Volume 45, Issue #3

Vol. 45, Issue #3

The

December 13, 2019

Knightly News

p. 4 Three Words Can Save a Life

p. 6 Debate on Trump Impeachment

p. 9 TikTok Takes Over Students’ Lives

Randall House To Be Torn Down Bennett Boushka

Social Media Editor

Class of 2021

Photo: Caitlin Jones

As one drives past Pace, the iconic Pace Castle and the Randall House are two distinguishing features of the school’s campus. But on Jan. 1, the red brick house with the large white columns that serves as the front of the Lower School will be torn down. The Randall House has been a part of Pace since the Randall family property was bought in 1977.

According to “An Unfinished History of Pace Academy” by Suzi Zadeh, Pace was able to buy the house along with the five acres of land surrounding it for $300,000, which was less than market value at the time. But as owner Luther Randall said, “I do not wish for my father’s home around which I have cherished memories, to be off and on the market but rather a permanent institution which would further the education of fine arts.”

The Pace campus was limited to the Castle until the Randall House was added as a fine arts center on Nov. 6, 1977. Pace was cramped for space before this addition, and the purchase allowed the school to add designated classrooms for art, music

Students and teachers gather in front of the Randall House on the first day of the school year. and language classrooms.

In 1983, the current lower school building was added to the back of the Randall House, allowing for the expansion of classroom space while preserving the house. After the construction, the Randall House went from simply housing classrooms to having offices, a boardroom and two classrooms, as it still functions today.

The news that the Randall House will be torn down was hard for students and families

who have been at Pace since Lower School to hear. “I can still remember getting out of my car on the first day of school and seeing the Randall House with Mrs. V (Anna Valerius) standing at the front door,” said junior and lifer Madison Martin.

“I am sad to see the Randall House go, but happy that Pace is continuing to improve,” said senior George Adams. “Although, it will be different driving past Pace when I come back from college.” To honor the Randall

house one last time before it is torn down, Pace alumni met for breakfast on Dec. 5 and said goodbye.

Despite the sadness on the part of some to see the iconic structure torn down, the change is necessary. “That house lacks a couple of key and important features,” said Head of School Fred Assaf. “It has no ADA access or fire suppression, and security is very challenging.” Although the Randall house possesses a charming feel that many people

love, the safety concerns combined with a lack of space made the demolition unavoidable. “We need to build something that serves the needs of our students and teachers better,” said Mr. Assaf.

Although the number of students at Pace will remain the same, many new programs are being instituted in the Lower School to enhance the students’ learning experience. In particular, the current music space is only one classroom and the school wants to provide more space for music programming.

Another program limited to one classroom is the science department. As STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs have been growing in the Lower School, Pace administrators want to provide an adequate amount of space for lower schoolers to get interested in STEM. The new space will also offer classrooms for the Academic Resource Center (ARC), which helps students, especially those with learning disabilities, manage school more effectively.

“The ARC has grown tremendously, and we want to provide the ARC [with adequate space] all the way through,” said Mr. Assaf. The library will also be

(Continued on page 3)

New Year, New Physics Teacher Dr. Tahseen Kazi will teach at Pace second semester Amalia Haviv Staff Writer Class of 2022

Photo: Amalia Haviv

As 2019 comes to a close, the science department anticipates the arrival of Dr. Tahseen Kazi.

Dr. Kazi will teach Mrs. Korb’s previous three physics classes beginning at the start of the second semester.

Having been a teacher for 10 years, Dr. Kazi is inspired by investigating how things work in both natural and social settings.

She is leaving her job as an assistant professor of international studies at Georgia Southern University to teach at Pace.

Dr. Kazi earned her Bachelor’s degree in physics and

(L-R) Katie Janko and Brooke Brumfield work on a circuit project for physics class.

Master’s degree in international relations and affairs from Georgia Tech. She earned her

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in comparative studies from Ohio State University. She served as a

lecturer at Georgia Tech for 7 1/2 years before taking her present position at Georgia Southern.

According to science department chair John Pearson, the department needed someone who would be able to combine the skills taught in the classroom with real world experience, and Dr. Kazi was the perfect fit given her qualifications.

Dr. Pearson believes her “international background and further studies” have given her a broad outlook on which she views physics. “Her students will be impressed by her perspective on the world and her approach to physics,” said Dr. Pearson.

Dr. Kazi was drawn to Pace because of its strong reputation in science education and mission to prepare citizens of the world.

“The faculty’s devotion to highquality teaching and the students I met clinched things for me,” she said.

Besides encouraging her students to ponder “how” and “why,” Dr. Kazi is a mother and is passionate about addressing social injustices.

She finds joy in writing about international issues such as global inequality. In her free time, she loves to walk around her neighborhood and admire the local murals.

Freshman Brooke McCullough is a future student of Dr. Kazi’s. “I’m looking forward to having a new teacher, and I think she will be engaging and have a strong connection with our class,” she said.

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Pace News

December 13, 2019

The Knightly News - Page 2

Much Thought Goes into Lunch Megan Hardesty Staff Writer Class of 2022

Staff Writer Class of 2022

Behind every rodeo burger, taco and french fry in the Inman Center cafeteria there is a hardworking kitchen staff member who carefully plans, sources and cooks every meal. Not to mention the laborious cleanup process afterward.

Senior Food Service Direc-

Photo: Meghna Singha Nicole Cromwell prepares lunch in the morning before school starts.

306 lbs of compost

Locally sourced food tractor that provides food service for Pace. An example of a Sage requirement for every meal is that there must be two vegetables with one being steamed.

In addition to nutrition, the cafeteria also tries to make much of the food accessible to students with allergies. Sophomore Allie Campbell has a gluten intolerance called celiac disease. “The cafeteria always has options which makes it super easy to maintain my gluten-free diet,” said Campbell.

Pace also provides nut-free and vegetarian alternatives. “Just come see us if you have any concerns about cross-contamination and allergies,” said Mr. Roman.

All of Pace’s food is sourced locally when possible. “During the year we do try and get a lot from Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the Carolinas,” said Mr. Roman. Most of the meat and produce comes from these neigh-

What Goes into A Pace Lunch? boring states.

The lower, middle and upper schools combined require about 200 pounds of meat per meal and about 60 pounds of vegetables.

That 260 pounds of strictly meat and vegetables does not include all other food, including pasta, rice, salad, fruit or even the panini bar.

While students have so much variety available to them in the lunchroom, much of the prepared food is wasted. “Take what you are going to eat, not what you think you are going to eat,” advised Mr. Roman. The Upper School alone fills about three compost bins and two trash cans with food waste per day.

Beginning this year, the company CompostNow takes all of the cafeteria’s food waste off-campus to be composted.

But despite all of the assemblies and friendly reminders, much of the waste in the compost bins is

260 lbs of meat and vegetables Nut free and vegetarian alternatives

Photo Illustration: Kathryn Hood

Meghna Singha

tor Mark Roman arrives at Pace around 5-5:30 a.m. and food production usually begins around 7:15 a.m. “Meals are planned out months in advance,” said Mr. Roman. “It’s based on what the population likes. We take some feedback from the student government.” Mr. Roman also hopes to get a food committee together so that students can voice their opinions and suggestions for lunches.

The cafeteria staff plans the daily menus with nutrition in mind. “We send them up to Baltimore, and Sage has a team of seven registered dietitians to ensure the meals are balanced,” said Mr. Roman. Sage Dining Services is an independent con-

ruined by people tossing plastic wrappers into the bins.

