaged with the citizens of his country. His grammar and overall knowledge of the intricacies of the English language is ASTOUNDING. And who could ignore how he absolutely destroys his liberal opponents, despite the seemingly wide IQ gap? Trump’s perseverance allows him to overcome his own subpar number of points. Trump’s relationship with many of the minorities of the country truly is something to
(L-R): Sophomore Jayla Wideman and President Donald Trump embrace at the White House.
April Fools!
April 1, 2020
The Knightly News - Page 6
Trump Announces Hillary Clinton To Be Running Mate Kathryn Hood
Visual Editor Class of 2021
Photo: Mike Pence
On March 30, Democrats and Republicans alike went silent as Donald Trump announced at his rally in Birmingham, Alabama that he would be dropping Mike Pence as a running mate and endorsing Hillary Clinton. “Pence Smence,” he announced. “I’m all about unifying the parties. I just learned about George Washington, and I’m only following his advice. He was the founder of our country, after all. It’s gonna be huge.” After a few seconds of stunned silence, the crowd erupted into chaos. However, they were quieted as Clinton herself rose up from underneath the stage as the national anthem played in the background and fireworks exploded behind her. At an address on March 31, Trump explained that he wanted to “unify the parties” in an effort to not have a two-party system, and he needed to demonstrate to the people that even he could achieve some form of unification between Republicans and
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton shake hands after Trump’s announcement on March 30. Democrats. Clinton explained that Trump had picked up Baron Trump’s APUSH “America’s History” by Henretta for the first time, and learned what the founders of the United States wanted. So what does this mean for the state of the upcoming election? Trump supporters have supported President Trump through every racist and sexist
comment, every scandal and tweet. However it seems teaming up with “the enemy” has become the last straw, and Trump is rapidly losing support. Even with this, being a running mate isn’t as glamorous as one might think. Mike Pence, through tears, reported to CNN that Clinton and Trump have “regular fistfights” and that
he will miss “golfing with his brother Donald.” He has reportedly been seen leaving his therapist’s office multiple times a day. In an interview with Fox News, he told the audience that he wonders if Trump does get elected, if he could possibly serve as Vice President again.
DISAPPROVAL RATING
Lil Huddy to Speak at Graduation
Graphic: Kathryn Hood
97%
(Continued from page 1) The speaker usually gives advice to the students on how they can move forward after leaving Pace, but because Lil Huddy is more familiar with dancing to explicit music, he will likely teach the seniors some important TikTok dances that will be far more valuable in college than guidance regarding change and becoming an adult. “There is nothing more important to me than knowing how to hit the woah or throw it back,” said senior Paul-Louis Biondi. “I know those dance moves will take me far at Princeton.” Some may question, how did Mr. Assaf get his hands on Lil Huddy, as he is obviously an extremely busy young man? Well,
while in the Bahamas for spring break, seniors Jason Rosenbloum and Matthew Quintana had the privilege of meeting Lil Huddy, along with his co-workers, Charli D’Amelio and Addison Easterling. “When I saw Lil Huddy, the first thing that came to mind was to beg him to be our graduation speaker, as anyone would do when meeting a celebrity like Chase Hudson,” said Rosenbloum. According to Rosenbloum, Lil Huddy was uncertain about the possibility of being able to come to Atlanta for the weekend of May 16, as he is contractually obligated to post 50 TikToks per day. However, Mr. Assaf was able to contact Lil Huddy’s
manager and practically beg on his knees for the young star. Some students who have no relation to the senior class have even mentioned how they will be attending graduation just to catch a glimpse of their idol. “Oh my, Chase Hudson has been my celebrity crush ever since I saw a video of him dancing in a hot tub,” said junior Caroline McCullough. “I have already made plans to sneak through the back entrance at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church so that I can take a peek at his dreamy biceps and heart-melting eyes.” Even teachers are getting into the spirit. Science department chairperson John Pearson was caught liking and comment-
ing on Lil Huddy’s TikToks. “I saw Dr. Pearson comment heart eyes emojis and ‘my idol’ on one of his videos,” said freshman Belle Divine. Dr. Pearson even mentioned to his freshman physics class that meeting him is on his bucket list, according to freshman Sheza Merchant. Faculty have started urging all students to research Lil Huddy before his arrival so that everyone can give him a warm Pace welcome. There are even rumors that history department chair Tim Hornor is hoping to convince Lil Huddy to join the Pace student body for his senior year, as he would be “a joy to teach.”
