Volume 46, Issue #4

February 12, 2021

Vol. 46, Issue #4

The

Knightly News

p. 4 Georgia Senate Election

p. 12 Most Eligible Bachelor/Bachelorette

p. 16 Spring Sports Preview

‘The Content Of Their Character’

On Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed his dream that his children would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Join our discussion on Black History Month on pages 8-10.

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Pace News

February 12, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 2

Pace Hosts First Ever TEDx Conference

Photo: Robefrt Kaufman

On Sunday, March 21, Pace will host its first ever TEDx conference in the Fine Arts Center.

The theme for the conference is “Challenging the Status Quo.” According to the TED website, “TEDx is a grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover ideas worth spreading.” While the TEDx events are not orchestrated by TED, organizers must agree to a certain format that mimics that of a TED Talk.

“These events are organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and to share the latest research in their local areas that spark conversations in their communities,” per the website.

English teacher Robert Kaufman and senior Michael Fu are hosting this year’s TEDx conference. “I decided to hold a TEDx conference because I was inspired by one of my friends,” said Fu. “After I saw him create a TEDx conference at his school, and he shared with me how impactful it was, I knew I wanted to bring TEDx to Pace.”

Mr. Kaufman gives Fu full credit for the idea. “I remember how exciting it was when Michael first brought the idea to me,” said Mr. Kaufman. “I thought, for all the myriad ways where Pace excels academically and athletically, one area in which we can continue to grow is in our extracurriculars.” Both Fu and Mr. Kaufman have high hopes for their first event.

“Our main goals are for people – middle school students, high school students, teachers and parents – to recognize how multitudinous all of us are, and to realize that learning is not just something you do in a classroom or on an assessment for a grade,” said Mr. Kaufman. “Rather, it’s something we all ought to be doing all the time.”

Fu hopes that the people at-

TEDx committee members paint cardboard letters to promote the conference. Pictured (L-R) are junior Asata Manigault, freshman David Fu, sophomore Thomas Stamoulis and sophomore Oliver Loree. tending the conference will think Helen Smith and AP US History about how they, too, challenge teacher Dr. Christine Carter. the status quo. “My main goal The third student presentafor the event is to spark meantion will be by junior Maddie ingful conversations within our Hale. “My TED talk discusses Pace community,” he said. the significance of learning The conference will begin instead of focusing solely on with a speech by junior Kargil the letter grade and not letting Behl entitled “Split Worlds: the ourselves get overrun by the Dynamics of Multiculturalism.” anxiety and stress caused by “I’m going to talk about my the letter grades,” said Hale. experience living in two polar “Acing assessments and classes countries: India and the USA,” doesn’t necessarily mean you said Behl. His are learning, and if speech includes “My main goal for we make the point a vivid descrip- the event is to spark of school learning tion of his life of being a meaningful conversa- instead in India as an ‘perfect’ student, the American who tions within our Pace mental state of the feels distanced community.” – Senior school would greatly from his Indian Michael Fu improve.” heritage.

The final student Speaking next are juniors speaker is senior Jack Brown.

Amalia Haviv and Megan Brown’s speech is titled “SelfHardesty. Their speech is titled Incarceration: The Intersection “Woman Up: How We Challenge of Identity and Social AcSexist Stereotypes.” Along with ceptance.” “My talk explores their speech, in which they cover the idea of identity and how everything from the commonly one’s identity can in itself be a used phrase “try-hard” to stereo- deviation from the status quo, or types found in both athletics and what is normal,” said Brown. “I the workplace, they will show a decided to speak on this subject documentary-style video. after many challenging experiThe video includes interences I’ve faced as a gay man.” views with girls in the Pace Brown is excited to hear community as well as well other peoples’ ideas and share known female teachers such as his own. “I’m hoping that in AP European History teacher sharing some of my stories,

people will begin to think more critically about their own lives,” said Brown. “I hope that people feel enlightened so we can strengthen our community by furthering our understanding of each other and questioning what we have already accepted.”

One of the three adult speakers at the conference will be Director of Student Life and Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Troy Baker. Dr. Baker wants people to celebrate the idea of being well rounded. “I think all too often people find themselves boxed into a role of how people see them, maybe based on their past, or on certain characteristics based on things they’re good at or struggle with,” said Dr. Baker.

Dr. Baker challenges the status quo every day by showing up in unexpected places. “People ask, how is an athletic director getting involved in certain aspects of school, or curriculum,” said Dr. Baker. “Or people are surprised when you say, I’m a coach, and I’ve got a doctorate from Vanderbilt.”

On top of his definition of “well rounded,” Dr. Baker will touch on the topic of race. “And then there’s also just things in there about being a black man and independent schools, especially in the South, and kind

of some of what that journey is like,” said Dr. Baker.

Another adult speaker is the founder of Hope for Youth, Kristina Smith-Newton. “Hope for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that empowers girls of color to confidently pursue 21st century careers and opportunities in computing and technology,” says the organization’s website.

Mrs. Smith-Newton spent seven years working for a major consulting firm as a tech consultant until she decided to quit her job and serve different nonprofits before founding Hope for Youth in 2017.

“As a Black woman who personally experienced doubt and isolation due to lack of representation, mentorship and upward mobility opportunities, I am committed to changing the statistics for Black and Brown girls in STEAM pathways – and I’m committed to doing it now,” said Mrs. Smith-Newton on her website. Mrs. Smith-Newton will speak on the importance of women of all colors having equal opportunities in the STEM field, a field typically dominated by men.

The final adult speaker is Colombian-American poet, speaker and actor Carlos Andrés Gómez. “He is the author of the full-length poetry collection ‘Fractures,’ selected by Natasha Trethewey as the winner of the 2020 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry,” says his website. “A two-time International Poetry Slam Champion (TIPS ’06, BNIPS ’10), he has done more than 1,000 college and university events at nearly 700 schools, facilitated countless workshops, and delivered numerous graduation speeches and commencement addresses.”

Mr. Kaufman even attended one of his college events. “I actually heard him recite poetry at a show in Dartmouth when I was there for grad school,” he said. “And there’s a lot of artists, I feel like, whether it’s singers or poets, who are in their own world, and Carlos is not one of them.”

Mrs. Prescott-Clark Joins Pace Community New guidance counselor takes over for Mrs. Tuttle while she is on maternity leave learning. I am excited to see how much psychology has grown.”

Mrs. Prescott-Clark hosted two outdoor meet and greets in the gardens, on Jan. 15 and Feb. 8. Students across all four grades attended, giving her the opportunity to talk with many Pace high schoolers. “I met her at the meet and greet, and she was super friendly,” said sophomore Thomas Stamoulis.

Although this year COVID-19 remains a major challenge for teachers and students, Mrs. Prescott-Clark is determined to continue helping the students, regardless of the situation.

Over the summer, she held Zoom sessions with clients and followed all safety guidelines.

“It’s a good time to try new

Photo: Jack Wagreich

Upper school guidance counselor Amelia Tuttle went on maternity leave in January after having her baby, Forrest Sommers Harmon Jr., on Dec. 20. Mrs. Shirma Prescott-Clark is filling in for Mrs. Tuttle and is teaching two senior AP Psychology classes. She will serve as acting counselor until mid-March, when Mrs. Tuttle is expected to return.

Mrs. Prescott-Clark was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor’s de-

gree in Psychology. She earned her Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling/Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University in 2016.

Mrs. Prescott-Clark has been working as a mental health counselor for the past four years, most recently at the Cobb County Juvenile Court as a family therapist, and for Tangu, an outpatient rehab center. Over the course of her career, Mrs. Prescott-Clark has had experience working with teenagers, adults, families and elderly clients.

Although she has never counseled at Pace before, Mrs. Prescott-Clark is already becoming familiar with the student body. “I’m excited,” she said.

“I love psychology, and I love

Junior Grant Thompson meets Mrs. Prescott-Clark in the gardens. things, to see interests and other things you may like,” she said.

“A lot of people were cooking, baking and trying different sports activities.” She believes

that the pandemic has allowed us to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves, especially through meditation and listening to music.

Pace News

Vol. 46, Issue #4

The Knightly News - Page 3

Five Freshmen Achieve Eagle Scout Rank Photo: Sam Webb

(L-R) Seniors Logan Baker, Matthew Cleveland, Hunter Williams and Sam Selig play a quick game during a free period in the Seaman Family Student Commons.

Chess Takes School by Storm different and how there are so many different strategies.”

Like Fu, his favorite opening with white is the Ruy Lopez, because the tactic opens up many lanes and sets up various attacks.

For black, he prefers any variation of the Sicilian Defense.

Around the chess community, Fu and Mallis work on lots of different activities. Fu is important in the Chess Club.

“We have weekly meetings in Dr. [John] Pearson’s room, where we usually just play around and have fun,” said Fu. Mallis is also a member of the club.

Currently, there is a tournament occurring that was orchestrated by junior Cole Kaplan.

Over 32 students have joined and they will clash in a randomized tournament. The competition features mostly upperclassmen ranging from all different skill levels. Fu and Mallis will be playing people such as junior Lewis Todd and senior Sean Glennon, who recently got back into practicing chess.

Pace’s Model United Nations (MUN) program started 2021 off strong by participating in Yale MUN (YMUN) from Jan. 21-24. Between the online format and YMUN’s reputation as one of the most prestigious and advanced conferences in the country, preparing for this new addition to Pace’s MUN calendar took a lot of work and time throughout Winter Break and Spirit Week.

For many of the 15 participating students, this was not their first time participating in a virtual conference, although many had little exposure to college-run conferences over Zoom.

Delegates had limited time to research, write and prepare for

the conference, especially during the busy first few weeks of the second semester.

Junior Leah Favero, one of the members of the Student Executive Board for Pace’s MUN program, enjoyed this conference more than others this year, largely because of the wide variety of people that she was able to meet and work with.

“There were so many international students there which was made possible by the virtual format,” said Favero. “I got to meet delegates from all over the world, even as far away as New Zealand.”

Senior Michael Fu remarked on his experience representing Ukraine on the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), a committee that mainly focused on the issues of money laundering and reforming prison systems around the world. “It was a really great

experience that felt more like an actual MUN committee,” said Fu. “I even ended up starting a campaign called ‘Hugs not Drugs.’”

After many hours of preparation and a whopping 18 hours spent in committee sessions, sophomore Emma Beth Neville walked away with recognition at the closing ceremony, receiving an Honorable Mention for her work in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was especially impressive in a committee of around 70 people.

Following YMUN, Pace’s program has a busy schedule for the rest of the semester and will participate in their last virtual conference, hosted by Georgetown University, in mid-February. Besides that, Pace MUN will be hosting a second Paceonly conference in April, which as of now, will be in-person.

Pace Represents at Yale MUN

Daniel Owens poses with one of the trail markers he restored at Cochran Shoals National Park for his Eagle Scout project.

Photo: Daniel Owens

Over Winter Break, Pace Academy caught chess fever.

These days you will surely see a chess game unfolding while walking into the Seaman Family Student Commons or Lower Library. During lunch, break and even some classes, students engage in the sport. Although some of the underclassmen and girls play, it is mostly the junior and senior boys who have been competing in these games.

Back in March 2020 during Zoom school, former Math Department Chair Gus Whyte organized the Chess.com Club for Pace students so they could play virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mr. Whyte now serves as upper school principal at Metairie Park Country Day school in New Orleans.) Tournaments were held weekly during the stay-at-home-order. Today,

the club on Chess.com is alive and well. Members enter into games daily and share their ideas on newfound openings, defenses and endgames. The online site has been a great resource for chess players around the school.

Pace Academy’s Upper School holds many talented players including senior Michael Fu and junior Robert Mallis. These two prodigies are seen as the best in the school, as both have played since a very young age.

In fact, Fu has been playing since he was five years old. “I started chess at my elementary school’s after school program,” said Fu. “My parents could not pick me up until around 6, so I would play by myself while waiting.” Fu holds the best rating in the school and loves the Ruy Lopez opening.

Mallis learned how to play chess while participating in the lower school chess club. “I’ve loved chess ever since I started playing in lower school with Coach Mundy,” said Mallis. “I like how every game of chess is

of achieving my Eagle Scout was probably the recognition at the end for all of the work I put into it,” he said. Now that he has completed his Eagle Scout, Crumley wants to help some Five Pace Academy freshof his friends who have not yet men have recently earned the achieved the rank to do so.