In a recent Knightly News survey, upper school students were asked to estimate how much food waste the high school alone produces. Students estimated anywhere from 20% to 40% of the original weight. In reality, 47% is wasted.

However, by using CompostNow, the Upper School was able to divert 3,065 pounds of waste from landfills, creating 306 pounds of compost in just one month.

After lunch, students often leave their table a mess for the cleaning staff to take care of, only adding time to the staff’s long days. However, “manners have never been a problem with Pace kids,” according to cafeteria staff member Kyanna Harris.

“So continue to treat the staff as you do, but try to help us out by picking up stray cups and such.”

Student Entrepreneur Manages Twist by W Ashley Myers Staff Writer Class of 2021

explained that “there are also more complex pieces, for sure.”

As a student entrepreneur, Norah’s life is filled with planning trunk shows and preparing for events like the Pace Fall Fair.

Combined with her schoolwork and other responsibilities, it can be a difficult juggling act.

“It is very hard balancing [everything] but it has helped me with time management,” said Norah. Norah’s mom, Deborah Wagoner, helps Norah manage the business by advertising to friends. “My mom always gives out our cards, so she definitely promotes us a lot,” said Norah.

Twist by W participates in different events around Atlanta to gain exposure for their brand.

This September, Lily and Norah hosted a pop-up shop at an open house in Atlanta, and every year they have a tent at the Pace Fall Fair. “I bought a necklace from Twist by W last year at the Fall Fair and I’ve loved it so much,” said junior Emily Butler. “Their jewelry is really good quality.”

Lily and Norah have done all they can to make shopping for Twist by W jewelry as easy as possible. They created their own Twist by W website with shipping options available.

Junior Caroline Janki pur-

Photo: Norah Wagoner

Most students struggle balancing school, sports and other extracurriculars, but sophomore Norah Wagoner owns and runs her own business in addition to her other commitments. Twist

by W is a jewelry brand that was created in August 2016 by Norah and her sister Lily Wagoner.

Lily graduated from Pace in May 2019 and began school at Auburn University this fall.

Norah has stepped up, managing Twist by W by herself in Lily’s absence. “It has been a big shift with more responsibility but we have definitely adjusted well and are still adjusting,” said Norah.

Lily decided to create Twist

by W after running out of time to get a birthday gift. “Lily needed a gift for a friend and she couldn’t get in touch with a local jewelry designer so we decided to start making our own,” said Norah.

The business has grown from there. Norah and Lily created an Instagram account to promote their jewelry, posting for the first time on Aug. 12, 2016. Two

years later, they have posted over 500 times and have gained more than 1,000 followers on the account. “We have definitely grown the company through giveaways on our Instagram,” said Norah.

Twist by W giveaways usually consist of handmade jewelry, sometimes including other goods such as Kylie Jenner lip kits. The giveaway that included the Kylie Jenner makeup racked up 457 comments and 530 likes.

Giveaways bring increased engagement on Instagram and help the Wagoner sisters advertise their goods. “We mostly advertise through social media and friends,” said Norah.

Norah’s favorite part of Twist

by W is watching her friends wear and enjoy jewelry that she has made. “It’s pretty encouraging when I walk into school and see my friends wearing necklaces that Lily and I have designed,” said Norah. Each piece of jewelry is named after friends of the Wagoner sisters and is designed

by Lily and Norah.

“Lily and I hand make all of our pieces,” said Norah. “Depending on the necklace it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.” They have some basic pieces of jewelry, but Norah

(L-R) Sisters Norah and Lily Wagoner promote their jewelry through Instagram photos. chased a necklace for her sister’s birthday online. “It was really easy to buy jewelry off of their

website, even if you are looking for a present super last minute,” said Janki.

Pace News

Vol. 45, Issue #3

The Knightly News - Page 3

Five Minutes with Quincy Downing Aman Hashim

Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2020

ing Lamar Jackson, he’s a beast.

KN: If you could go out with any female in the world who would it be?

QD: Probably, Zendaya.

KN: That’s a good one. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

QD: Um, I’d go with grilled chicken.

KN: Nice! So, what’s it like balancing school work and sports?

QD: At the start of the year it was hard, but now I’ve started talking to the teachers and they understand and help me.

KN: Back to football. Who’s your favorite or most influential teammate?

QD: Definitely “X” (sophomore Xavier Agostino). He’s my helper on and off the field, especially with English work.

KN: Alright, who’s the loudest on the team?

QD: (Senior) Will Rehmert. He hypes us up the most.

KN: Awesome. Thanks and good luck on your football career!

QD: Thanks, man.

Photo: Aman Hashim

Knightly News: Hey, what’s up Quincy?

Quincy Downing: Sup! How are you?

KN: I’m good, thanks. So, what position do you play for Pace football?

QD: This year, I played defensive tackle but next year I’m switching to offensive guard.

KN: Cool. How have you seen the team progress from the first practice in the summer to now?

QD: It’s been a lot. In the summer we were definitely out of shape, didn’t seem like we wanted to be there. Now, though, everyone wants to play for each other.

KN: As a freshman, has the senior leadership on the team been pretty helpful, and in what ways have you developed as a player?

QD: For sure. Just seeing them in the hallways, saying what’s

up to each other, it shows their love. Me as a player, I feel I have gotten faster since the beginning of the year, but I still want to get quicker.

KN: Is your goal to play in college? If so, what colleges are on your radar?

QD: My goal is definitely to play Division 1. I like SEC schools – Georgia, Alabama – but I’m open to all my options.

KN: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

QD: Hopefully, in the NFL. That, or a personal trainer.

KN: That’d be sick! Off the field, do you feel Pace did a good job welcoming you as a new student? How have the teachers helped you?

QD: The teachers are really open to helping. I knew a lot of people coming into Pace like JT (junior Jayden Thomas), so it was easy to find a group.

KN: What do you do for fun when you’re not playing football?

QD: I like looking at articles, like ESPN articles. I love watch-

(L-R) Sophomore Pranavh Pradeep and freshman Quincy Downing catch up during a free period.

PAALS Club Takes Action For Personal Cause

Randall House To Be Torn Down (Continued from page 1)

Francesca Vaneri

News Editor Class of 2020

Photo: Klara Andra-Thomas

Pace has an enormous variety of community engagement opportunities, and dozens of students in the Upper School have served as community engagement leaders. But for senior Klara Andra-Thomas, founder of the Pace Against ALS (PAALS) community engagement club, the club is more than an extracurricular – it is deeply personal.

Twelve years ago, Klara’s father was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which the muscles in the patient’s body weaken until they can no longer walk or speak.

“The hardest part for me to come to terms with my dad’s disease was the hopelessness,” said Andra-Thomas. “There’s no cure, so you feel like all you can do is sit and wait as the years pass. The club was a way for me to feel like I could help others and also feel like I was doing something.”

Andra-Thomas launched the club at the start of her junior year with the help of classmates Lucy Ferry and Emma Shelton.

They had three main goals in mind: fundraising, participating in the Walk Against ALS and spreading awareness of the effects of the disease on its victims and their family members. “The money we raise goes towards research for a cure and to support

The PAALS club participates in the March Against ALS on September 19. families and help cover some of the medical bills,” says AndraThomas.

Additionally, Andra-Thomas has reached out as a babysitter for kids whose parents have ALS. “With a disease like ALS, it can be hard to do simple things like finding a babysitter because the needs of the family and the environment are really unique. I also wanted to be able to support kids, and be someone who they can talk to.”