America Without Trump
(Continued from page 5) behold. He has gained favor with black Americans, spelling it out in this fearless tweet: “Sadly, because president Obama has done such a poor job as president, you won’t see another black president for generations!” What a courageous thing to say, to the same blacks whose votes he hopes for. It is that same bravery that garnered 8% of the black vote in 2016. His numerous, fact-based statements as to the truths of who minorities are deep down, deserve our faith in him. Trump also does his best to reinforce the set democratic values of our great nation. It’s clear that he has encouraged the “freedom of the press” section of our Constitution. His defense against the fake news of credible sources has greatly improved the station of journalists. Since the beginning of his term, America has fallen on the World Press Freedom Index, and now ranks as a “problematic” place for journalists. This, however, must be due to the unwillingness of liberals to see the truth of the fake news that permeates all news sources (except for Fox News, of course). Who can forget Trump’s tactful exchange with Iran at the beginning of this year? Though risky, and arguably an act of war, our president still had the guts to kill Iran’s top general. Iran’s answering strike against U.S. bases only fanned the flames of tension already struck between the two countries. Of course, had war truly broken out, America would have won – no matter how many innocent Iranian citizens Trump had to authorize the murder of. “America first” is the idea that Trump embodies. When has nationalism ever caused any problems? (Besides World War I, of course.) Finally, President Trump’s handling of Covid-19. Out of all the world leaders, he has handled the spreading virus in the most dignified manner. Though his original statement on the topic was bumpy (he misstated his own policy), and he fired the pandemic team allotted by the government in 2018, it is clear that he did this only in the best interest of America. When the coronavirus was first spreading, he refused to allow the World Health Organization (an agency of the United Nations) to share their tests with America, instead insisting the U.S. develop its own test. This task was accomplished, due to the strong leadership of Trump. Though the U.S. does not have enough tests, and though this lack of tests is most likely contributing to the spread and rise of the virus, Americans can rest easy knowing that the few tests we do have are Americanmade. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN 2020!
Vol. 45, Issue #6
April Fools!
The Knightly News - Page 7
The Most Important Dining Option Of All: Mom’s Home Cooking Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020
Photo: Zachary Howard
On my quest to supply readers with the most masterful culinary dishes in Atlanta, it has occurred to me I have never reviewed what are the most important meals for all of us: home cooking. And now that social distancing is so critical, home cooked meals have become all that more relevant to our daily lives. Obviously, I cannot review my dedicated readers’ home cooking, so my mom will have to come under my intense culinary scrutiny. First, I should supply some background information: my mother hates to cook. Also, I may be a little biased because, at the end of the day, she is my mother. But I will try to be as impartial as possible. Most of my mom’s meals consist of chicken, and this can either be to my great pleasure or dismay, based upon the way it is prepared. When the chicken is simply grilled, it leaves something to be desired, and winds up being smothered in Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce to add some flavor. However, one of her culinary masterpieces is her chicken sliders. Prepared in the crockpot, the chicken is simmered for hours before becoming stringy, and the
Home cooking is crucial to the upbringing of every child. Here, my mom cooks one of her staples: chili. tender meat is covered in barbecue sauce. It is then sandwiched between two delicious rolls. It
tastes as good as it sounds. For the last item on the chicken front, we will hop across
the border to another all time classic: the chicken chip dish. Utilizing the same chicken from
“Like most members of the Pace student body, I was putting on my nightly layer of Jergens when I looked at myself deeply in the mirror – and I couldn’t even recognize myself anymore,” shared Mr. Gannon, a single tear rolling down his newly pale face.
just look at it and feel calm.” Students congregated in the back parking lot dressed head-to-toe in black and solemnly tossed their bottles of self-tanner into the flames. The brands ranged from Jergens to St. Tropez to Clarins, but within minutes, they were all gone. “It’s the end of an era here,” said history teacher Emily Stevens, a known avid self-tanner user. “Honestly, my main concern is that I won’t be able to recognize my students, both male and female, without their usual artificial sun-kissed glow. It’s especially hard over Zoom sometimes the students’ faces just look like pale blurs in the middle of the screen. There definitely will be an adjustment period.” Some students have even remained faithful to the ban during quarantine. “I respect the Pace honor code, so of course I’ll respect Mr. Gannon’s directive even within the confines of my home,” said junior Reily Hamilton. “Is it tempting? Of course. But in the end, no temporary tan can beat the authenticity of a fresh face.”