Boy Scouts of America’s highest Allen describes the process rank, the Eagle Scout: Adger as many years of hard work and Allen, Drew Crumley, Colin dedication. As a scout, he enjoys Curtin, Hayden Harris and Dan- going on trips with his dad. “My iel Owens. They are now a part favorite part of achieving my of less than 6% of Boy Scouts to Eagle Scout rank was the Eagle achieve this rank.

Board of Review,” said Allen.

The Eagle Scout can be “It was really fun and interestattained by someone who has ing, and it helped me understand been a Life Scout for at least my next steps as a scout.” Allen six months, is active in their hopes to become a Boy Scout troop and demonstrates “Scout scoutmaster someday and will Spirit” within their troop. Also, attend scout camps this summer. they must earn a minimum of 21 “I would highly recommend merit badges, complete a project anyone to join the scouting prothat benefits their community gram,” he said. in a positive way and achieve Curtin enjoyed his service various ranks. Finally, they have project and helping friends. “My to sit in front of the Eagle Board favorite part of being a Boy of Review, write a personal Scout was the Pinewood Derby,” statement and receive letters of he said. The Pinewood Derby is recommendation. a racing event for miniature cars.

These five freshmen have Owens has been serving as been scouts since first grade. chaplain aide for 4 years. “For They started as Cub Scouts, my Eagle Scout project, I chose where they achieved their highto restore 24 posts that mark est rank, Arrow of Light. Then, where there are creeks and they continued as Boy Scouts. culverts on the trails at Cochran The process goes as follows: Shoals National Park,” he said.

Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, Owens enjoyed it when people First Class, Star, Life and lastly, asked him about his project: “I Eagle. got to explain what exactly we Harris said that his favorwere doing, and they congratuite part of being a Boy Scout lated me on sticking on the path throughout the years was hikes to become an Eagle Scout.” with friends. “Getting your Owens plans to stay involved Eagle Scout takes a while, and in Boy Scouts through May and you have to be very attentive, train the new chaplain aide. He but my favorite part of earning also wants to help with feedback it was seeing the success of all for Eagle Scout projects since my tiring effort,” he said. After he never got advice from older completing his rank, he wants to scouts. “I am proud of all of my help his troop with the younger fellow Eagle Scouts for becomscouts. ing the first ever Eagle Scouts in Crumley enjoyed getting to Troop 2024 and persevering to hang out with his close friends obtain this rank,” he said. as a Scout. “My favorite part

Current Affairs

PAINTING GEORGIA BLUE A LOOK AT THE HISTORIC GEORGIA SENATE ELECTION February 12, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 4

BEHIND THE ELECTION

RAPHAEL WARNOCK

The first Black U.S. senator from the state of Georgia, Reverend Raphael Warnock is also the youngest pastor ever named to the senior pastor role at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Atlanta church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as co-pastor with his father until his assassination in 1968. Warnock has been the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist since 2005.

He grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah with 11 siblings. Warnock found inspiration in his mother, Verlene Warnock, a former tobacco and cotton sharecropper. Both of Warnock’s parents are Pentecostal pastors. Warnock’s father Jonathan Warnock also served as inspiration, as a World War II veteran, businessman and preacher. The impact his father had on him can he seen through Warnock’s advocacy for veterans and military families.

Warnock attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1991. He went on to earn Master of Divinity, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York.

Throughout his campaign, Warnock advocated for new voting rights legislation, the expansion of affordable and quality healthcare, and more public health funding for the COVID-19 pandemic. Warnock supports the Affordable Care Act and is a proponent of expanding Medicaid. Warnock also wants to protect voting rights through the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, making election day a federal holiday and increasing training and resources for state elections officials and volunteers.

Warnock has long been involved in political advocacy for change in Georgia. In March 2014, Warnock led a sit-in at the Georgia State Capitol to pressure legislators to accept the expansion of Medicaid, leading to his arrest. Warnock chaired the New Georgia Project from June 2017 to January 2020.

Warnock is an advocate for women’s healthcare and reproductive justice while also protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community. He continues to intertwine political activism and ministry, as he explained in his campaign announcement video: “Some might ask why a pastor thinks he should serve in the Senate,” he said. “Well, I’ve committed my whole life to service and helping people realize their highest potential. I’ve always thought that my impact doesn’t stop at the church door. That’s actually where it starts.” He plans to remain in the pulpit for sermons on Sunday morning at Ebenezer.

Georgia had not elected a Democratic senator since 1996. Yet on Jan. 5, the day of the Georgia Senate runoff election, two Democrats – Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock – announced their victories. This wasn’t a miracle. This moment has been building for over a decade.

Ten years ago, a new generation of Black female leaders and other people of color created their own structures after moderates and conservatives dominated and prevented electoral change. They were determined to turn out communities to vote and run for office that had been traditionally overlooked.

The most well-known is Stacey Abrams. In 2013, Abrams formed the New Georgia Project (NGP), a voter registration and engagement group that focused on newer generations of voters. NGP is now headed by Nsé Ufot.

Under her leadership, NGP has registered nearly 425,000 Georgians to vote, according to the organization’s website.

After narrowly losing the gubernatorial election to Brian Kemp in 2016, Abrams was outspoken about the issue of voter suppression. She formed an organization called Fair Fight that works to end practices like poll closures and long lines that disproportionately impact neighborhoods with large populations of people of color. Abrams was one of the few people convinced that focusing on underrepresented groups was a better strategy than the traditional plan of focusing on white voters in wealthy communities.

Evidence proves that Abrams’ hard work paid off.

According to The New York Times, a greater proportion of Democrats, specifically Black Democrats, returned to the polls compared to Republicans and white voters without college degrees. Turnout reached 92% in precincts won by Biden, while precincts won by Trump reached only 88%.

This is significant, as Black voters make up a large percentage of Democratic voters, over 30%. Specifically, turnout reached 93% in precincts where Black voters represent at least 80% of the electorate, while turnout dropped in white working-class precincts.

Abrams was not alone in the get out the vote effort.

Organizations like Georgia STAND-UP have been working since 2004 to persuade philanthropy groups and political organizations to consider Georgia as a potential battleground state. Others, like Felicia Davis and Helen Butler, have spent years working to turn out voters in Georgia.

Susan Sandler, who donated $200 million to fund these efforts, believed that investing in these groups, and not campaigns, was the true way to success.

Georgia STAND-UP, the Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda and the New Georgia Project have registered some 800,000 voters since 2018, many of them young people of color who are more likely to be Democratic-leaning. Just four years ago, 22% of Georgia’s eligible voters were not even registered. That figure fell to 2% this year, according to The Washington Post.

Other groups, like Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Poder LatinX, worked to bring out voters of color. Black Voters Matter, an organization founded by LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright, used targeted messaging to mobilize Black voters, and the Movement Voter Project provided funding to community groups in the state.

According to PBS.org, “Georgia’s population grew from about 8.2 million people in 2000 to 10.5 million in 2018.

The Atlanta metropolitan area added 733,646 residents between 2010 and 2019... driven by a surge of new Latino, Asian and Black residents.” Not only does a blue Georgia signify that grass-roots groups are much more powerful than previously thought, it also demonstrates the influence Black voters and other people of color have at the polls – a signal of greater change to come.

JON OSSOFF

Democrat Jon Ossoff defeated incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue in the Jan. 5 Georgia runoff to become the youngest United States senator, at age 33, in 40 years. Ossoff is also the first Jewish Senator to represent the state of Georgia. Ossoff defeated Perdue by roughly 55,000 votes, and along with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, is responsible for tipping the balance of power in the Senate.

Growing up in Atlanta, Ossoff attended the Paideia School from seventh to 12th grade. He then attended Georgetown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Foreign Service.

While in high school, Ossoff read the memoir of civil rights icon John Lewis. He proceeded to write the congressman for a job and was brought in for an internship.

While Ossoff was studying at Georgetown, U.S. Representative Hank Johnson offered him a position as a legislative assistant. Ossoff worked for Rep. Johnson from 2007-2012 and then moved to London to earn a Master of Science degree in international political economy from the London School of Economics.

Using an inheritance from his grandfather, Ossoff bought an ownership stake in a London-based investigative film company he had interned for in the past. He later named it Insight: The World Investigates (TWI) and became chief executive at age 26. TWI exposed sexual slavery of women by ISIS, crooked judges, foreign officials that steal U.S funded food and medical aid, human traffickers, war crimes and bribery, according to Ossoff’s campaign website.

Ossoff’s own political career began in 2017 with his bid for a U.S. House seat in a special election to replace Rep. Tom Price. Ossoff lost to Republican Karen Handel in the June runoff, 51.78% to 48.22%. Despite his loss, the energy generated by his candidacy shattered fundraising records and allowed him to continue to build a strong network that served him well in the bid for U.S. Senate three years later.

As senator, Ossoff hopes to support struggling families and small businesses through fast and generous direct emergency relief, lower taxes for all but the wealthiest Americans, and provide debt-free public college, free vocational training and health care guaranteed at an affordable price.

Ossoff supports the expansion of Medicaid and will seek to deliver federal funds to build health clinics across rural and underserved communities of Georgia. Ossoff also believes in investing in clean energy and infrastructure, criminal justice reform, defending Roe v. Wade and the privacy of women’s healthcare.

He also supports LGBTQ+ equality.

Current Affairs

Vol. 46, Issue #4

The Knightly News - Page 5

A New Day in America: Biden, Harris Launch Ambitious Agenda

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris discuss plans at the White House following their first weekly lunch on Jan. 22. portionately impacted by the pandemic and prioritize the financing of minorityowned businesses. Biden and Harris hope to reform the criminal justice system and ensure racial equity and diversity initia-

Photo: @potus on Instagram

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in to begin serving their four-year terms on Jan. 20 in a ceremony that looked quite different from past inaugurations, as concerns about the pandemic and the attack on the Capitol were at the forefront. Harris made history as the first female, first Black and first Asian American woman to serve as vice president.

The usual crowd at the National Mall was not possible due to COVID-19, so only around 1,000 members of Congress and guests were able to attend after testing negative for coronavirus the previous day. National Guard troops protected downtown Washington and security was on high alert after the Jan. 6 domestic terror attack on the Capitol.

Former President Donald Trump was not in attendance, but former Vice President Mike Pence was present at the ceremony. Performers including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks took the stage before the president was sworn into office. Twenty-two-year-old Amanda Gorman presented her poem “The Hill We Climb,” which reflected on the events of the past year and delivered messages of hope for the future.

In his inaugural address, President Biden remembered the 400,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19.

However, he stressed that it was a new day in America and promised to work toward unity of the highly divided American people for the rest of his term. On the very same day he was inaugurated, Biden repealed the Trump administration’s law

that restricted immigration from countries with a majority-Muslim population, rejoined the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and rejoined the United Nations World Health Organization.

His policies for his first 100 days in office focus primarily on racial justice, climate change, stopping the spread of COVID-19 and stimulating the economy to help the financial situations of millions of Americans who lost their jobs in 2020.

According to TIME, his agenda will “require a level of discipline and organization that the White House has not seen in four years,” and will be even more difficult due to the polarized state of the Senate.

President Biden plans to have 100 million Americans vaccinated by his 100th day in office, while working alongside a team of established public health experts to make this possible. However, his administration’s first 10 days were spent trying to locate millions of unused doses of vaccine sent out to different states, so the plan is off to a slow start.

The vaccine rollout is a federal program all the way to the distribution stage, while the Trump administration let states decide on their own how get the vaccine into people’s arms. Biden aims to have a 100-day mask wearing challenge, depoliticize the wearing of masks and stop the spread of disinformation surrounding COVID-19 and masks in America.

In terms of the economy, the administration is working to improve unemployment insurance, provide $15 billion to small businesses to help their struggling revenues, give $130 billion to schools for the purpose of reopening safely, raise the minimum wage to $15 and extend as much financial relief as possible to struggling Americans. Biden plans to help communities of color who were dispro-

tives. With regard to foreign policy, Biden said in an address at the State Department on Feb. 5 that “we will compete from a position of strength by building back better at home.”

Parler, Used in Capitol Attack, Now Off App Stores On Jan. 6, the United States Capitol was breached for the first time in over two centuries. People around the world watched as thousands of Trump supporters stormed the building and attempted to halt the certification of the 2020 election by Congress, supporting the false notion that the election had been stolen from President Trump. Social media played a large role in helping these domestic terrorists to organize their attack, with one app in particular becoming the go-to platform.