So far, Andra-Thomas has led the club to the annual Walk Against ALS twice and has raised thousands of dollars for the fight against ALS. “I’m really proud of the work we’ve done

and the money we’ve raised, but one of my favorite memories is just the morning of the walk when we saw how many of our classmates and friends had taken the time to come join us,” said Shelton.

For the leaders, the most important part of the club has been seeing how the Pace community came together to fight a disease that had impacted members of its community. “It was just really amazing how people understood the significance of this club, whether that be by way of donating, coming out to the walk or just showing up to our meetings,” said Ferry.

Although the current leaders

will be graduating in May, they have big plans for the following years. One of these includes passing down leadership within the family.

“My brother, Martin, is going to be a freshman next year, and he’s going to continue it once I’m gone along with other upperclassmen leaders,” said AndraThomas. “I consider founding PAALS the most important thing I did during my time at Pace, and it means a lot to me to know that this work is going to be in the hands of someone who understands its significance and will take the fight as personally as I do.”

completely redone.

The renovation will not only add classrooms, but also update the cafeteria, playground and meeting spaces in the Lower School. Right now there is no full kitchen in the Lower School, so food is brought over from the main kitchen in the Inman Center. The cafeteria will be redone so it includes a full kitchen where the food can be cooked.

“We are going to totally redo the playground; we are calling it the world’s greatest playground,” said Mr. Assaf. The new playground will include new rubber matting and a slide that goes from the pre-first terrace to the playground. A gymnasium will be added on the same level where kids can have indoor recess. This gym space can also be used by middle and high school teams as gym space gets tight in the winter.

A meeting space similar to Knights Hall in the Middle School and Fuqua in the Upper School will be constructed for lower school functions. Parent meetings, alumni events and fundraisers are currently taking place in the cafeteria, but soon the new space will host all of these functions.

The construction project will take about 16 months. Pace will avoid displacing students by creating temporary offices for people who currently work in the Randall House. “We did not want to displace the lower schoolers, because it would be really complicated with the youngest children,” said Mr. Assaf. The goal is to have everything finished by the start of the 2021 school year.

Opinion

Three Words Can Save a Life December 13, 2019

Francesca Vaneri

News Editor Class of 2020

In 2016, Pace was shaken by the devastating loss of juniors Parker Berman and Stephen Walker to suicide. For our school, it brought close to home one of the most concerning problems of our generation: soaring rates of reported depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. And although much has been done at Pace since then to further support students, one of the most important things has yet to be fully accomplished: understanding the reality of mental health, and how we as individuals can help our classmates.

The statistics at Pace alone are staggering. In a survey conducted in October by the Knightly News, roughly half of Pace students responding reported having struggled with mental health concerns during high school, with the majority having dealt with either anxiety or depression, as well as disordered eating and other illnesses (such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).

Perhaps the biggest lesson that Pace has learned since 2016 is that mental illness can be incredibly difficult to identify, much less treat. It’s a narrative that has become horribly familiar: a kid who seemed to have it all, who was always happy, surrounded by lots of friends, a star student and athlete, taking their life seemingly without warning, or struggling with issues that led them to be seriously harmed or institutionalized.

One of the most important things to learn from these narratives is that anyone – from the quiet kid in the back of the room to the star athlete and student who’s always the life of the party – can struggle with intense, and even life-threatening, mental health issues, with no one around them even realizing.

A senior who requested to remain anonymous was one of the millions of teenagers who was

diagnosed with depression and anxiety. “The most difficult part to explain is that on the outside, I was thriving. I was outgoing, happy, always laughing. I was so out there I was hidden. I had no ‘reason’ to be depressed, and that was maybe the hardest part to come to terms with. I felt like I didn’t deserve help, so I didn’t seek it.”

The epidemic can be especially terrible for boys, who often find little to no support, or face pressure to conceal mental health issues. A junior boy who requested to remain anonymous said, “I think there’s such a huge pressure for boys to deal with mental health issues in silence, because it’s thought of as ‘weak.’

It’s so unaccepted for boys to tell their friends or family they need help, and so boys will say nothing and try to deal with it themselves, and that can have terrible consequences.”

Part of the problem is that many people fail to spot the symptoms of depression in boys – aggression, irritability, and anger – which aren’t what we think of as the typical symptoms. Another problem, some experts say, is that many boys do not have the kind of emotional intimacy with friends that girls do, leading them to feel there is no one they can talk to.

Many mental health experts have been brought to Pace to discuss mental health, but there can still be a sense of helplessness.

After all, in the face of such issues, how can someone help?

The solution, of course, must begin with awareness. The facts are simple: statistically speaking, about 1 in 5 high school students suffer from a diagnosable mental health issue. It’s a statistic that’s hard to believe, of course, because so few will seek help.

Few people recognize that their friends need help, because the symptoms are hard to recognize, particularly when the person tries to hide them.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, although 46% of people who attempt suicide each year have a diagnosed mental health

disorder, an incredible 90% had signs of a possible disorder, as reported by friends and family.

This means that the majority of suicides are committed by people who likely had a mental health disorder that they didn’t have diagnosed. Perhaps, had they received treatment, many of them could be alive today.

Talking about mental health shouldn’t happen when someone’s mental health issues are severe – that’s equivalent to only helping someone when they are so sick they are on the verge of death, rather than when they start running a fever, or feel tired or develop a cough.

The solutions to mental health are complicated and multifaceted, but it can start with three words: “Are you OK?” Ask the athlete who has started skipping practices with no explanation. Ask the student who used to care about their grades who has stopped turning in homework or studying. Ask the person who has suddenly started drinking or smoking excessively. Ask the friend who’s always joking and laughing, and ask the quiet, shy friend. Ask a friend whose appetite has suddenly changed, or who suddenly always seems to be cancelling plans and staying home.

Checking in on your friend’s mental health should be normal. Whether the problem is as simple as being stressed out or as deep as a serious mental health disorder, as a community we need to check on each other.

The truth about mental health issues is that they are treatable, and if they are caught in the early stages, they are preventable. But work must be done on both ends.

“It took me years to reach out and ask for help, and I only did it when I had no other option,” said another senior who asked to remain anonymous. “I realized I could have gotten help so much sooner and avoided so much pain. It’s a really hard process, and it’s ongoing. I’ve accepted that this will probably be something I struggle with for the rest of my life. But now, I know I

The Knightly News - Page 4

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 Aman Hashim Managing Editor: Jamie Kornheiser News Editor: Francesca Vaneri Opinion Editor: Darren Rosing Lifestyle Editor: Isabel Battista

Social Media Editor: Bennett Boushka Social Media: Ashley Myers Staff Writers: Megan Hardesty Amalia Haviv Gabriel Kadoori Meghna Singha Sloane Wagreich Sam Webb Jayla Wideman

Sports Editor: Zachary Howard

Faculty Adviser: Ms. Lee Wilson

Web Content Editor: Kalissa Greene

Tech Adviser: Mr. Matt Walker

The Knightly News Editorial Policy The Knightly News is the student-run newspaper of Pace Academy. For over 40 years it has reported the news that affects Pace, as well as the opinions of students.

The Knightly News is published by the students of Pace Academy, and approximately 500 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor

Photo: Darren Rosing

can survive the worst episodes.

Whether it’s medication, or therapy, or working out or talking with friends, I’ve learned to control my symptoms. Reaching out to my friends literally saved my life.”

What can Pace do to help students? There’s no doubt that Pace has increased its efforts in the wake of 2016. “We doubled the number of mental health professionals on campus, we investigated what other schools are doing, and most importantly, we aren’t afraid to talk about it,” said school counselor Sara Eden.