Senior Virginia Heiser burns her Jergens self tanner after it became banned at Pace.
Self Tanner Banned at Pace Francesca Vaneri
News Editor Class of 2020
“But when Mr. Gannon himself showed up the next day without his usual layer of Jergens, I realized the change was here to stay.” – Tanner Walton “That’s when I knew something had to change.” Only a few days after this epiphany, Mr. Gannon put his plan into action. The first step was a school-wide bonfire in the back parking lot. “That was definitely the hardest day of my high school career,” said senior Ada Jane Agolli. “I came to school with a duffel bag full of Jergens. I did keep one small bottle at home, though. Every now and then, I
Photo: Virginia Heiser
On the first day back from spring break, as students excitedly reunited with friends and filed into assembly, Head of Upper School Michael Gannon rose to make an announcement. A hush fell over the crowd until it was broken by a single scream from the back row. Two students who felt faint were carried on stretchers to the nurse’s office. Multiple students reported having heart palpitations. What could have caused such a violent reaction? The announcement that as of the following week, self-tanner would be banned from Pace Academy. “At first, I thought it was a joke,” said senior Tanner Walton, recalling the fateful day. “But when even Mr. Gannon himself showed up the next day without his usual layer of Jergens, I realized that the change was here to stay.” For Mr. Gannon, the moment of epiphany occurred during his usual nightly tanning session.
the sliders, the chicken is served over Tostitos chips, and toppings such as lettuce, salsa, grated cheese, guacamole, and queso dip are added to create a truly unique taste. Beyond chicken, my mom prepares a couple of other items that are attention worthy. Meatball subs are always welcomed with open arms by the Howard Family, as is pasta with meatballs. On the other hand, meatloaf causes a riot, as, to put it lightly, no one wants to eat it. However, salads, particularly Caesar for me, are always great and can lighten up every meal. Lastly, I want to talk about my two favorite meals. First is the grilled cheese. The recipe, derived from my grandmother, includes a lot of cheese sandwiched between sourdough bread; this bread is painted with butter and placed in a frying pan. It is delicious by itself, but when paired with tomato soup it rises to the elite level. Finally, and I know this isn’t a meal, but it is the best dish made, maybe ever, is the sour cream and onion dip. Many friends can vouch for the deliciousness of this snack. I will not share the recipe, but trust me when I tell you it tastes like heaven. All in all, although she hates cooking, and some dishes don’t quite hit the mark, I would say that my mother’s home cooking is something to be very proud of, and is even delicious at times.
April Fools!
April 1, 2020
The Knightly News - Page 8
Turf Field To Be Added to Campus
Photo: Fred Assaf
The Pace lacrosse program holds their annual alumni game for past and present players on the old, grass lower field on June 2, 2018. we get the best spot on the field
Bennett Boushka before the other teams come
Social Media Editor
Class of 2021
With the halting of construction on the new Lower School (see page 3), Pace will be beginning a new construction project to better the community. This new project will be the renovation of the back field to convert it from grass to turf. This change has been long in the making, as the immense amount of rain Atlanta receives annually makes it difficult to keep the field from turning to mud. “Every day we’ve had to go down early and make sure
down,” said boys varsity soccer head coach Lucas Moreno. The mud also can be slippery and impair practices. “Sometimes I don’t go as hard because I'm worried that I'm going to re-injure my ankle,'' said sophomore lacrosse player Patrick Marr. The conditions of the field even cause some teams to opt to have practice at the Riverview complex. Even though Riverview can be a quick 20-minute drive on a Saturday morning, in rush hour traffic on weekdays it can take teams 45 minutes or longer to make the trip. “I feel like I’ve spent more time driv-
ing to Riverview than I have for homework by the time I get home,” said junior Gus Thomas. The new field will also have a full-sized track surrounding it so that the cross country and track teams can utilize the space as well. “A lot of days we have had to practice on the shortened indoor track which really is not the same as a full-length track,” said freshman Emmy Mininberg. Pace’s administrative team has weighed in on why they decided to make the change. "Pace’s student body consists of a high percentage of hardworking student athletes, so we hoped to make a change that could really help out these kids," said Head of School Fred Assaf. “We have
not had many big renovations for athletics since the construction of the Riverview complex, so I was very happy to see that we were continuing to better our facilities,” said Athletic Director Troy Baker. Possibly the biggest news to come from the field renovation announcement is the fact that it will be able to host events for lacrosse, soccer, girls flag football, cross country and track. By putting a huge wall of stands where the current forest is, in between the lower field and tennis courts, fans can cheer on their respective teams. However, due to parking limitations, football games will not be held on the new field.