Parler, founded by John Matze in 2018, has recently made headlines with regard to the argument on free speech. The app, which prides itself on its total freedom of speech policy, has once again forced a discussion to the extent to which free speech can take place on social media platforms. The app recently exploded in popularity after capitalizing on the building anger of Trump supporters throughout the election.

Parler was founded with the purpose of providing a platform for conservatives to speak freely on political and economic issues. Naturally, this stance caught the eye of more than just conservatives. Racists, homophobes, QAnon members, anti-Semites, and other extremists along with MAGA (Make American Great Again) supporters flooded the app as other social media platforms began to implement stricter rules regarding disinformation and hate speech. Slowly, the app became the breeding grounds for planning and discussing violent attacks.

In the weeks leading up to the Capitol attack, Parler posed as the command ops for planning the siege. Posts inciting violence began to flood the app as many members started to provide their own suggestions on how to go about the siege. Protestors were asked to be “ARMED WITH RIFLE, HANDGUN, 2 KNIVES AND AS MUCH AMMO AS YOU CAN CARRY.” On the morning before the day of the attack, moderators of the app began promoting threads stating, “GOOD LUCK PATRIOTS, THE EYES OF THE WORLD LOOK UPON YOU NOW!!!” Specific individuals, such as Presidentelect Joe Biden, were called out by members of Parler who threatened to pursue leaders on the left. Senator Ilhan Omar and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were subjects of hateful and xenophobic comments.

On the day of the Capitol attack, Parler became the grounds for posting the success story of the united MAGA, QAnon and Proud Boys movement. Parler was flooded with images and videos of the attack, mostly by people who documented their own involvement on their phones. Posts inciting violence continued to circulate throughout the app even after the mob had made its way inside the building. Parler, a simple social media platform, had bred what became an unprecedented domestic terrorism event.

Following the attack on the Capitol, Google and Apple removed the app from their individual platforms

and Amazon no longer hosts Parler on its servers. While these companies initially requested that Parler add harsher moderation to the app, Parler failed to comply with the request, which resulted in the total removal of the app on Jan. 9. Meanwhile, Matze continues to support his total freedom of speech policy.

According to The New York Times, “Parler has entered into business with DDoS-Guard, a Russian firm that routes internet traffic and protects websites from cyberattacks.” Now, visitors to Parler.com see a basic webpage “with a promise from Parler’s chief executive, John Matze, that ‘our return is inevitable.’”

Freedom of Speech is a right given to all Americans through the First Amendment. That right is retracted the moment a person incites violence or panic in a crowd.

However, in this day and age where technology is widespread and has rapidly advanced, it has become hard to keep track of the individuals who abuse their First Amendment right with the goal of spreading disinformation. There is also the issue of the increase of AI generated messages and advertising, as well as the increasing spam of bots on social media platforms.

Many oppose the regulation of social media platforms by the government. In the past, it has been the role of social media platforms and private companies to hold, not only each other, but themselves accountable for the information being spread on their platforms. According to The Atlantic, “over the past few years, social-media companies have expended considerable effort developing internal policies that they claim are designed to ensure that ‘all people can participate in the public conversation [on the platforms] freely and safely.’” Debate continues as to whether regulation by private companies as it is currently practiced will be sufficient.

February 12, 2021

Opinion

This Is America

Capitol insurrection sheds light on race double standard

In June of 2020, Black Lives Matter protesters – overwhelmingly Black Americans and their allies – condemned the use of deadly police force against African Americans. They marched in cities and towns across the United States while chanting slogans against police brutality and carrying signs with the names of Black people who have died at the hands of law enforcement.

Their mostly peaceful protests were met with unnecessary police action. Phalanxes of police officers garbed in riot gear utilized chemical dispersants, rubber bullets and hand-to-hand combat to deter the demonstrators. According to the Associated Press, there were over 14,000 arrests in these protests.

On Jan. 6, a rabid mob – overwhelmingly white American supporters of President Donald Trump – stormed the United States Capitol building in the midst of the certification of the election by Congress, all in the name of supporting Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. Their break-in came right after Trump held his “Save America” rally, where he explicitly incited his supporters by calling on them to “fight like hell” as “we will never concede” and directing them to “march over to the Capitol building.”

For weeks, Trump had been spouting lies about winning the election in a landslide and that the election had been stolen from him. Many of his followers took him literally, with posts on social media such as, “If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism,” according to The New York Times. In response to this Facebook post, dozens of people posted photos of the weapons – including assault rifles – that they said they planned to bring to the rally.

Soon, those at the rally traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue chanting “stop the steal,” where they overwhelmed, and in some instances brutally beat, Capitol police officers, killing one. They smashed windows, breached the congressional chamber and looted lawmakers’ offices. These rioters sported “Make America Great Again” T-shirts while bearing “Blue Lives Matter” flags, Trump flags and Confederate flags.

They shouted about lynching government leaders like Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and erected a gallows and a noose. However, these domestic terrorists were met with flimsy barricades and few, unarmed police officers. Most of the insurrectionists eventually walked home safely, except for one woman who was killed by a police gunshot wound and three others who died during the rampage. At the Capitol, there were few arrests.

These two scenes highlight the race double standard that has plagued both modern and recent history. When Black people fight to defend their lives, they are met by the National Guard and the full might of militaryequipped police forces. But when white Trump supporters storm arguably the most important building in the U.S. to obstruct Congress from performing its Constitutional duty to certify the election results, they are carefully walked to safety, hand-in-hand with police.

To many, the insurrection on Jan. 6 drew widespread bewilderment and disbelief. People questioned

how America, the beacon of light, could harbor such an anti-democratic attack against those who were elected to govern our country. But this attack was nothing new and should come as no surprise. It was a culmination of the rise in overt right-wing extremism over the past four years and Trump’s amplification of the baseless trope that the 2020 election was stolen.

It was the fault of Trump, who incited violence with his speech, and his administration, which neglected the increasing threat of white extremism and domestic terrorism. Beyond Trump’s presidency, it is how America has always run. Since long before the first slave ships arrived in 1619, our society has nursed racism, prioritizing white people’s resentments and fears over fair treatment and justice for Black and brown people.

Many Black Americans were especially unsurprised, as they have witnessed the privilege of being white in a country that fundamentally conflates white people’s dangerous and destructive conduct as patriotism. “I keep hearing people say ‘we’re better than this,’ but in my mind, I think about how we aren’t better than this, we just aspire to be,” said Director of Student Life Dr. Troy Baker. “This has been our past four years presidentially speaking, and in the history of our country, this is the way that things have unfolded, so I don’t think we are better than this.”

Historically and presently, far-right demonstrators face far less law enforcement than those of minority groups and the left-wing. The 2017 Unite the Right rally, a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, showed how far white Americans would go, even killing three citizens, to uphold the racist past of the Confederacy. Recently, in October 2020, six anti-government, right-wing extremists were charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), another instance in which white Americans violently resisted policies that did not align with their own views.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, attacks by far-right perpetrators more than quadrupled between 2016 and 2017, all of which was of little interest to Trump. But when New York University Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice investigated the Trump administration’s “countering violent extremism,” 85% percent of these grants targeted marginalized and oppressed minority groups, disregarding the threat of increasing white supremacy. In April 2019, the FBI even eliminated the specific category for white supremacists when it comes to cataloging racially motivated violence, replacing it with the euphemistic one, “racially motivated extremism.”

For the most part, the Jan. 6 mob at the Capitol drew widespread denunciation. President-elect Joe Biden even related, “No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday… they would have been treated very, very differently than a mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol.” Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter also made damning comments in regards to the attack.

However, the fact that President Trump referred to Black Lives Matter protestors as “thugs,” “terrorists” and “anarchists,” in racist tweets from last summer, while calling his white, Capitol-attacking supporters “great patriots” who are “very special” has not been ignored. On Jan. 13, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump, charging him with “incitement of insurrection.”

This charge makes Trump the first president in U.S.

The Knightly News - Page 6

The Knightly News 966 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327 (404) 262-1345 knightlynews@paceacademy.org Published by students at Pace Academy Member of Georgia Scholastic Press Association Co-Editors-in-Chief: Mary Childs Hall Jamie Kornheiser Darren Rosing

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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.

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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. history to be impeached twice. Along with Trump, other U.S. leaders, like Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), only substantiated the idea of the race double standard through their augmentation of the claims of election fraud and their lack of censure in regards to the Capitol attack.

The insurrectionists, comprised of an assortment of armed and dangerous white supremacy and neo-Nazi groups such as the Proud Boys and the boogaloo boys among others, don’t plan on stopping with the invasion of the U.S. Capitol building. Investigations are ongoing, and various officials insist that they will be better prepared for violence going forward.

As of Feb. 6, over 235 arrests have been made and the FBI continues to sift through over 200,000 digital media tips. But the fact remains that these groups will continue to exist, perpetuating false narratives, fomenting hate and performing military exercises for the day they can reclaim their twisted vision of an America where white Christian people reign supreme.

This IS America, and our elected officials and others who work to protect us need to wake up to the reality that the police treated white domestic terrorists, not to be considered protestors, with kid gloves while Black people who dare to protest are met with a disproportionate show of force and violence.

Photos: @Time, @CNN on Instagram

(L-R) Armed members of the DC National Guard stood at the Lincoln Memorial last June during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest after George Floyd’s death. However, during the Jan. 6 insurrection, a mob had already entered the Capitol before the DC National Guard was activated.

Vol. 46, Issue #4

Opinion

The Knightly News - Page 7

A Call for Minimester Expansion: Why Limit to Only One Department?

who have had Mr. Hornor for three years of high school history or have had Mrs. Washburn for three years of high school English (myself included). While I admit that they are exceptional teachers, designing Minimesters for every academic department at Pace would allow students to learn from more of Pace’s esteemed faculty.

I’ve heard great things about English Department Chair Marsha Durlin, Math Department Chair Heather McCloskey and Science Department Chair John Pearson, but I’ve never experienced one of their classes. What if next year I had the ability to learn from all three in one week of Minimesters? It would be a shame to deny those educational opportunities.

Additionally, Minimesters are so special because they place students from all four grades of the Upper School in the same classes. History teacher Caitlin Terry sums it up best. “Minimesters are an awesome opportunity for what is already a very talented faculty to connect even more closely with the mission of the school at its liberal arts core by engaging with different segments of the student body,” she said. “What I love so much about this is that I’ve got freshmen,

sophomores, juniors and seniors all sitting in my classroom. It’s so rare for that to happen otherwise.”

Another point to consider is that the strategic placement of Minimesters within the school calendar naturally lends itself to its being developed further.

When students return after two weeks of Winter Break to the time-consuming and often stressful Spirit Week in January, Minimesters could function more efficiently as a liminal time period to get students back in the academic mindset: an engaging on-ramp to a successful second semester.

I can’t think of anything that embodies the spirit of Spirit Week more than a week of Minimesters in each of my classes. Imagine a week where students could choose courses from a greater variety of offerings, study under teachers they’ve never met, sit alongside students from all other grades, and most importantly, learn without the burden of incessant homework or assessments — in every one of their classes. After a single eight-day rotation cycle, students would be more prepared to begin the traditional second semester and more excited to jump back into their routine.

of calls, emails and petitions pleading for mercy.

One such example was the Brandon Bernard case. Brandon Bernard was a Black man who was convicted of murder in 1999 at only 18 years old, and was executed at age 40 – the youngest offender to be executed by the federal government in nearly 70 years.

Bernard and five other teenagers forced Todd and Stacy Bagley into the trunk of their car before Christopher Vialva, the mastermind of the crime, shot and killed them. Fearful of what Vialva would do to him if he refused, Bernard set the car alight.

Because soot was found in her airway, some believed that Stacy Bagley had been killed by smoke inhalation (though some doctors claimed that she was already “medically dead”).

On Dec. 12, social media was ignited

by Brandon Bernard’s plight, and the phone number for the Department of Justice spread like wildfire. A script, one in which the caller was instructed to plead for Bernard’s life and to condemn the

death penalty as a whole, was circulated along with the contact information, resulting in the DOJ beginning to direct calls to an answering machine. Unfortunately, the calls were ignored, and Bernard was executed. His last words were an apology to the family of his victim.

The death penalty has always been a contentious issue, and opinions of Americans have changed over time. According to Gallup, in 2014, 50% of respondents said that the death penalty was the best option for punishing murder. In 2019, however, 60% preferred a life sentence to death, reflecting a drastic shift in thought surrounding the punishment.