Pace has focused on reaching out to students who other students or teachers have noticed struggling. “Pace does an excellent job discussing mental health, and Pace is great at reaching out to people they think might need someone to talk to without overstepping,” said junior Elliott Mathis. “Differently, they can seek more student input, particularly from students who have personal experience.”

The only way people will feel more comfortable reaching out is by de-stigmatizing the topic of mental health. Just because mental health is private doesn’t mean it needs to be a secret, and there’s a distinct difference between the two. On

and guest opinions, which may be edited for spelling and grammar, as well as space constraints. Neither Knightly News-generated opinion pieces nor guest opinions are reflective of the official policy of Pace Academy.

Every effort is made to publish accurate facts, but if you recognize an error or omission, please email knightlynews@paceacademy.org. the other end, those who notice their friends struggling should ask them about it. Mental health can’t be taboo anymore. Normalizing conversations about mental health could literally save lives.

“If you acknowledge there’s a problem, if you’re open to help, things can improve, and that’s the biggest thing we want students to know,” said Mrs. Eden.

“There are so many things that hold us back, whether it be embarrassment or thinking we can handle it on our own. Having the humility to admit we need someone else – that’s a huge step.”

“Don’t blame yourself,” said Mathis. “Know that you are worthy of getting help. Having the courage to seek help is a commendable thing, and don’t be afraid to talk about it. It’s super scary, but it could save your life.”

Any of the anonymous people interviewed in this article could be someone you know.

They could be your friend, or someone on your sports team.

They might even be one of your closest friends. No matter how close or not you are to them, they are your classmates. And checking in on them, or the dozens of other students like them, could make a bigger difference than you’ll ever know.

Vol. 45, Issue #3

Opinion

The Knightly News - Page 5

A Response to Recent Events What it means to be a good classmate HOUSE EDITORIAL

Illustration: Kathryn Hood

Nationally, 58.5% of high school seniors last year reported having tried alcohol before, and 39% of high schoolers reported trying marijuana as of 2017. These statistics from the Recovery Village show that alcohol and drug usage at the high school age is somewhat normalized in American culture. Adored television shows, hit movies and popular songs often lead young students to believe that their alcohol and drug use is proportionate to their popularity.

When studying the connection between music and alcohol consumption in teenagers, Dr. Brian A. Primack, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Director of the Program for Research on Media and Health at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, concluded that “every year, the average adolescent is exposed to about 3,000 references to alcohol brands while listening to music.” In this way, Dr. Primack linked pop culture to drug normalization.

The danger of increasingly normalized high school drug usage is that risks begin to appear less and less at their disposal to prevent expulsions and promote the iors you identify in your classmate. After that, your part threatening. Students all know the negative physical wellness of themselves as well as the entire student body. of the process is done and your identity is completely effects of drugs and alcohol. But, when students progres- Pace faculty members care deeply about their students, protected. sively perceive that more of the people around them are and from an interview, it is apparent that there is nothing Thereafter, the INSTEAD faculty members will taking drugs, which is an effect of cultural normalizaClass of 2021 Dean Krista Wilhelmsen would rather do convene to discuss the nature of the referral and detion, students start to forget about the consequences of than to go back in time and find help for those unencide whether or not it is necessary to contact the classdrug use. According to the National Institute on Drug rolled before it became too late. mate who was referred. If they deem it necessary, two Abuse, 71% of high school seniors don’t believe that According to addiction experts, most people who are INSTEAD members will find a time to meet with that regular marijuana smoking is harmful, even though in the throes of drug abuse or addiction are in denial that student in complete privacy and at a time convenient to marijuana, like alcohol, has serious adverse impacts on they need help. The solution is simple: find help for your the student. brain development in teens. The most relevant effect of fellow students before it gets to the point that you can’t To dispel any misconceptions, INSTEAD does not normalized high school drug experimentation, however, help them anymore. We, as members of a close-knit upaccuse students of illegal behavior and demand confesis the failure to recognize when you have a problem. per school community, bear some responsibility to speak sion. INSTEAD does not lecture or shame the student.

Experimentation can lead to abuse up when we see something that needs to Rather, INSTEAD simply communicates to the student Simply stated, doand abuse can lead to addiction, particuchange. That’s a basic obligation when that their friends are worried about him/her and that ing drugs at school larly for those who have a genetic preyou are a part of a community like Pace. the school is there for him/her. INSTEAD operates as disposition. Drug abuse can be signified is indicative of a true We are taught to care for our friends and a safe space where students have time to self-reflect on in many ways. The Foundations Recov- drug problem, and classmates, so why don’t Pace students their recent behaviors in the presence of trusting and ery Network suggests that, among other somebody who relies on seek help for their drug-abusing friends caring adults. In those moments, students can either feel a substance to remove more often? things, somebody struggles with drug encouraged to ask for help and begin planning a path themselves mentally or abuse if they have experienced any of The social implications may seem towards recovery, or students can deny ever using subthe following while under the influence emotionally during the severe for someone considering helping stances in the first place and walk out at their own free or as a result of drug usage: legal prob- school day needs help. their friend, but in reality, nothing would will. INSTEAD doesn’t hold students hostage. lems, self-harm or physical violence, be worse than losing a friend or peer In this way, it is really up to the student to decide and inability to do what is necessary at home, school or to addiction. Most Pace students have formed incorrect whether or not they want to help themselves. If they work. The most relevant signifier of drug abuse within assumptions about what happens once a student voices choose to walk out of their meeting with INSTEAD the Pace community as of late, however, is coming to concern for one of their classmates. More often than not, members without taking the opportunity for selfschool altered. Simply stated, doing drugs at school is students believe referring a friend to INSTEAD (Inform- reflection or inquiring about resources, then that’s their indicative of a true drug problem, and somebody who ing and Nurturing Students Through Education about prerogative. But, if more people continue to refer that relies on a substance to remove themselves mentally or Alcohol and other Drugs) or talking to a trusted faculty same student to INSTEAD, he/she may be required to emotionally during the school day needs help. member about a friend would lead to meet with a school counselor.

The solution is simple: The entire purpose of asking a stu“Students will be expelled for possession, use or disdiscipline. But, the opposite is true! tribution of drugs on the Pace campus or on the campus The whole point of Pace’s having a find help for your fellow dent to have a discussion with educated of another school.” It is plain and simple. Straight from built-in support system like INSTEAD students before it gets to advisors stems from a place of concern. the Pace Academy Student Handbook, this is what you is to find care and assistance for strug- the point that you can’t “We do our very best to reassure stuhelp them anymore. agreed to the moment you enrolled at Pace and reingling students. INSTEAD was dedents that we aren’t making a judgement forced when you signed the Honor Code book. Thus, it signed to help students from a strictly on the accuracy of the concern, and should come as no surprise that students who are caught health-based perspective. It is not intended to catch or that the fact that we are having the conversation does using or distributing drugs on campus are asked to leave. punish students, and the group goes to great lengths not in the least affect our opinion of them as students It’s a precedent. It’s unavoidable. It’s inescapable. to keep the process private and separate from the Pace or people,” said INSTEAD member Mrs. Kann. “We Risking your Pace enrollment for a brief high during discipline system. Here’s how it works. reiterate that the student is not in trouble and that the a free period is evidence of a substance abuse problem.