Both soccer and lacrosse have had low fan turnout the past couple of seasons, most likely because going to a game involves going to Riverview on a weekday, but now students will be able to meander over from school to catch the games. “I am so excited now I can catch even more games than I did before,” said junior Hayden Schwartz. “Hopefully, we can get a very large crowd to come out to our games next year, especially Westminster and Lovett,” said sophomore soccer player McLean Eagleson. Pace continues to renovate the campus to make the lives of students and faculty better, so be sure to look out for more changes to come.
of plans, his family and friends supported him through it all. “I’m just excited to see him in the big leagues,” said junior and Pace teammate Cole Middleton. His coaches are equally proud and yet sad to see him go. “It’s bittersweet, really, to be losing such a great kid,” said
varsity boys basketball head coach Sharman White. As his time at Pace comes to a close, Lucke wants to thank everyone – his friends, family, coaches and the whole student body. “Without the support of Pace behind me, I would never have been able to achieve what I
have. As I enter my next chapter at Duke, I leave behind many fond memories in the classroom and with friends, but mostly, I will cherish my three minutes spent as a player on the basketball court.”
Daniel Lucke Signs to Duke Basketball tial is untapped. Also, with the
Meghna Singha right training, he could go far.” Staff Writer Class of 2022
Photo: Fred Assaf
The entire Pace community knows senior Daniel Lucke – varsity boys basketball manager turned overnight internet sensation. Now, his 15 seconds of fame could become longer. On Jan. 31, Lucke made his debut against rival Lovett School during an intense region matchup in the Inman Center. In a play that gained him millions of views, Lucke broke a defender’s ankles and proceeded to sink a 3-point buzzer-beater, capping off the 81-47 victory for the Knights. Unbeknownst to Lucke, a Duke basketball scout attended the game and was impressed by his potential on the court. “A couple days after the game, I got an email from the Duke athletics office asking to set up a meeting with the head mens basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski,” said Lucke. “I thought he was just going to congratulate me or something, but then he told me they were interested in me as a player!” “Daniel Lucke is unlike any player we have seen before,” said Coach Krzyzewski. “His poten-
Lucke is excited to attend the alma mater of former Pace basketball legend Wendell Carter Jr. ‘17. He hopes to follow in his footsteps and play in the NBA. Carter supports Lucke and has offered to help him get to the veteran player’s level. “I see a lot of my younger self in him,” Carter said. “He might not have the training, but he’s got ‘it.’ He has the drive and talent to become a real star.” Originally intending to attend Notre Dame in the fall of 2020, Lucke had a tough decision to make. “Notre Dame was my dream school – and it still kind of is – but this is an opportunity that’s once in a lifetime,” he said. “I just knew it was the right choice for me.” All of Lucke’s family, friends and teammates are both surprised and excited for this opportunity. “I had kind of given up on my athletic dreams for my son,” said Stephanie Lucke, Daniel’s mother and a six-time All American in track and cross country and Big Ten Conference Female Athlete of the Year. “I had gotten used to only seeing him in the stands or on the bench, so this was all really unexpected.” Despite the sudden change
Daniel Lucke (right) takes the court against the Lovett Lions for his first and simultaneously last minutes playing for the Pace team.