Clearly the tide of public opinion has turned against the death penalty, a testament to the humanity and care for life that most people exhibit. But even in the face of extreme public backlash, the Trump administration refused to listen to the calls for mercy, even when they dominated social media and petitions.

More than just the former president, however, the recent executions reveal the flaws in the justice system as a whole.

According to a study published by the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, Black lives genuinely matter less when it comes to the death penalty.

Defendants convicted of killing white victims were 17 times more likely to be executed than those convicted of killing Black victims. The prejudices our justice system was originally founded on persist today, and are literally killing people.

The death penalty is also not infallible. Thanks to organizations like the Innocence Project, many people on death row have been found to be not guilty of the crime for which they were sentenced.

It certainly makes one wonder how many people have lost their lives for crimes that they never committed.

With this in mind, many have called for the abolition of the death penalty. One can rarely convict someone with 100% certainty, and those who are truly guilty of their crimes would surely pay for their crimes better if imprisoned for life. For all of these reasons, America should pledge loyalty to life and abolish the death penalty.

Photo: Ashley Myers

plan Minimester courses to coexist for the first eight-day schedule rotation following Winter Break.

The concept behind Minimesters allows for the purest form of education: learning for the sake of curiosity and not For the first eight-day rotation cycle for the grade. After just eight days in Mr. after Winter Break, Pace students enWard’s Minimester course, I developed a gaged in the annual Minimester program. genuine passion for the content before me, Although the program for the past nine whereas I might often find myself particiyears has been a creation of the upper pating in regular classroom coursework school science department, this year solely to perform well on later assessmarks the first time that the history dements. partment stepped up to the challenge and “During my oral history Minimester developed a set of courses that centered [with Dr. Christine Carter] this year, I around the theme of African and African- was able to learn about something I really American history. enjoy without the ever-looming presSome of these courses used a racial sure of tests,” said junior Raina Moselens to analyze government, speeches ley. “Minimesters definitely let me fear and recent instances of activism, whereas academic failure less and ask questions other courses applied this lens to pop more.” culture influences like music, sports and The true beauty of Minimesters lies cinema. For example, English teacher in their innate commitment to diversity Emily Washburn taught a Minimester — of thought, faculty and classmates. course entitled “Fighting Words: Songs Minimesters allow teachers to instruct of Resistance and Rebellion.” Mrs. thoughtful courses of their own design Washburn believes that and enable students to sign her Minimester course al“Minimesters defi- up for the courses that resolowed students to see how nitely let me fear nate most with their interhistory can shape culture, ests. Since Pace teaches so and vice-versa. “The music academic failure less many Advanced Placement and ask questions (AP) classes, it’s natural for then becomes a variable in shaping American culture, more.” – Junior the Pace curriculum to not so there’s a feedback loop,” always satisfy the diverse Raina Moseley said Mrs. Washburn. interests and academic In years past, I’ve tradpassions of each and every ed my usual science classes for temporary student. Thus, Minimesters offer a unique science-based courses like “The Science and short-lived opportunity for previously Behind Cooking” or “Swamp Ecology.” disengaged students to truly immerse Both courses provided fun and momenthemselves in interesting material. tarily stress-relieving opportunities to In terms of faculty diversity, Minlearn about nontraditional disciplines. imesters offer students the opportunity This year, I traded my attendance in Histo learn from Pace teachers that they tory Department Chair Tim Hornor’s AP wouldn’t otherwise have had the chance Art History course for a week-long study to know in the classroom setting. For of student activism with Isdell Center for example, I never would have been able Global Leadership Associate Director Ted to experience Mr. Ward as a teacher if it Ward. weren’t for my being in his Minimester It was during this week that I found this year. I’m grateful for such an opmyself wishing Pace’s Minimester proportunity because students should be exgram extended beyond just our history posed to as many different teaching styles classes and into every subject of study sias possible in preparation for college and multaneously. Next year, I believe that all life thereafter. of Pace’s academic departments should There are some people in my grade

Senior Eli Mautner (right) enrolled in Ted Ward’s Minimester on student activism.

Death Penalty Reveals Brutality of Justice System During the Trump administration’s time in office, various issues have come to the forefront of the nation’s thought; one in particular, however, has haunted discussion regarding the value of human life. In July, the Trump administration began executing federal prisoners again for the first time after a 17-year hiatus.

Since then, the Trump administration executed more civilians than in any year since 1896. In November, the Department of Justice carried out the first civilian execution in an outgoing presidency in over a century, completing five more before President Biden’s inauguration.

All of these facts say one thing: the Trump administration unleashed a nearly unprecedented scheme of cruelty. Each of the executions was met with backlash and grief, the days before becoming a flurry

Black History Month

February 12, 2021

We Need a Different Lens On Black History Month

1920s

ASALH sponsored a national “Negro History Week” the second week of February to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

BLACK HI

1910s

Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Black history clubs began taking form at schools across the nation.

1940s

Black teachers in the South began incorporating African American history into United States history as an early part of the Civil Rights Movement.

1930s

Woodson established the Negro History Bulletin which focused on creating an annual theme for “Negro History Week.”

African Americans in West Virginia began celebrating February as Black History Month.

1950s 1960s

Activist Fredrick H. Hammaurabi began celebrating Black History Month in Chicago.

Black college students began replacing Black History Week with Black History Month on their campuses.

Carter G. Woodson is considered the “Father of Black History.”

Photo: Wikimedia

1970s

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month. He called upon the public to “honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

The Knightly News - Page 8

Black History Month is a time to commemorate the achievements of Black Americans throughout history, such as the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman.

These influential people changed the course of history in America and often faced harsh backlash during their fight for justice, equality and freedom.

As Americans, we enjoy celebrating their tremendous achievements and sacrifices toward the betterment of society.

It is easy to feel affirmed that we have “come so far”— that the issues and oppression these historical figures faced is long behind us.

In my experience, this has led to an increasingly backwardlooking Black History Month full of platitudes and placation, removed from today’s issues.

What many of these historical figures that we celebrate today would’ve wanted is in fact the opposite.

These people would not have wanted their legacy to be remembered as a way for people to check off a box. Rather, they would want continued progress toward justice and equality for all people. By sitting back and complacently watching injustices take place, without taking action, people are dishonoring the work and legacy of the Black Americans they celebrate. To truly observe Black History Month, we need to not only honor those who have come before us, but also consciously strive to continue their work.

Some may claim that we are past the inequality and injustice that was ever-present in previous centuries, but there is still much progress to be made. There are many examples of structural racism in the United States, embedded in our very institutions and causing Black people to suffer disproportionate harm or be held back from realizing their fullest potential.

One example of a broken system that needs to be fixed is law enforcement. According to the NAACP, “while white people make up a little over 60% of the population, they only make up about 41% of fatal police shootings. Black people make up 13.4% of the population, but make up 22% of fatal police shootings.”

The disproportionate number

of Black Americans who are afmunities in the United States,” fected by police brutality cannot according to History.com. continue. In recent years, with Beyond the generational the introduction of police body wealth that often gives white cameras and the increased docu- families a head start, Black mentation of police brutality people are still limited in emthrough cell phone videos, there ployment opportunities today. is greater awareness of the issue, According to the Pew Research but significant progress has yet Center, the “Black unemployto be made. ment rate is consistently twice This systemic racism perthat of whites” over the course vades more than just policing, of the past 60 years. Even when as evidenced by the criminal isolated solely to college gradujustice and prison systems. ates, the same trend remains: After being arrested and tried, the unemployment rate of Black “African Americans are incarcollege graduates is more than cerated at more than five times twice the unemployment rate of the rate of whites,” according all college graduates, according to the NAACP. Black children to The Atlantic. are “18 times more likely than This structural racism can white children to be sentenced also be seen in healthcare and as adults” and “represent 58% specifically how COVID-19 of children sentenced to adult has disproportionately affected facilities,” according to a study Black people. According to the done by the Anti-Defama“By sitting back and compla- tion League American Psychological cently watching injustices take (ADL), “in Association. place, without taking action, Chicago, Black Illinois, Afpeople are dishonoring the Americans rican Ameriwork and legacy of the Black can people also face Americans they celebrate.” significant account for wealth inmore than equality in America. According half of those who have tested to Inequality.org, “the median positive for coronavirus and white family has 41 times more 72% of virus-related fatalities, wealth than the median Black even though they make up a little family” and Black families are less than a third of the populatwice as likely to have “zero or tion.” Similar trends can be seen even ‘negative’ wealth (meaning around the country. the value of their debts exceeds Black History Month should the value of their assets).” In by all means involve celebrating general, white families hold 90% the achievements and leaders of the national wealth, according of the past, but we should not to The American Prospect. ignore the fact that there is still This incredible wealth disprogress to be made. All of us parity can, in part, be explained can play a role in ensuring that by the generational wealth that progress is achieved. Individuwhite families often have more als can help in a multitude of access to than Black families. ways, such as by volunteering, Over the course of American donating, protesting, calling and history, Black Americans have emailing elected leaders and been robbed time and again of signing petitions. Connecting their wealth, so their efforts to with other activists and organizaccumulate assets have often ing can often make the work less proved futile. For example, folintimidating. lowing the Civil War, the FreedSome groups to consider man’s Savings Bank was created connecting with are the Black to “show [former slaves] how to Youth Project, the American rise in the world,” in the words Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Frederick Douglass. and The National Coalition on Former slaves began deposit- Black Civic Participation. It is ing money and attempting to also important for white people amass wealth until the Panic of to speak out when they are wit1873 hit and the bank was shut nesses to racist talk or actions. down in 1874 due to mismanage- Minister and civil rights leader ment by Congress. According to Benjamin Mays once said, “the the Office of the Comptroller of tragedy of life is often not in our the Currency, 61,144 depositors failure, but rather in our comwere left with losses of nearly $3 placency; not in our doing too million. Later in 1921, successful much, but rather in our doing Black Americans were targeted too little.” It is incumbent upon once again during the Tulsa all of us – not just Black people Race Massacre when a white – to work toward achieving true mob destroyed one of the “most racial justice and equality in our affluent African American com- society.

Vol. 46, Issue #4

Black History Month

The Knightly News - Page 9

ISTORY MONTH

Black Trailblazers in Professional Sports National Football League (NFL) - Kenny Washington

Photo: history.com

Today, many African Americans contribute to the success of great professional sports franchises. Seventy-five years ago, however, the first African Americans were breaking the color barrier in professional sports. Jackie Robinson is widely known as the first African American to play a sport at the professional level, but that is actually incorrect.

Kenny Washington of the Los Angeles Rams broke the National Football League (NFL) color barrier in 1946, one year before Robinson entered Major League Baseball (MLB). Nevertheless, the first Black players to break the color barrier in the four major sports paved the way for significant opportunities for minorities going forward.

Kenny Washington was born in Los Angeles, California in 1918. Edgar Washington, his father, played in the baseball Negro leagues on many teams, including the Los Angeles White Sox and Kansas City Monarchs. Kenny Washington attended Lincoln High School and would later enroll at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

He played football and baseball at UCLA, alongside friend Jackie Robinson. Washington rushed for over 3,000 yards in college, a school record for 56 years. He became the first Bruin ever to receive a full consensus All-American in 1939.

After college, Washington competed for the Hollywood Bears, a team in the Pacific Coast Professional Football League. This was one of the only professional leagues during World War II. The Chicago Bears were interested in Washington, but the NFL would not allow integration in 1940. Once the war came to a close, Washington signed an NFL contract with the LA Rams, playing for three years. It was a short career hindered by injuries, but he rushed for 859 yards and eight touchdowns in those years. He required surgery prior to his first season, but he came back strong and was a fan favorite. When Washington retired in 1948, 80,000 supporters attended his last game and gave him a standing ovation. Although he has not been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956.

Washington became an officer for the Los Angeles Police Department in his later years. He also acted in movies and was a part-time scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a staunch supporter of Richard Nixon. After Nixon’s 1950 Senate loss, he spent the night at Washington’s house trying to relax.

Major League Baseball (MLB) - Jackie Robinson

Photo: nara.getarchive.net

Jackie Robinson was born into a family of sharecroppers in Cairo, Georgia on Jan. 31, 1919. He moved to Pasadena, California a year after he was born. Before going to UCLA with Kenny Washington, he attended John Muir High School and played football, basketball, track and baseball. At UCLA, Robinson continued his four sports at the collegiate level. He played football all four years, won the 1940 NCAA championship in long jump and developed in baseball. In fact, he batted .097 in his only baseball season.