You can contact INSTEAD through email or by conversation is completely private and ask if they have Once a student is removed from the Pace community scheduling time to talk privately with one of the six questions. We do our best to keep the care and concern due to policy infraction, there is little help that the Pace faculty members: Mr. Ball, Tiger Brown, Dr. Moss, Mr. in the forefront.” faculty can offer. But, Pace offers plenty of support for Smentek, Mrs. Terry and Mrs. Kann. They will ask that All of this is to say that faculty members can only do struggling students while they are still Pace students. you complete a confidential referral form for your friend. so much. Unless a student seeks help or voices a concern, Thus, it’s imperative that students utilize the resources The form allows you to label which concerning behavfaculty members don’t always know what is going on in their students’ lives. Teachers don’t see their students at parties and deans don’t know what you were doing last Saturday night. But your friends and classmates typically do. Your friends and classmates see you make decisions that could potentially lead you down a darker path. Your friends and classmates sometimes know when you’re heading down to the parking lot to do drugs.

True friends and classmates, then, must be the voice of reason and care. This article was not written to entirely condemn, nor condone, drug and alcohol usage.

Rather, it stands as a call to action for the student body to look out for itself better – that classmates be better classmates.

Pay attention. Tell your friend you’re worried about them, seek help from the school faculty and take advantage of the school’s resources when you need to. As a Pace Knight, help your friends while they are still Pace Knights, and make sure a Pace Knight is who they will forever be.

Illustration: Kathryn Hood

Opinion

December 13, 2019

The Knightly News - Page 6

Impeachment a Necessary Part of American Democracy Isabel Battista Lifestyle Editor Class of 2021

inquiry into Trump’s actions relating to Ukraine. In early October, a second whistleblower complaint was released from a source that is even closer to the actual events that took place, which diminishes the argument made by some Republican officials that this accusation was simply “hearsay” and could not be corroborated by evidence.

will end his term prematurely, jumped on the opportunity when this request was leaked and called it a “quid pro quo” (a favor or advantage granted in return for something).

This, under law, is grounds for impeachment and therefore achieves the liberal agenda of disgracing Trump and conservatives.

Once the phone transcripts were released, multiple state department employees were called to testify against Trump, providing damning testimony that helped the Democrat’s cause.

One of these former employees is the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, whose parents and grandparents immigrated to America from their native home of Ukraine.

President Trump, however, recalled her, and in November she stood in front of the House intelligence committee testifying against him. In the middle of the hours-long testimony, Trump sent a flurry of tweets attacking Yovanovitch.

The House Intelligence Committee held hearings, many of which added detail to events surrounding Trump’s impeachment. For a while, these hearings were held behind closed doors, but in mid-November Congress began to hold public hearings, which have clarified many of the details of the claims made against Trump.

With all of the public impeachment hearings that

took place on Capitol Hill over the past month, it has become increasingly clear that Trump may be trying to hide his actions and may be lying about the nature of his relationship with Ukraine. However, this is not the only issue that arose during the hearings.

During former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch’s public hearing, Trump released a tweet attacking her diplomatic record and placing the blame on her for existing issues and unrest in Somalia, where she formerly served as a junior foreign service officer.

This tweet was mentioned later during Yovanovitch’s hearing

by California Representative Adam Schiff, and according to NPR, this tweet specifically could add a new phrase to the articles of impeachment against Trump: witness intimidation.

Pelosi also began to mention Trump’s call with Zelensky as “bribery,” which makes it even more clear that some form of further action is necessary to evaluate the ethics that Trump has exhibited during his Presidency.

According to the Constitution, Presidents should be impeached in cases of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors,” and with the widespread public support for Trump’s impeachment,

which currently sits at around 49% and has previously hit 51%, as well as the Constitutional justification for his impeachment, the process of impeachment is necessary as a duty of Congress.

The House Judiciary Committee met on Monday to hear from lawyers for the Democrats and Republicans who made cases for and against the impeachment of President Trump.

The committee will then vote on articles of impeachment, with a full vote by the House expected as early as next week.

If members of Congress truly believe that there is justification for impeachment, which a large portion clearly does, then it is their duty to act on the information that they are given.

Our elected officials have chosen to call into question Trump’s actions, as well as the willingness of the White House to cover these actions up, and we must support this as a part of the American democratic process.

The power to declare impeachment was given to Congress by the Constitution and if Congress had not moved forward with a formal inquiry, their Constitutional duty would have been disregarded, which could have led to a constitutional crisis within the U.S. It should not matter whether or not it hurts the Democratic Party in the long run or the Republican Party and Trump Administration right now; it has to be done to preserve American democracy.

Seeing this, people supporting Trump’s impeachment immediately called this witness tampering, which is another felony that can be charged.

Trump, however, claims free speech allows him to say these things, and he does have a point: if Yovanovitch was so sure of her testimony, why did she say that his tweet was “very intimidating?”

Yet another fishy thing about this impeachment is that everything has been made so public.

The committees have employed this tactic in the past when they publicized the Brett Kavanaugh hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court as well. However, because of their transparency, it may put the Democratic party at a disadvantage.

As witness after witness testified, with no clear evidence of bribery, treason or a quid pro quo, the general public has begun to lose interest. Their interest is one of, if not the biggest, weapons for the Democrats’ case for impeachment.

The more the public watched, the more their billion-dollar media outlets spun the hearings in a way that makes it seem like there is some sort of evidence. This allows for even more attacks on Trump’s character, attempting to remove him from office before the end of his term and to turn people’s opinion for the 2020 election.

Weeks of testimony were broadcast live across the entire country through media outlets that control the narrative. If you look at CNN, the message is that Trump will be impeached any day now while Fox assures its viewers that Trump is safe.

The left wants to twist the truth to say that Trump has very close relations with Russia. With no evidence of collusion, the Democratic Party looks elsewhere to show that Trump is cozying up to foreign dignitaries – a national security issue for the country – according to them.

Ironically, after spending so much time accusing Trump of cooperation with foreign

countries that pose a threat to the U.S., the left failed to mention that Hillary Clinton’s allies enlisted Ukrainian officials to dig up dirt on Trump during the campaign, according a Politico investigation.

Even if Trump is impeached by the House, it will not necessarily be the end of his presidency. Just because a president is impeached does not mean he has to leave office.

If the House votes to impeach, the Senate must then try President Trump with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the trial. Two-thirds of a Republican-dominated Senate would then have to find President Trump guilty before he would be forced to step down.

This simply will not happen, and the Democratic Party understands this. Nevertheless, the left continues in their efforts to tear down Trump and grow their anti-Trump supporters until the natural end of his time in office.

Impeachment Inquiry Another Diversion Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020

First the Russian collusion, then Stormy Daniels, and now a Ukrainian hoax. In the words of Senator Lindsay Graham, “this is the most unethical sham I have seen in my time in politics.”

The Ukrainian hoax stems from alleged phone calls and conversations in which President Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. The younger Biden was a board member at a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, which came under fire due to corruption within its higher-level officials.

As a result, Trump allegedly wants these allegations to be further investigated in order to stain Joe Biden and damage his campaign. The liberal wing of our government, that has been itching to find some event that

Photo Illustration: Kathryn Hood

“No one is above the law,” said Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

After months of speculation and discussion over the possibility of impeaching President Donald Trump, Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump in late September of this year.

If this impeachment goes through, Trump would become just the third president in U.S. history to be formally impeached. (Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate; Richard Nixon resigned before the completion of the impeachment process.)

Although discussion of this possible impeachment began months ago, the final straw that led to Pelosi’s announcement was the initial whistleblower complaint that was centered around Trump’s involvement and phone calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The contents of this complaint mainly focused on concerns of a July 25th call with Zelensky, in which the U.S. President requested that Ukraine investigate the Biden family, specifically Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently running for the Democratic Presidential

nomination.