After college, he played semi-professional football for about a year and enlisted in the military following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. While in the military, Robinson boarded a bus and refused to sit in the back, against the wishes of the driver. He was accused of multiple offenses and sent to court. An all white panel of officers acquitted Robinson, signifying some progress in race relations within the military.

Following his military service, Robinson became an athletic director at Sam Houston College for a year. Then, he was offered a contract with the Kansas City Monarchs for a year. In 1946, he became a minor league player for the Montreal Royals.

Finally, a year later, the Dodgers called up Robinson where he played for 10 years. Dealing with racial slurs throughout his career, many players encouraged him, most notably teammates Pee Wee Reese. “You can hate a man for many reasons,” said Reese. “Color is not one of them.” Robinson compiled an impressive stat line from his career as Dodger, including a .311 batting average, 734 runs batted in, 197 stolen bases, six All-Star appearances and a World Series championship. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1962.

After his career in baseball, Robinson became the vice president of personnel for Chock Full O’Nuts, an American coffee brand. Similar to Kenny Washington, he was a strong supporter of Richard Nixon but stepped back from the Republican Party after the rise of Barry Goldwater, who Robinson disliked. The number 42, Robinson’s number, has been retired for all teams in the MLB today.

National Basketball Association (NBA) - Earl Lloyd Photo: wvstate.edu

Born in 1928 in Virginia, Earl Lloyd grew up in an era of intense segregation in the South. He attended a segregated high school but was a standout on the court where he earned All-State honors three times. These accolades contributed to a scholarship offer from West Virginia State University, a historically Black, public college. In college, he was named All-Conference three times and All-American twice, leading his team to an undefeated season his sophomore year.

Standing at 6’ 5”, Lloyd was drafted to the Washington Capitals in the ninth round of the 1950 NBA Draft. On Halloween night in 1950, Lloyd made history as the first African American to play basketball professionally. Two Black players, Chuck Cooper and Nat Clinton, appeared days after, but Lloyd played first. Years later, he helped win the 1955 NBA Championship with the Syracuse Nationals. In 1961, he retired from the league, ending his career on the Detroit Pistons. His NBA statistics and accolades are not the most impressive, but his legacy is everlasting.

While in the NBA, Lloyd was rejected service and spit on multiple times. Nevertheless, he said that these racist incidents only pushed him to work harder. “My philosophy was: If they weren’t calling you names, you weren’t doing nothing,” said Lloyd. “If they’re calling you names, you were hurting them.”

After basketball, he worked in the Detroit public school system. Then, he served at a Detroit manufacturing company.

Lloyd is known as venerable today, and he was crucial in desegregating schools in Michigan and Virginia.

National Hockey League (NHL) - Willie O’Ree

Photo: bostonglobe.com

In the midst of the Great Depression, Willie O’Ree was born in 1935. He would later become the first Black player to appear in the National Hockey League.

After two seasons in the minor leagues, he was called up from the Quebec Aces to the Boston Bruins in order to replace an injured player. He made his debut on Jan. 18, 1958 against the Montreal Canadiens, becoming the “Jackie Robinson of hockey.” He was moved back down to the minors after that year and played one other season in the major leagues (on the Bruins). For most of his career, O’Ree bounced around the minors, playing for teams such as the Los Angeles Blades, San Diego Gulls and Fredericton Capitals. In 2018, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

O’Ree said he encountered racism in many of his games, with fans shouting racist remarks at him. “Those things did not really bother me,” said O’Ree. “I just wanted to be a hockey player, and if they could not accept that fact, that was their problem.”

There are not many people of color involved in the sport of hockey. There was a long period of no Black players, but Mike Marner was drafted to the Washington Capitals in 1974. O’Ree was named the NHL’s Diversity Director in 1998, a position that involved traveling around the U.S. and Canada promoting diversity in the sport.

February 12, 2021

Black History Month

The Knightly News - Page 10

What Does Black History Month Mean to You? Black Pace faculty/staff answer that question

Photo: Sloane Wagreich

“Black History Month is a month of celebration, recognition, and a moment to kind of step back and actually pay attention in ways that otherwise wouldn’t be outside of this month and timeframe.” – Library Assistant Tiger Brown Sublime Doughnuts features a wide variety of unique, delectable offerings.

“Black History Month means everything. It is my history. Anyone who is truly an African American and believes in the history and knows what’s missing in the history, celebrates it throughout their whole lifetime. It is celebrated every day, every hour, every minute. It’s very important for me to pass it along to my children, and I want them to be aware that it’s beyond a month. I mean, anyone can be appreciative of that. But if anyone honors and respects and embraces a race, or Black history, they know that it needs to be celebrated beyond a month.” – math teacher Jewell Marable

“When Black History Month comes around, we usually hear just the surface of Black history, which is usually Martin Luther King, who most people know about. We don’t really hear about other people. I recently posted to the upper school faculty about the inventor of the ice cream scooper, who was a Black man, and nobody knew that. And Feb. 2 was the day back in the 1800s when he actually got his patent for that. But when he got the patent for it, it became so popular that everybody took over making them, and he never profited off of it. I always say Black History Month is every month, especially if you’re Black. You know what I mean? So, you know, I always talk about it and as soon as I find out something new I always like to let people know.”

– Administrative Assistant to Head of Upper School Nikki McCrary

“I look at Black History Month as a celebration of Black history in terms of the ups and downs that not just African Americans, but all Black people in this country have gone through.

I look at it as an opportunity to enlighten people and educate people about the history that they’ve gone through, and the culture that we all live in. But I also think that Black History Month extends beyond just one month. I like to think of it as something that we celebrate throughout the year, along with other minority communities and other different types of ethnicities. I think Black history encompasses all of that... It is a 12-month process, year by year always trying to celebrate, learn, relearn, educate and be a part of Black history, the good and the bad.” – history teacher Duke Sherrell

Support Local, Black-Owned Restaurants

If you’re looking for a new brunch spot, the Atlanta Breakfast Club, or A.B.C., has got you covered. Since 2016, co-owners Anthony Sanders and O. Osiris Ballard have been cooking up their specialties in Midtown. Located at 249 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.

NW, A.B.C. provides great service to its customers and takes pride in serving the Atlanta community. Now, according to TripAdvisor, they are ranked No. 21 out of 2,357 restaurants in the Atlanta area.

Although I didn’t spend much time inside the restaurant, the ambiance is homey and casual, and a bit rustic. The restaurant is decorated like a local, urban diner and has an entire wall dedicated to chalk art, featuring illustrations of the city of Atlanta, music and, of course, food. Space heaters are situated outside to keep customers warm while they wait for food. Music is also playing to keep customers engaged.

The restaurant was bustling when we went to pick up our food and the wait time was rather short. The only complaint is that there is no outdoor seating and parking at the restaurant is tight and minimal.

Their menu features a variety of foods, ranging from breakfast to lunch, and they have something for everyone. Popular breakfast items include peach cobbler french toast, crispy fried chicken and waffles, and buttermilk pancakes. For lunch,

Cover Image:

the A.B.C offers dishes like the fried chicken sandwich, house salad, shrimp po boy and the A.B.C. burger. If you are looking for something to complete your meal, don’t fret. Their list of sides goes on and on. Whether you are craving something savory such as a buttermilk biscuit, something sweet like a French toast “half order,” or even something healthy like an order of fresh fruit, they’ve got it all.

Their order and pick-up process was relatively smooth and effortless. After relocating to Piedmont Park to enjoy our lunch, we decided that we would soon be returning to A.B.C. The chicken and waffles were cooked to perfection and complemented each other perfectly in terms of savory and sweet. The house salad with grilled chicken was crisp and fresh, packed with flavor. The breakfast bowl with sausage, eggs, breakfast potatoes and cheese paired very well with the flaky, buttermilk biscuit.

We couldn’t help but make a second stop on our food outing, to Sublime Doughnuts, located at 535 10th St. NW and only five minutes from A.B.C. Founded

by Kamal Grant, this donut eatery is the perfect substitute for your local Dunkin Donuts.

Since 2008, Sublime Doughnuts has been serving doughnuts that are anything but basic.

Some of their popular flavors include Smores, the Dirty D Cookie Crumble, Oreo, Deep Dark Chocolate and the Honeyglazed Bowtie doughnuts. If you have a sweet tooth or are in need of something other than your traditional glazed doughnut, Sublime is, without a doubt, the perfect place to go.

Black Student Alliance (BSA) leaders – junior Jayla Wideman and senior Cole Middleton – plan their next BSA meeting.

Photo: Omar López-Thismón

Vol. 46, Issue #4

COVID-19

The Knightly News - Page 11

COVID-19 Vaccines Rolled Out

Photo: Howard Gold

On Dec. 11, the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, was granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One week later, the Moderna vaccine was approved, with both available for use in the United States. The FDA states that the Pfizer vaccination should only be taken by those who are 16 years old or older. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that the Moderna drug should only be taken by those 18 years or older.

Dr. Mimi Vanoyan, a practicing OB GYN at Piedmont Hospital, has received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. “I think right now we don’t know when the vaccine will be available to the general public,” she said.

“My guess would be sometime in the late spring, or early summer; it just depends on what happens with the rollout over the next four to six weeks.”

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have mild side effects, with the most common side effects postvaccination being fever, chills and headaches, along with soreness at the injection site. Otherwise, there have been no major detrimental impacts.

Both drugs require two doses. The Pfizer vaccine must be taken three weeks apart, whereas the Moderna drug is four weeks. Pfizer and Moderna are insisting that two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination are required, with recent studies indicating that one dose is not enough to fully protect against the virus.

As more people are being vaccinated, scientists are able to collect more data and develop a deeper understanding of the success of the vaccine; however, citizens

are being encouraged to wear a mask even if they have already been vaccinated. According to the CDC, both vaccines are about 95% effective in their protection against COVID-19. There is a possibility that those who have been vaccinated could be carriers of the coronavirus and spread it to other people.

The United States government and Pfizer reached an agreement in December of last year in which 200 million doses would be delivered to the United States and further distributed to hospitals around the country. Moderna is also hoping to provide the government with 200 million doses by the end of June; however, according to CNBC, they are maintaining a global focus, hoping to manufacture 1 billion doses by the end of 2021. As of Jan. 31, since the initial release of the vaccine, there has been an average of 1.3 million doses issued each day in the United States, according to The New York Times.

An issue that has emerged since the release of the vaccine is the distribution of the Moderna and Pfizer doses. Hospitals in each state were given the ability to decide who can be treated with the vaccination first and the urgency with which a patient may receive the vaccine.

According to NPR, Stanford Medicine in Palo Alto, California decided to give the vaccine to faculty who had been operating remotely, and excluded the medical residents who were in charge of caring for those in the COVID-19 ward. As a result, protests arose from the frontline medical professionals, who demanded that the administration consider their safety and health as a priority.

Another issue that has arisen is the successful distribution of the second dose of the vaccine within the proper time frame. But more doses are being actively released, so officials are hopeful that everyone will be able to properly receive both doses.

Even though people are getting vaccinated and devel-

Knightly News Co-Adviser Lee Wilson receives her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Jan. 12 at MercedesBenz Stadium. oping immunity, officials still believe that there will be large numbers of cases in the coming weeks, especially with the more contagious variants spreading throughout the U.S. So far in 2021, record high cases and deaths are being recorded across the United States.

“I believe there’s probably going to be a continuing surge of COVID-19 at least for the next four to eight weeks,” said Vanoyan. “Most of that is the fallout from the holidays. Relief isn’t expected until the vaccine response gets really ramped up.”

Nations Enact Stricter COVID-19 Protocols Map: The New York Times

While the current lenient approach to COVID-19 restrictions has its benefits for the U.S., many other countries have been able to enact stricter protocols to decrease COVID-19 numbers. Each country has had a different approach to combating the virus, which is becoming even more apparent now as numbers are hitting new highs across the globe, even with the new availability of several COVID-19 vaccines.

Japan’s government recently extended its state of emergency to even more prefectures, bringing the total number to 11. This state of emergency, now set to lift on March 7, urges restaurants, bars, and other similar establishments to close by 8 p.m. each night. Fines for violating these restrictions were just passed in the Parliament’s lower house. Japan is looking at extending the state of emergency to all 47 prefectures, according to Toshio Nakagawa, the head of the Japan Medical Association.

Japan’s number of cases and deaths are much smaller than that of the U.S., even considering the fact that their population is around one third of that of the U.S. Currently, the number of recorded cases is around 390,000 and the number of COVID-19-related deaths sits at around 5,750. Japan is still planning on hosting the Olympics this summer, set to begin on July 23, as the head of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, recently said that it would be “absolutely impossible” to postpone the games for a second time.

With the discovery of the more contagious new strain of the virus in the United Kingdom, the U.K. has witnessed a large surge in cases and hospitalizations.

Because of this, the U.K.’s health secretary is considering opening up hotels for COVID-19 patients who require minimal treatment and supervision. The U.K. is currently under a national lockdown, and although Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes that this lockdown is beginning to show signs of success, the Labour Party’s leader Sir Keir Starmer is arguing that further restrictions are needed.

There are similar restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In fact, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently announced even heavier restrictions for Scotland, which has generally been more proactive than Westminster leadership throughout the pandemic.

Countries around the world, including France, pictured above, have experienced rising numbers of COVID-19 hospitalizations, as well as cases. The numbers of hospitalizations indicated are as of Feb. 4.

Compared to many other countries that are rolling out vaccines, the U.K. has been moving much quicker and is nearing 10 million vaccinations. However, Johnson has expressed that there may be limits on the supply of vaccines that are now becoming apparent.

In response to the discovery of the COVID-19 U.K. variant that has already spread around the world, Germany has further tightened restrictions in traveling into, as well as out of, the country. This new plan would require people entering Germany from places where the variant is present and cases are rising to provide negative test results.

Germany has also been in lockdown for some time, and although this lockdown was planned to lift on Feb. 14, senior lawmakers believe that the lockdown will extend past this date. Similarly to the U.S., Germany’s vaccine rollout has been slower than expected, which has been criticized by much of the nation.

Most recently, France has extended its mandatory curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 25 departments. Previously, the French government put in place a curfew on all metropolitan areas, which is still currently in place.

These new restrictions come as hospitalizations are on the rise, and cases in more rural areas, such as the Alps, are nearly as high as those in Paris and its surrounding territory. Because of the new variant, travel restrictions have been put in place; however, they are currently di-

rected only at the U.K., even though the variant has been found in numerous countries. As in Germany, the limited number of people who are allowed to travel between the U.K. and France must present a negative test.

Again, vaccine rollout is not happening as expected, and as the French government is facing criticism for its slow pace in comparison to other European nations, the French Ministry of Health, led by Olivier Veran, will be releasing daily briefs on the number of regional vaccinations each evening. As of Feb. 3, 1.61 million people have been vaccinated, although the number of vaccines available is increasing at a rate of 500,000 per week and will become 1,000,000 per week soon.

Russia is planning to launch a mass vaccination movement within the coming weeks, as President Vladimir Putin plans to continue to use Russia’s own vaccine, claiming that it is the best one in circulation.

The Russian government has also placed restrictions on travel with the U.K., including a suspension of flights that is set to last into February. Private clinics in Moscow are in negotiations with Pfizer to receive their own vaccinations as early as February, which would allow them to begin administering the Pfizer vaccine prior to its official registration by the Kremlin.

Currently, the Russian government claims that millions of people around the world have received their Sputnik V vaccination, although it is not clear where this vaccine has been administered outside of Russia.

However, some countries such as Algeria, have already purchased batches of the Sputnik vaccine, and others, such as Hungary, have bought smaller amounts of the vaccine and do not plan to buy mass doses.

The Chinese vaccine that is currently being developed by Sinovac Biotech has proven to be far less effective than previously predicted and was just 50.38% effective in its latest trials. Several major cities in China’s Hebei province were recently put under lockdown by the Chinese government after the highest reported outbreak in several months.

Currently, the residents of such cities, more than 28 million people, are unable to leave their homes at any point during the day. With its location right next to Beijing, any citizens of Hebei that commute into Beijing must provide negative COVID-19 tests and proof of occupation in order to enter the capital city. This new wave of cases is nowhere near the daily numbers provided by the U.S., but this lockdown serves largely as a preventative measure after numbers had remained stable and low over the past five months.

Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 12

Most Eligible Bachelor: Senior Will Brennan

hang out after. “I really value my friendships with people and one of my favorite pastimes is definitely just chilling with friends,” said Brennan.

Brennan also loves watching a good game of football with his friends. “I’m an avid football fan, and the New Orleans Saints and Georgia Bulldogs are by far my favorite,” explained Brennan. If you can’t fathom dating a Saints or UGA fan, Brennan

might not be the one for you. On the other hand, sports related debates could make for a good source of banter in the relationship.

Brennan notices personality first when getting to know someone for the first time. He truly does not want to be in a relationship for shallow reasons, like looks or to show off, but rather he is looking for a genuine connection and companion.

Ugh. Another Valentine’s Day spent alone, wallowing in self-pity... The hours go by as you bury yourself under a comforter that isn’t even soft, while you devour chocolatey calories from a heart-shaped truffle box that never quite taste the same when you buy them for yourself.

Is that really how you want to spend this February 14? Or, do you long to find someone earnest, social and witty to dine with over a Valentine’s Day meal? If you feel more inclined towards option two, you might just be in luck, as The Knightly News’ 2021 Most Eligible Bachelorette – senior Jacqueline Cunningham – possesses all of these qualities, and more!

A magical chorus performer, speedy swim team participant, future Broadway star and Math Team MVP, Cunningham is a model high school student and an active community member.

If those extracurriculars aren’t enough to meet your standards, let The Knightly News be the

first to inform you that Cunningham is also co-president of both the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Pace Academy Student Support (PASS). And if that somehow doesn’t cut it, she plans to study neuroscience or psychology next year in college.

When she’s cute AND smart, you’ve found the one!

Identifying as queer, Cunningham is candid about her sexuality, having come out to her parents and friends in ninth grade. She’s open to tons of relationship options, but at the moment, Cunningham’s type is red headed girls. “Don’t get me wrong, though, red headed guys are strange to me,” said Cunningham.

Her fantasy crush is the book version of Ginny Weasley from the “Harry Potter” series. “They really messed her up in the movies, though, so I definitely prefer Ginny from the actual novels,” said Cunningham.

In her free time, which one can tell is limited due to her involvement in many activities, Cunningham listens to music, specifically Olivia Rodrigo’s “Driver’s License.” Binging Netflix series is also one of her part-time hobbies. “I’m totally

into “Bridgerton” right now, as everyone is, especially because TikTok creators are making it into a musical,” said Cunningham. She’s a big peanut butter lover too, but oddly enough, this infatuation does not include PB&Js. OK, so now that you are a bit familiar with who Cunningham is, let’s get down to business with who she’s looking for. “I’m attracted to people who are intelligent, funny and genuine,” she said. In the past, Cunningham has been plagued with toxic relationships, so her foremost trait when seeking a partner is honesty. “I also badly need someone who can cope with my mistakes, because sometimes, I’m a little bit of a dumbass,” she said.

Last but not least, here are a few tips if you are thinking about asking Cunningham out for the Feb. 14 holiday of love.

Her ideal Valentine’s Day gift includes chocolate. Tons of it.

“I’m such a little kid, but I’m a sucker for stuffed teddy bears, so that would be a nice treat,” said Cunningham. In regards to your upcoming date, she’s always wanted to have a simple yet romantic Valentine’s Day picnic. “There’s a little park near

Senior Will Brennan gets all the ladies in the Seaman Family Student Commons. Who will he pick?

Photo: Ashley Myers

With Valentine’s Day this weekend, some are looking for that perfect guy to sweep them off their feet and make Valentine’s Day feel like a real-life rom-com. Well, ladies, look no further. The Knightly News’ Most Eligible Bachelor for this year is senior Will Brennan, an outstanding stud who is looking for the ideal woman.

The perfect combination of easy-going and excitable, Brennan is “down to do anything” whether that means going out to a nice dinner or staying in and watching “Star Wars.” If you appreciate “Star Wars” or are a big Georgia Bulldogs fan, you might be the right match for Brennan.

A classic Saturday morning for Brennan includes getting up early, but not too early: around 9 a.m. He’s incredibly responsible with his schoolwork and often finishes his homework days early, working on it here and there throughout the weekend.

After working on homework briefly, Brennan loves to “go play golf with some friends” and

This fact makes Brennan stand out as a diamond in the rough from other men. “I care mostly about if we mesh together and if she’s funny – that’s definitely important to me,” he said. He also values respect and openness when it comes to relationships. “Honesty and being truthful to each other is essential for a healthy relationship in my opinion,” said Brennan.

After reading this, any girl

would want Brennan in her life, but sadly Brennan is only looking for a girl who is his age or close to it. “Honestly, I’m not into a significant age difference – I want a minimal age difference or none at all, ideally,” he said. Beyond that, Brennan is open to getting to know anyone whether they end up as lovers or just friends.

Brennan identified “being able to carry a conversation with anyone” as one of his strengths, so nobody should feel hesitant approaching him and striking up a conversation. “I’m never going to judge someone based on my first impression of them,” he said. “I always want to get to know someone and let the relationship grow before I make any decisions.”

Although Brennan is a self-identified “chill guy,” he’s planning on going the extra mile this Valentine’s Day for whomever he is courting. Imagine this: a candlelit dinner at Shake Shack followed by a sweet serenade by Brennan. He plans on arriving decked out in his “favorite pair of sweatpants” and T-shirt. If Brennan sounds like the guy for you, all you need to know is that Tame Impala is the way to his heart.

Most Eligible Bachelorette: Senior Jacqueline Cunningham

Photo: Mary Childs Hall Senior Jacqueline Cunningham is a free spirit, but also a down-toearth, kind hearted classmate. my house that has a duck pond, and I’ve always imagined how special and charming a picnic there would be,” she said. And if for some reason you lose track of time and forget to get the picnic basket ready, Jinya Ramen Bar

would be “casual enough” for a first date, according to Cunningham. “Eating a massive bowl of ramen can’t be graceful so I think that would make things not too awkward and kind of funny,” she said.

Vol. 46, Issue #4

Valentine’s Day

The Knightly News - Page 13

Five Minutes with the King and Queen of the Castle

Photo: Martha Assaf

Knightly News (KN): Hi, guys. I’m glad we could find time to do this.

Fred Assaf (FA): We’re happy to be included.

KN: Awesome. Well, let’s begin with a simple question.

How did you guys meet?

Martha Assaf (MA): Oh, well, there are two versions of this answer! His is, ya know… the revisionist history.

FA: Yes, this would be a good exercise for AP Lang to figure out where the truth lies. You know how there can be some disinformation sometimes!

MA: I guess I’ll tell my version. I went on a tour of a place where I had a job offer to teach math, and they toured me around and showed me all the important buildings, and because it was a boarding school, I was shown what was supposed to be a typical apartment…

And he, of course, had the nicest apartment on campus with the cutest puppy. And, naturally, I was given the crappiest apartment on campus.

FA: You’re missing the point here, Honey! All of that was to say that you met me while you were visiting campus. And that’s why you took the job, because otherwise there’s no reason why a cute girl like you would have taken a job in the middle of nowhere.

MA: Now, I just don’t think that’s true! Again, he’s the revisionist, ha ha.

FA: No, that’s it. You came, met me, and thought “Oh my god! Look at this guy! Better take the job!”

MA: Oh, please. To answer your question, we were both teachers.

KN: I see. Can you tell me about your first date?

FA: Go ahead, Martha. You remember it for sure, ha ha.

MA: Of course I do. We went to Baltimore, went to Gampy’s.

FA: Yeah, Gampy’s. And we’ve since gone back and have a picture of us together there now. We literally lived in the middle of nowhere at that boarding school, so we drove about 90 miles to Baltimore. So we went to Baltimore for that date to a restaurant, a really cool restaurant.

KN: You drove 90 miles for your first date?!?!

Both: Yes. KN: What type of food was it?

MA: American. I had just been to Europe and Fred was asking me what type of food I wanted, like French or Italian… So I was just like, “Let’s do American.”

FA: Burgers and such. That classic kind of thing. The restaurant is unfortunately now closed, though.

KN: Oh, dang. Well, at least they ended on a good note,

being responsible for such an iconic romance.

MA: Ha ha ha! Yes, for sure.

KN: How long were y’all dating before marriage, and can you retell the proposal story?

FA: We were dating for two years before we got engaged.

MA: OK, and the proposal?

FA: I’m getting there! So we were both grad students at UVA, and Martha, as you probably know, loves sports.

We were at the Virginia vs. Georgia Tech football game.