The issue is this: Trump seemingly used his personal power and foreign actors to harm the presidential campaign of one of his competitors, which, in turn, would bolster his own campaign and increase the likelihood of his reelection.

Another issue highlighted in the complaint was the attempted cover-up of this Ukraine call by the Trump administration.

According to the whistleblower complaint, the transcript of the phone call in question was removed from the electronic storage area where it would typically be kept in favor of moving the piece to a bin for classified information that would not be seen

by Trump’s Cabinet members.

This raises concerns about the Trump administration’s involvement with other foreign nations, such as Russia, and just how little the public may know about how Trump has conducted himself in the Oval Office. There is no way for the public to know when Trump erases transcripts of his calls and interactions with other foreign or domestic actors, which puts the nation and our democracy in danger.

Since this initial complaint was filed in mid-August of this year, there have been several developments. On Sept. 24, Pelosi announced the commencement of a formal impeachment

Lifestyle

Vol. 45, Issue #3

The Knightly News - Page 7

Holiday Gift Recommendations for Friends As the holiday season approaches, you might be

Darren Rosing asking yourself: what should I get my friends this Opinion Editor Class of 2021

1

Photo Illustration: Kathryn Hood

2 3

year? Well, The Knightly News has you covered! Here are our favorite gifts for friends this 2019 holiday season that are sure to be a hit.

4

For the Forgetful Friend

5

For the Active Friend

6

For the Sentimental Friend

For the SweetToothed Friend A pint of gourmet edible cookie dough from the cookie dough cafe would be the perfect gift. Pints can be ordered directly from their online website for $12, or can be purchased in person in local stores. The closest vendor near Pace is the Fresh Market on Roswell Road. They come in seven distinct flavors, ranging from OREO to confetti cake. They even have gluten-free and vegan options.

For the On-the-Go Friend We recommend Mophie’s Powerstation Mini portable battery. Coming in five colors, the $39.95 power bank provides 5,000mAh of energy. And, the two USB ports on the device allow you to charge two items at once!

For the Friend Who’s Already Committed to College A university-themed Smathers & Branson accessory would be the perfect gift this holiday season.

Needlepoint key fobs, belts, can coolers, hats and wallets are available in the designs of many American universities. Can coolers are $29.50.

We recommend the Tile Pro. After attaching the Tile to your keys, wallet, or any other easily misplaced item, you will be able to track their location from an app on your cell phone, and even have the ability to make the Tile ring loudly so you can assess where exactly your item is in a room. The Pro is Tile’s best-performing ringer, with a range of 400 ft. and a one-year replaceable battery. This is a life-changer for people prone to losing their most valuable belongings and goes for $34.99.

For the active friend, a new Hydroflask water bottle will be perfect! The 18 oz. Standard Mouth bottle comes in eight different colors for $29.95, and you even have the option to mix-and-match the colors through a customization tool. The bottle’s unique double-walled vacuum maintains both icy and hot temperatures for a prolonged, satisfying hydration experience.

There is no sweeter gift than a personalized Yankee Candle. Starting at $22, you can choose from five different candle shapes and 12 different fragrances. Then, you can upload a picture of you and your friend that captures the essence of your friendship, and add a personalized message on the candle’s label. While the candle burns and sweet fragrance permeates through their room, your friend will be so grateful.

Students Ring in the Holiday Season Sloane Wagreich Staff Writer Class of 2021

As soon as Halloween night ends, students eagerly begin to await the holiday season. Not only is school out for winter break, but students get to spend time with their families and enjoy their anticipated holiday traditions. Christmas and Hanukkah fill December with excitement. The presents, Christmas lights and wintry season are just some of the many elements that make this season so exciting; however, it is not just about the gifts. With the holidays comes a series of family traditions and religious history that students and their relatives celebrate.

Of course, Christmas is a much anticipated holiday among Pace students. It is traditional for most to decorate a Christ-

mas tree and for many to attend church on Christmas Eve on Dec. 24. Christmas is observed worldwide to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The classic fir trees are used to symbolize a sense of everlasting light and love.

Senior Andrew Neville is just one of the hundreds of Pace students that celebrates Christmas.

“Both of my parents are Methodist so it’s a tradition for us to celebrate Christmas every year,” said Neville. “On Christmas Eve, we go to one of our grandparents’ houses and on Christmas Day, we spend time at our other grandparents’ house,” explained Neville. Neville and his family enjoy Christmas traditions such as decorating their tree, taking part in a gift exchange and eating a meal together on Christmas Eve. In addition to Neville, freshman Brooke Fung Chung takes part in the typical Christmas traditions over the holidays.

Photo Illustration: Kathryn Hood

“On Christmas Eve, we go to one of our grandparents’ houses and on Christmas Day, we spend time at our other grandparents’ house.”

– Andrew Neville

“We celebrate Christmas and it is an important time for us to meet with family and for all of us to be together,” said Fung Chung. “We are all spread apart and I have family in New York, Florida and Georgia, so it is nice for all of us to spend time together during Christmas.”

For Fung Chung, it is more than the gifts and the lights. She anticipates the arrival of all of her relatives, excited to celebrate the holidays with them.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a commonly observed holiday in the Jewish community. The story of Hanukkah goes back to roughly 200 B.C. when the Maccabees defeated King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria who had ruled Jerusalem and outlawed the Jewish religion.

After the Syrians were driven out of Jerusalem, Judah Maccabee called on his followers to cleanse the Second Temple and rebuild its altar. They only

“I have family in New York, Florida and Georgia, so it is nice for all of us to spend time together during Christmas.” – Brooke Fung Chung

had enough oil to light a lamp for one night. However, the oil lasted for eight nights, signifying a miracle and the reason behind the eight-day duration of Hanukkah. It is common for Jews to light a menorah, exchange gifts and spin the dreidel every night in observance of this holiday.

Sophomore Cole Kaplan celebrates Hanukkah every year with his family. “We spend time doing traditions like spinning the dreidel and opening gifts with our family,” said Kaplan.

“These traditions have been in my family since before I was born. My parents always took part in these activities and it has been around for a long time.”

Kaplan loves Hanukkah especially because it allows him to gather with his relatives that don’t live close by and honor the traditions that have been in his family for years.

Junior Casey Shoulberg also takes part in the Hanukkah festivities. “My entire family

“We do traditions like spinning the dreidel and opening gifts with our family.

These traditions have been in my family since before I was born.”

– Cole Kaplan

gets the chance to celebrate together and it has never really been about presents to us,” said Shoulberg. “It is mainly about lighting the candles and getting in touch with our Jewish roots.”

Shoulberg explained that her favorite family tradition is a gift exchange known as “Hannukah Harry,” where everyone is assigned a person in her family to get a present for.

“The tradition started with basically just finding something fun that our entire family could participate in,” said Shoulberg.

“It is a way for all of us to be together as an entire family and since my family is big, it incorporates people I don’t usually see over the year.”

Shoulberg shared that her grandmother converted, and they still celebrate Christmas in December. “It is really nice for us to be able to celebrate all of these different holidays while still being together and having a great time as a family,” she said.

“My entire family gets the chance to celebrate together and it has never really been about presents to us. It is mainly about lighting the candles and getting in touch with our Jewish roots." – Casey Shoulberg

Lifestyle

December 13, 2019

The Knightly News - Page 8

Seniors Reach the Big 1-8 Seniors reflect on the milestone of turning 18 years old Kathryn Hood

Visual Editor Class of 2021

Photo: Zoie Freier

To most young people, the age of 18 years is an idea that has loomed large as the most anticipated or most dreaded age to turn. But that’s no surprise – turning 18 comes with a slew of added legal abilities such as being able to vote, serve on a jury, marry, enter into contracts, buy and sell property, control your own medical treatment and being able to move out – which could be good or bad depending on who you are. However, is 18 really all it’s cracked up to be?