And I proposed to her on the Jumbotron, which was just a blurb on the scoreboard basically. So at the end of the first quarter, it came up on the scoreboard: “Hey, Martha. Will you marry me?” So that’s how it happened.

MA: It was pretty ambitious.

KN: I know! What would have happened if she said no?

FA: I had to actually pay the guy for advertising time on the scoreboard. And later on, the guy asked me if I wanted him to advertise that she said yes. I was like, “Well… We probably won’t be there still if she says no, so go ahead.”

MA: Luckily, I said yes.

KN: That’s an awesome memory. My next question is: What’s the best vacation you’ve ever been on together?

FA: Oh, that’s a good question. Hm… You go.

MA: Um… KN: Wow, there must be so many to choose from!

MA: Let’s say it was biking in Prince Edward.

FA: Yeah. We took a 10-day bicycle trip around Prince Edward Island. We took all our gear and we cycled around the whole island. It’s in Canada. It’s pretty cool.

KN: Nice, that’s awesome. My next question is a bit sappy and tender, but have you identified your favorite things about each other?

MA: Easy. Fred’s funny. That’s his thing.

FA: Funny. Yeah, funny looking…

MA: Well, that too. But mostly just funny.

FA: Hm. Do I have favorite things about you? Sure, I’ve lots of things. Number one is that I probably wouldn’t be able to find my way to work in the morning without Martha. She has this, like, really great mind for how everything works logistically. She’s just so much smarter than I am in that way, and it’s super helpful.

MA: Aw, well, I’m helpful. But I don’t know about the smarter part…

KN: Well, I hope you’d be able to find the five-foot walk in the mornings from your home to work without much assistance, but I get what you mean. What about pet peeves?

MA: He doesn’t put the pistachios away.

FA: I’m guilty.

MA: I’m sure he has a lot of things to say about me here…

FA: I don’t. I don’t really. I’m not bothered by much, to be honest with you.

Head of School Fred Assaf and Martha Assaf got married in Dayton. Ohio, on Aug. 19, 1993.

KN: Well, that’s a very healthy marriage, then.

FA: Indeed.

KN: So, how do you guys typically spend Valentine’s Day? MA: There’s not really a lot of planning that goes into it. And I would say that in Atlanta, probably most of the past Valentine’s Days have been at sporting events for the kids.

FA: Ha ha ha. Yes, at a basketball game or something for Pace.

MA: An NYO game, something for lacrosse… So it’s usually a nice, romantic hot dog or something from the concession stands.

FA: Yeah, that’s kind of it. We don’t have plans for this year as of now, but I’ll take all the suggestions that any readers want to offer. God knows I need the help!

KN: Is there anything else the two of you want to say about each other on record?

FA: I would say that I’m still hopelessly in love with Martha after all these years.

KN: Well, that’s encouraging to all the romantics out there! Thank you so much for sitting down with me today, and have a great day.

Q&A with Sean Glennon and Holland Proctor Photo: Holland Proctor

Knightly News (KN): I’m just going to jump right in.

When did you guys start dating?

Holland Proctor (HP): November of 2019.

KN: Who was interested first?

Sean Glennon (SG): Me. KN: Did you make the first move?

SG: Yes. KN: Well, who makes all the decisions?

HP and SG: Me. HP: No, you don’t.

KN: When you want to go out to eat, who picks?

SG and HP: Me. SG: She’ll never pick where we eat food.

HP: Right, he lists things and then I decide.

SG: No. You’ll never decide so I just have to pick a place, which is usually Moe’s.

KN: What was your first date?

SG: Ted’s Montana Grill.

HP: A lunch date.

KN: A lunch date?

HP: After a swim meet. He picked me up at Pace.

KN: So you looked really cute, then?

HP: Definitely not.

KN: What was your favorite date?

SG: I think one year.

HP: Yeah, our one year.

KN: What’d you do?

SG: We went to Ponce [City Market] and then we went out and had a nice dinner and then we went to...

HP: The [Atlanta] Botanical Gardens.

SG: Yeah the lights stuff.

KN: Oh, that’s cute. Did you plan it, Sean?

SG: Yes, ma’am.

KN: Where is the farthest you’ve ever traveled together?

SG: Kiawah [Island].

HP: Oh, yeah. We went to Kiawah for...

SG: Fall Break.

KN: Who took?

HP: I took Sean.

KN: Have you ever taken her on a trip, Sean?

SG: Yeah, to Blue Ridge.

KN: What are your most common fights about?

SG: It’s always light-hearted. It’s always about stupid stuff.

HP: It’s mainly started by me.

SG: Yeah, you just get pissed.

HP: I’ll say something, and Sean disagrees, and I’ll get annoyed.

SG: Yeah, like, if someone is parked crooked next to her.

HP: He’s just talking about Leah [Favero].

SG: I mean she’s between the lines, but Holland just gets mad.

KN: At whose house do you hang out more?

HP: Mine.

(Continued on page 14)

Lifestyle

February 12, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 14

Photo: Darren Rosing

Senior Grace Funston prepares to take the AP English Language exam in May.

College Board Updates AP Exams for 2021 Last year when the COVID-19 outbreak sent students home for the semester in March, teachers and students alike were left scrambling to prepare for the AP exams. Pace students were especially concerned about what might happen, considering the AP exams give them a chance to place out of college level courses. When AP students take their subject tests, the College Board scores them on a scale from 1-5. It is generally thought that a 3 earns you college credit, but it depends on the course and the college whether that score earns credit.

In response to the pandemic last year, the College Board adjusted smoothly, creating short online exams that allowed students a chance to place out of courses. The format depended on the course, but most exams consisted of free response questions, as these types of exams deterred cheating when compared to an objective test like

multiple choice. Some students thought that this was a good way to test. “I feel like they did a good job adjusting and it was the best way to test us given the circumstances,” said junior Leah Favero. Not all students agreed, however. “I do not think the exams were fair, because they weren’t over as much material so they did not test what we fully knew,” said senior Audrey Holton.

The general consensus of the teachers was that the shortened format actually made it easier for them to prepare students for the exams, as they could focus all their effort on one specific format. “It was nice, actually, to be able to focus so closely on one of the four tasks, although we did have a challenge in adjusting to a revised rubric,” said AP US History teacher Christine Carter.

“My students performed well because they knew the content and had practiced a number of DBQs by the time of the exam.”

As the end of the school year approaches, it comes time again for students in AP courses to focus on nailing the AP exam format in order to give themselves the best chance to earn a

high score. The College Board recently sent out an update saying that they are still planning on proceeding as normal with full length exams. “Even though they are still having full length exams, as I learned last year we have to be ready for anything,” said Holton.

The College Board also announced how they plan to adjust for special circumstances in order to accommodate students who have had to miss school due to the outbreak. The first accommodation is offering two test dates, one in the second half of May and one in the first half of June. If a school is shut down due to coronavirus-related risks, the College Board is also going to offer full length online exams with dates of these tests to be announced in early February.

“What is different about this year in my teaching is the use of Zoom and Zoom recordings,” said Dr. Carter. She has utilized these new tools to enhance her students’ learning experience, making it more convenient for both her and her students. Be sure to check the College Board website for more information and future updates.

Q&A with Sean Glennon and Holland Proctor (Continued from page 13) KN: Sean, are you close with the Proctor family?

HP: Yes. SG: Yeah.

KN: So, you’re part of the family?

HP: Yes. KN: Are your families close?

HP: No. Our families do not talk at all.

SG: They actually don’t.

KN: Do you ever go to Sean’s house, Holland?

HP: I do. I just don’t like driving all the way over there. I’d rather him come to me.

KN: Are you close with each other’s friends?

SG: To an extent, yeah.

HP: Certain friends. I think Sean’s closer with my friends.

KN: Sean, who’s your favorite of Holland’s friends?

SG: No comment.

HP: No, who is your favorite?

Answer.

SG: Probably Edward [Eddi Aronson] or Ren [Catherine Crawford].

KN: What about you Holland?

HP: I like his brother the best.

KN: Is he your friend, Sean?

SG: Yeah. Patrick and I are obviously boys.

HP: Sean, I think I like your brother more than you.

SG: Oh my god!

HP: I do.

KN: Do you ever hang out with other couples?

SG: Honestly, not that much. We have a couple times.

KN: It’s better when it’s just y’all?

HP: Yes. SG: Well, I think it definitely

can be fun.

KN: I don’t think Holland agrees.

HP: No. I... I don’t know. It’s just hard to plan, I guess.

SG: Yeah, that is true. Good point.

KN: So, this question is kind of... you don’t have to answer.

HP: I’m scared!

KN: How do you think the next few months will go?

HP: Oh, with our relationship?

We’re dating throughout the summer and breaking up when he goes to college.

SG: I mean she threw down that gauntlet. I think that’s pretty grim. I’m not trying to be in a relationship with a set end date, but that definitely is the probable result. She’s more blunt about that.

HP: I’m just being honest.

SG: She likes to joke about it to cope. She says stuff like, “We’ll be broken up by then!” and I’m just like “What the heck?”

KN: Yes, she does that all the time.

SG: And everyone sympathy laughs with her. Everyone is just confused. She’ll say something like, “Maybe we’ll get it next year. Oh wait, we’ll be DONE.” HP: It’s so funny.

SG: No, it’s not. You’re the only one who finds it funny.

HP: Other people do, too.

SG: No, they laugh because they pity you.

KN: On that note, I’m going to wrap things up. Thank you again for interviewing.

SG: Solid.

Movies, Music, TV: What to Expect in 2021 “No Time to Die,” the new James Bond film, is rumored to be pushed back for a third time, possibly to be moved from spring 2021 to the fall.

In terms of television in 2021, viewers can expect to see the fourth season of “Stranger Things” on Netflix, a series that has been highly anticipated since production was suspended in March 2020.

HBO Max will be the home of a new “Gossip Girl” reboot with a brand new cast since the original wrapped in 2012.

The teen favorite “Euphoria” is also expected to hit HBO Max sometime in 2021.

Awards shows like the Grammy awards and the Golden Globes are expected to be in-person events, but might have to delay to later in the year like the Recording Academy has already done.

As of now, the Grammys are set to air on March 14, 2021.

Music releases for the entire year cannot be confirmed as early as February because they are generally announced closer to the release date. However, fans have speculated what artists to expect new music from even if a date is not

Photo: @marvelstudios on Istagram

People are hopeful that 2021 will be a better year for the entertainment industry than 2020 was. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed highly anticipated films and television shows, causing production to come to a halt, and live music shows were cancelled as well.

With the beginnings of vaccine distribution, it is safe to say that everyone is looking forward to the entertainment that 2021 has to offer in terms of movies, television and music. Viewers can look out for projects that were put off due to the pandemic, as well as new content on the way.

This year is expected to be a big year for movie fans. On Feb. 19, “Nomadland” starring Frances McDormand will be released, a 20th century drama surrounding a woman’s journey through the American West. “A Quiet Place: Part II” is set to come out on April 23 and is the second

installment of John Krasinski’s horror series. Its initial release was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19. “The French Dispatch” starring Timothee Chalamet and Bill Murray comes out in May 2021.

Also in May, Marvel fans can enjoy “Black Widow” starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr. The film is scheduled to be released on May 7, and is expected to do well at the box office. “The Suicide Squad” is set to open on Aug. 6. Starring Pete Davidson and Margot Robbie, this film will also appeal to action movie fans.

In October, the sci-fi and adventure movie “Dune” is supposedly coming out, which could be a strong competitor for the 2022 Academy Awards. It will star Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya.

Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” with Harry Styles and Florence Pugh does not have a firm release date, but it will likely come out in late 2021, as it is still currently in production. Keep in mind that film release dates are tentative and promotional partners of several films have already had to push back dates yet again due to COVID-19. For example,

definite. Adele is allegedly releasing an album this year, which would be her first since her massive hit “25” in 2015. Similarly, Kendrick Lamar and Lorde are each expected to release projects, but nothing is confirmed.

Sports

Vol. 46, Issue #4

The Knightly News - Page 15

Boys Basketball Heads into Region Tourney Ranked No. 1 in Class 2A

Photo: Fred Assaf Senior Cole Middleton dunks on players from KIPP Atlanta Collegiate on Jan. 5. The Knights won 73-23.

After taking home the title of GHSA 3A state champions last year, the boys varsity basketball team is having another outstanding season. At the end of regular season play, the team’s record is 21-1, with the sole loss coming at the beginning of the season in a close non-region game against Class 3A Sandy Creek High School, 63-59. Not only are the Knights ranked No. 1 in GHSA Class 2A, but Max Preps recently ranked them No. 18 in the top 25 teams nationally.