Most seniors seemed to have the same response: No. “I think I looked at 16 as, like, the big thing. I never really thought about 18,” said Claire Wierman.

“I thought I would feel older, I would feel like an adult, but I really don’t.” Other seniors shared this sentiment.“Eighteen is like, ‘Oh you can vote, you’re an adult.’ It seems like a big milestone but it’s really not,” said Zoie Freier.

Even though turning 18 may be a letdown, the ability to vote is a big deal to many. Senior Molly Buffenbarger took AP Comparative Politics this year in order to learn more about the world before she voted.

“Being able to vote is not only a responsibility to ourselves

Senior Zoie Freier as a baby is a reminder of just how far these 18year-olds have come. but also to our generation,” said Wierman. “I think our generation is very different than those who are voting currently and I think that we have the power to change it, even though that sounds cheesy.”

Some seniors, including Paul Louis Biondi, have already voted. “We voted at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. It was completely normal, there was nothing out of the ordinary, and it was fun getting the little sticker afterward,” he said. “You’re just like, ‘hey, I participated in an election.’”

Little things, like scheduling one’s own appointments at the doctor, and having to take

your ID out at the airport were signs to these seniors that they were getting older. The freedom, especially the legal freedom that comes with being 18, is a much bigger deal. “I told my Mom I wanted to get a tattoo over the summer because I was 18 and then she told me to ‘make sure your dad’s OK with it but I guess I can’t stop you,’” said Buffenbarger.

However, not all of these freedoms were positive. Biondi was put in a unique situation with his dual citizenship in France and the United States.

“I still have to register for the draft,” he said. “If I don’t register within a month of my birth-

day, I can get fined and tried for treason or something. Because of my dual citizenship, if one country goes to war against the other, either country could call me treasonous and I could go to jail.”

Many seniors weren’t sure if they felt any older, but one thing was for certain: they felt more prepared for the future. “I’m definitely prepared educationally, but as for real life experiences, I definitely gained a lot more of that this year,” said Wierman. “From being more aware of what’s going on in the world to getting groceries and picking up stuff for dinner, I feel like I’m becoming more of an adult.”

Freier shared somewhat different feelings. “I feel like I’m prepared for college but not for life experiences... there’s no way I’m prepared to do taxes,” she said. “The college process also has made me prepared to figure out what I want for life.”

To most, 18 hasn’t been the biggest moment of their lives.

Instead of staying in the past, seniors choose to look towards the future with optimism, with the age of 18 only another stepping stone towards their goals.

As Biondi put it, “The implications of what it means to be 18 is what’s most exciting. You probably have made it through the hardest part of high school and soon you’ll be going to college, where you can do what you love.”

Popeyes: The Best Fast-Food Sandwich Zachary Howard Sports Editor Class of 2020

(L-R) Juniors Caroline McCullough and Madison Martin enjoy the Popeyes chicken sandwich, a melting pot of flavor, that is popular with countless Pace students. the sandwich that grew during its absence. On the release day, I took a trip up to my local Popeyes. The drivethru line was wrapped twice around the sizable parking lot, even spilling over onto Roswell Rd. and creating a huge traffic hazard.

Aiming to outsmart this line by parking across the street and sneaking into the store, I hoped for a shorter line inside. However, it was to no avail. After waiting for half an hour, and not getting remotely close to ordering, I gave up, with plans to return the next day.

That Monday, Nov. 4, the lines had tapered off considerably, and I was able to walk into the store, wait about 20 minutes in line and another 10 after

placing my order to receive the sandwich. At long last, I finally obtained the legendary sandwich. At $3.90 per sandwich, it is a relatively cheap option, but still almost a dollar more expensive than its counterpart, the Chick-fil-A sandwich.

What it lacks in price point, however, it makes up for in taste.

The first bite is a mouthwatering combination of quality fried chicken, a great brioche bun, and a mayonnaise and Popeyes sauce. All of the flavors blend together beautifully to create a unique taste.

Originally, I had concerns that the chicken would be undercooked. These concerns turned into fears upon seeing multiple Instagram posts of pink or even

Photo: Mary Childs Hall

On Aug. 12, 2019, the world (or at least the parts with a Popeyes) was introduced to the Popeyes chicken sandwich.

However, few people noticed this new menu item. It was not until weeks later, when the Popeyes’ Twitter account attacked Chickfil-A, starting the now famous chicken sandwich war, that hype for the Popeyes sandwich began to grow at an alarming rate.

Drive-thru lines wrapping twice around the parking lot, hour-long waits inside the restaurant, exhausted workers, and stores running out of sandwiches by 11 a.m. were all byproducts of this extreme competition.

However, disaster struck when Popeyes, unable to meet the unexpected increase in demand, ran out of the sandwich.

Many felt robbed of the sandwich, never having had the chance to indulge in it. But fear not: on Sunday, Nov. 2, Popeyes, confident they could meet demand, reintroduced the sandwich, putting it back into the hands of eager customers.

Upon reintroduction, the same lines of hungry people were seen, with many even longer due to the hype around

red chicken in these sandwiches.

However, I was delighted to find that mine was cooked perfectly – juicy and showing no signs of being raw.

As I continued to eat the sandwich, it continued to impress. The pickles were a great addition, really rounding out the overall taste. In my opinion, when presented with an option to choose the Popeyes sandwich or any other fast food sandwich, I would choose Popeyes 10 times out of 10. It is a one of a kind taste, worthy of long lines, high demand, and even full fledged fights.

However, I would advise that you wait until the lines die down before going to grab your own slice of heaven.

A Look Back at the Decade Aman Hashim

Co-Editor in Chief Class of 2020

2010

- Apple releases the first iPad. - Instagram is founded.

2011

- Prince William marries Catherine Middleton, sparking royal wedding fever.

- Harry Potter movies come to an end.

- Osama bin Laden is killed.

2012

- “Gangnam Style” becomes the most watched video ever.

- Barack Obama is reelected.

2013

- “The Harlem Shake” goes viral.

- Kids around the world learn “Pitch Perfect’s” “Cup Song.”

- #BlackLivesMatter movement begins.

2014

- Malaysia Airlines passenger jet disappears.

- ALS Ice Bucket Challenge takes off.

2015

- Black/blue or gold/white dress divided the world.

- Apple releases raciallydiverse emojis.

- Same-sex marriage is legalized in all 50 states.

2016

- Harambe touches the hearts of many.

- “Pokemon Go” goes viral.

- Video app Vine shuts down.

- Donald Trump is elected President.

2017

- Fidget spinners are a fad.

- Once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse is visible throughout the mainland U.S. - #MeToo movement takes off.

2018

- Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle.

- Yanny vs Laurel confuses many.

2019

- Washington Nationals win their first ever World Series.

- “Game of Thrones” airs its final season.

- “Avengers: Endgame” becomes the highest grossing movie of all time.

Lifestyle

Vol. 45, Issue #3

The Knightly News - Page 9

TikTok Takes Over Students’ Lives Megan Hardesty Staff Writer Class of 2022

Photo: Megan Hardesty

Have you noticed your friends filming themselves while dancing and lip-synching at school? Your peers are just a small fraction of the 500 million active TikTok users worldwide.