The team pulled out wins against much larger, non-region schools such as Marist, Grayson, North Gwinnett and South Cobb and dominated in region play.

“They have a strong desire to be the best team to ever play at Pace, and they’re trying to have fun along the way,” said head coach Sharman White. Most recently, the Knights earned strong region wins against KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (72-43), Towers (94-29), Lovett (66-50) and Therrell (71-48).

The team’s talented roster includes six seniors. “They have stepped to the forefront in every phase of our program, and they will leave a lasting impression on the school,” said Coach White of the seniors.

Senior Matthew Cleveland is one of only two 5-Star players in Georgia. Cleveland has signed a Letter of Intent to play at Florida State. MaxPreps ranks Cleveland 10th in the state in number of points per game, averaging 23.4. Last year, he was named to Hoop Seen’s Georgia AAA First Team All-State, along with fellow senior Cole Middleton.

Middleton has signed a Letter of Intent to play at Cleveland State. Recently, he hit the milestone of 1,000 points in his high school career. Middleton is ranked 10th in the state by MaxPreps in number of rebounds per game. His average is 11.3.

Senior Madison Durr was named to last year’s Hoop Seen’s AAA Third Team All-State.

According to MaxPreps, he is ranked No. 1 in the state in assists. Durr plans to play in college and has multiple offers. “It’s so much fun soaking in our last year of high school,” said Durr.

Fellow senior Josh Mininberg agrees. “My favorite part about playing as a team is the brotherhood,” he said. Other senior players include Logan Baker and Justin Johnson.

The team has their eyes on taking home the state championship once again. They also hope to reach the GEICO High School Nationals in early April. “I’m excited about the games we have left leading up to the championship,” said junior Josh Reed.

According to Rivals.com,

Reed “had a breakout summer” playing for AC Georgia and “showed off a really versatile skillset” that “led to several offers coming in over the last few months,” including schools such as Boston College and Xavier.

“Interest has rolled in from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and multiple Ivy League schools,” per Rivals. com.

“I think this team has a definite shot,” said Coach White.

“Most teams’ goals stop short of just making it to the state playoffs, or even just winning the state championship. But we have a goal that’s even higher than both of those.”

Coach White has faith that his team can respond to any challenges placed in front of them. “They’ve been together for a while now, so they understand each other, and this [team] is actually an absolute joy to coach,” said Coach White.

The Knights are the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A region tournament, to be played Feb. 18-19 at home on the Bob Chambers Court in the Inman Center. The first round of the GHSA state tournament is Feb. 23-24.

Coach White has this message for the Pace community on behalf of the team: “Although we can’t physically have everyone at all the games, we ask you to support us in spirit and just continue to encourage the team as they move toward their goals.”

Alumni Thomas, Sloman Find Success as Rookies in NFL a whole lot, started slow but ended strong.”

At Pace, Sam Sloman played soccer exclusively for his freshman and sophomore years before joining the football team his junior fall. “I grew up a big Falcons fan and knew I would always regret not playing,” said Sloman. During his two years on the team, he was named to the All-State team twice, made 86% of field goals, and kicked every extra point through the uprights.

Sloman was then recruited by and kicked for Miami University of Ohio for four years before declaring for the NFL draft. As a freshman, Sloman started all 13 games for the Redhawks, serving as a kickoff specialist.

From sophomore to senior year, Sloman kicked field goals, finishing fourth in all-time scoring with 259 points and second in field goals with 49 for the school. The Los Angeles Rams then selected him with the 248th overall pick in the 2020 draft.

However, on Oct. 27, Sloman was waived from the team and picked up by the Titans the next month.

Photo: @nolovedrew on Instagram

As the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 capped the NFL season, the league saw two Pace alumni make a difference for their pro teams. This year, Andrew Thomas ‘17 and Sam Sloman ‘16 completed their rookie seasons with the New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans, respectively.

In 2015, the two were key factors in the Pace varsity football team’s GHSA Class AA state championship. The fourth-seeded Knights rolled past Fitzgerald High 42-21 in the Georgia Dome with the future NFL prospects’ help.

“Both were First-Team All-State, so they were big role players for [the team],” said Pace Offensive Coordinator Kevin Johnson. “They were stars.” “[The state championship] is still my favorite football moment to this day,” said Sloman. This championship is the only one in

Pace football history, and came only seven years after establishing the program.

After graduating, Thomas ascended to play right tackle in Athens for the Georgia Bulldogs.

“The day he stepped into Pace Academy, he made mention that he was going to the University of Georgia, no matter what,” said Coach Johnson. As a true freshman, he started every game at right tackle and was named to the Freshman All-American Team.

He switched to left tackle for his sophomore season, and after missing two games due to an ankle injury, he became a Firstteam All American and a part of the All-SEC team. Following his junior year, Thomas declared for the NFL draft and was projected to leave the board in the first round.

On April 23, 2020, the Giants took the Georgia phenom with the fourth overall pick. Thomas started throughout the season, and he even caught a two point conversion in Week 5 against the Cowboys. “He loves the NFL,” said Coach Johnson. “He learned

Andrew Thomas catches a two point conversion in Week 5 against the Cowboys.

In Tennessee, Sloman spent some time on the practice squad before being added to the active roster in early January. In the last week of the regular season, Sloman scored five extra points and two field goals, including

the game-winner to help the Titans beat the Houston Texans 41-38. “That was a crazy experience,” said Sloman. “Not one that I thought I would experience going into the game or even going into halftime.”

Sports

February 12, 2021

The Knightly News - Page 16

Spring Athletes Eager to Start After their seasons came to an early close last year due to the pandemic, spring athletes are looking to make up for lost time.

GIRLS LACROSSE

The girls varsity lacrosse team is thankful to have the opportunity to play this season. “I’m just excited to get out and play since the little playing time we had last season was taken for granted,” said junior goalie Kathleen Glass. In these unprecedented times, head coach Kelsea Ayers anticipates disruptions. “I expect some hiccups, and I expect that our players are not going to be rattled by it,” she said. After last season’s impromptu ending, the girls are aware of the possibility that they could lose their season again. “Last season was cut short, and that taught me to appreciate every practice and every moment on the field,” said sophomore Anna Nuckols.

BOYS LACROSSE

The varsity boys lacrosse team is led by six experienced seniors this year: Tommy Assaf, Bennett Boushka, George Creasman, Evan Karetsos, Steven Morrisroe and Tripp Trimble. According to head coach Grady Stevens, they will be the largest factor this season. “The seniors need to take ownership of the team,” he said. “My mentality right now is, every day we get to go on the field and be together is a privilege. We have a lot of talent and there is a potential for us to have a successful season, but none of that is possible if we have to shut down for two weeks at a time.”

Ambitions for the team are high this year. “I am excited to have a strong playoff push and hopefully win state,” said Trimble.

TRACK AND FIELD

Varsity track and field athletes competed in only two meets before their season was cut short in 2020. Multiple cross country runners have made the switch from their previous spring sports to running track for the 2021 season. With many decorated long-distance runners, including AA State Champion junior Edward Blaha, the team looks forward to a successful season. “I think this season will be awesome for the team – we have a great group of people, especially seniors,” said senior Laura Romig. The team is also stacked with talented short-distance runners such as junior John Catherman. “I am most excited to run again after our season was cut short and I think our team has a great chance of doing well at state,” said Catherman.

GIRLS SOCCER

The girls varsity soccer team is looking to make up for their shortened 2020 season. “I think we could’ve done really well last year had our season not been cut short and I’m ready for our revenge tour,” said senior Caroline Janki. This season, head coach Declan Traquair brought on two new coaches for the varsity team, Ross Keenan and Daren Silberman and added a JV team for the first time.

The girls ended their shortened 2020 season with a 5-5 record, notably defeating the Lovett School 5-0. Going into the 2021 season, the team hopes to hold their own with 5A and 6A competitors. “As always, we aim to top our conference to put us in the best position going into playoffs,” said Coach Traquair. “We also play some of the best schools in the state, so we expect to learn a lot from competing against top programs.”

BOYS SOCCER

The varsity boys soccer team aims to top their successful 2020 season that ended with an 8-1-2 record. With a 29-man roster, the boys team has enough numbers for both a varsity and JV team this year. “I’m happy to see that our numbers have continued to grow every year,” said head coach Lucas Moreno. “We have the same goal as always, which is playing to win the state championship,” said junior Jeffrey Ramos. “The team and I are excited for what the 2021 season has prepared for us and we are going to work hard to be the best team out there.” Like the girls, team has a challenging season ahead of them, competing against schools much larger than Pace. To measure up to their competitors, the team began training during first semester. “We all understand that hard work has to be done, and that is what drives us closer as a team,” said senior Jack MacRae.

BASEBALL

As they head into the spring, the varsity baseball team is looking forward to a full season of play. “We have been preparing all year,” said sophomore Forest Pollard. “We have had weekly workouts in the weight room and have been throwing often to keep our arms in good condition.” Head coach Donice Bloodworth wants the boys to reach their full potential by being smart and staying healthy. “There are a lot [of COVID-19 protocols] coming down from GHSA that will change some of the traditional things in baseball [like] sanitizing balls as they go in and out of play,” said Coach Bloodworth. “The pitcher has a lot of new restrictions, like no licking their fingers and no blowing on their hand. It will be a big shift for them to break some of those habits.” The team’s season starts on Feb. 15 at home against Westlake High School.

GIRLS GOLF

Many of the girl golfers, such as sophomore Peach Wilson, either picked up or improved upon their game over quarantine times. “I decided to do the Pace team because even though out of school tournaments are fun, I wanted to be part of a team where we were all practicing and playing together,” said Wilson. The girls team of 10 is full of newcomers, making this a learning year for everyone. “This season will be interesting as I know that some of us, myself included, are fairly new to golf, said senior Lizzy Kaye. “I’ve played here and there over the years, but just this past summer I started playing more often and learning areas I need to work on, but really enjoying it.”

BOYS GOLF

Being outside and distanced makes golf the perfect pandemic sport, so many players have been golfing throughout the off-season. “[It is] tough to anticipate how the season will go, but with some focused 10th and 11th grade boys trying to win tournaments, I’m expecting to perform better than we have in the past few years,” said head coach Scott Shupe. “My favorite part about playing golf is creating strong bonds with many different people while playing the game I love,” said sophomore Ronak Lalaji. “While playing in tournaments off season is really fun, I’m excited to get back to playing with my Pace team.”

GIRLS TENNIS

The girls on the varsity tennis team are still the reigning state champions after their victory in 2019. According to head coach Matt Marsico, one of the keys to their success will be their doubles lineup. “A big goal would be to win the state championship,” he said. “But in order to do that, we will have to learn a lot about each other and how we like to play doubles.” Many of the girls have been preparing for the season for months. “I have been training, playing and competing through USTA all year,” said sophomore Caitlyn Pinsker. Senior captain Sidney Funston hopes to help create a strong team bond among the girls. “I really want to get close again as a team like we were [my] sophomore year, especially because there will be a lot more girls this year,” she said.” Practices will look different this year with COVID-19 protocols. “We are only allowed to have 16 people on the courts at any time,” said Coach Marsico. “We are having to alternate practice days with the boy’s team. We are also doing the JV and varsity kind of together as one girls program, so we will be practicing all together as one cohesive unit.”

BOYS TENNIS

Like the girls, the boys tennis team is also beginning the year having been crowned state champions at the end of their last complete season in 2019.

“I am excited to get back out there and start playing matches again,” said senior captain Jordy Elster. “Ever since the season was canceled last year, we’ve all been counting down the days until we can get back to work.” Head coach Neil DeRosa stresses the importance of a team effort. “The chief goal starting the season is establishing a ‘team first’ over a ‘me first’ mentality,” he said. “In a tennis team, the players compete against other teammates for playing positions on the team. Unfortunately, there are no substitutions, so players play in the match or they don’t play at all.” The boys have been working hard in order to prepare for the season. “I spent all summer playing tennis five or more hours a day so I can be ready for the season,” said sophomore Hunt Stevens. “I have been doing workouts with the team over the past few weeks so we are physically in shape for our season.”

Pictured from top: Sophomore Anna Nuckols, junior Thea Chastain, senior Jayden Thomas and senior Sidney Funston. All Photos: Fred Assaf