The creators of TikTok describe the app as “the leading destination for short-form mobile video.” These short videos can be up to 60 seconds, and the user can either create their own sound or select audio that is already on the app. The user can then either dance to a song or create small, skit-like videos using sounds, text or other special effects.

Recently there has been much in the media with regard to the Chinese company, Bytedance, that owns the app. Many U.S. users have been worried that the Chinese government is involved with the censorship of the app.

However, the company has rejected these claims saying, “Let us be very clear: TikTok does not remove content based on sensitivities related to China.

We have never been asked by the Chinese government to remove any content and we would not do so if asked.” Bytedance, accord-

ing to bbc.com, is worth around 75 billion dollars and owns other social media apps. Although owned by a Chinese-based company, TikTok has no offices in China.

As of right now, even if there are no dangers due to alleged interference by the Chinese government, there are still privacy issues that users should be aware of. As soon as you create an account, TikTok has access to your contacts and any other information you have released through apps on your device.

“We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the platform, including your IP address, location-related data, unique device identifiers, browsing history… mobile carrier, time zone setting, and mobile or device information,” says the company on its website.

Despite this, many Pace students are active users of the app and enjoy either making or watching the short videos.

One student, junior Matthew Cleveland, has gained recognition on the app, with a couple of his videos receiving between 28 and 68 thousand likes. Cleveland currently has 15.8 thousand followers.

“I got famous from posting a video regarding what I hear about being good at basketball,

Senior Virginia Hobbs (center) watches in disgust as (L-R) junior Hanna Vincent, senior Jordan Upchurch and sophomore Margo Kaye film a TikTok. and people just found it funny,” said Cleveland. “I like TikTok because it just allows you to be free and have a good time. It helps with stress and just makes you laugh.” Cleveland advises students who want to become “famous” on the app to “make funny and relatable videos.”

Other upper school students who find TikTok amusing spend a lot of time on the app per day.

“I would say I spend about four hours a day on TikTok,” said senior Dominique Turner.

Sophomore Maggie Pope estimated that she spends about an hour a day on the app. “I think the app is entertaining, but it’s really easy to get distracted because I can never tell myself to stop scrolling,” said Pope. Cleveland estimates he spends about three hours a day on TikTok. Unlike these students, some dislike the app. “I think TikTok is one of the most embarrassing things to have happened to our generation,” said senior Virginia Hobbs. “Not only do you look

like an idiot making them, but I am confused what makes people think others want to watch them awkwardly dance in the Commons to a song.” Hobbs is also frustrated with the idea of people becoming famous by doing something that requires such little skill.

Even Cleveland admits that TikTok can be a distraction at Pace. “I think it’s somewhat of a problem because anywhere you go in school you either hear or see people on TikTok,” he said.

followers to see when they are active on Instagram and notifying users when someone is typing a direct message to them.

Not only do social media platforms pose as a threat, but even the new face identification feature on iPhones is dangerous.

Scanning one’s face into their phone allows the user to not only unlock it, but they can also use it to buy apps in the App Store and authorize any purchases made through Apple Pay. According to Forbes, a group of researchers tested how easily they could hack into someone’s Face ID. It took the group of hackers only two minutes to log into peoples’ phones. As Threatpost, a news site that reports information regarding security of professionals around the world, stated, “Liveness detection has become the Achilles’ heel of biometric authentication security.” The hackers only had to use spectacles and tape to hack into an iPhone user’s device.

Other complaints about iPhones and other smartphone devices have surfaced. People claim that the phones are listening in on their conversations through Siri. Individuals have had conversations with other people and the next day will see an advertisement on Instagram or receive a spam email about the same topic they were discussing the day before.

A reporter from Vice, a digital media company, put this to the test. Twice a day for five days he would say specific things around his phone, such as

“going back to the university.”

He reported that advertisements “came literally overnight,” with ads for mid-semester college courses. People across the globe now cover the camera on their laptops because, according to USA Today, it gives the government and the company that manufactures the computer a way to spy on people through these devices.

Beyond hand-held devices, biometrics are expanding their consumer reach to airports and stadiums. The security screening company Clear is now at over 60 airports and other venues, allowing people to speed through security lines using their fingerprints and irises as identification.

Clear, which is certified by the Department of Homeland Security, requires new members to put in their contact information, face id, financial information, and additional personal details.

Members pay a $15 monthly fee for the screening service.

According to NBC News, as more and more people begin to use Clear, it is only a matter of time before severe privacy issues surface.

Although it may be trendy and entertaining, according to the experts, FaceApp and other apps and services that use biometrics should be used with caution. It is better to avoid the potential harms than to take the chance and risk one’s private information for a funny photo or a shorter security line at the airport.

New Technologies Pose Risks for Users Sloane Wagreich Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: LibreOffice

This fall, FaceApp blew up the internet. FaceApp is a smartphone app that transforms peoples’ appearances through artificial intelligence. Millions of users across the globe became obsessed with scanning their faces in order to see their older or younger selves.

Although it may seem harmless, there is an unknown and hidden danger to FaceApp. What many don’t realize is that a lot more than just one’s face is exposed when using this app.

It can expose information about one’s identity and lead to privacy issues for anyone who has downloaded the app.

The concern started when rumors began circulating that the Russian company that owned FaceApp could be misusing photos and private information, given their vague privacy policy.

According to technology firm Impact, all the data from FaceApp goes through the company, and people feared that Russian hackers would be able to access their personal information.

When first getting the app, users must grant access to Siri and all of the photos in their camera roll. Once this happens, people are essentially giving Wireless Lab OOO, the company that created FaceApp, permission to view all of their pictures.

As an article in Forbes stat-

Companies, such as the airport security system Clear, are scanning peoples’ irises for identification purposes. ed, “even when you are not using it, it is using you.” Although it may seem like the app can only gain access to the photos that one uploads into FaceApp, there is still a major privacy risk. Private information, such as credit card numbers and purchase history, could be exposed simply by scanning one’s face into this app.

FaceApp went live in 2017 and since then has gathered over 80 million users. Celebrities, such as The Jonas Brothers and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, began a FaceApp challenge, posting and comparing their changed faces. This drastically increased the number of users, as social influencers encouraged their followers to join in on the fun.

What they failed to realize was that there is much more to the app than just transforming faces. Through accessing these photos, it is easy for the own-

ers of FaceApp to figure out one’s identity. As stated by The Atlantic, most data that runs through apps is passed through the government.

According to Robert Siciliano, a security awareness expert at Safr.Me in a MarketWatch article, “any app gathering data points that could lead to facial recognition should be of concern, especially when it’s being used by government agencies.”

FaceApp is just one of the many technological innovations that pose a privacy threat.

Social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, have had similar issues. According to USA Today, Facebook was fined roughly $5 billion due to failure to protect users’ data.

Over the past year, Instagram has made it harder for users to maintain privacy on the platform. The company has upgraded the app, allowing users’

Sports

December 13, 2019

The Knightly News - Page 10

Varsity Boys Basketball Off To Strong Start Kalissa Greene Photo: Fred Assaf (L-R) Seniors Brianna Thomas, Mary Lawson Bring and Sydney Thomas prepare the field before games and provide hydration for the football players during practices.

Team Managers Serve as Backbone Of Pace Sports Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief

Class of 2021

The time and effort pays off when the managers are able to see their teams grow. “Although managing can take anywhere from 10 to 14 hours per week, I love doing it,” said Tate. “My goal is to get the players amped up, encouraged, hydrated and ready for a long season.”

Other students decide to become a manager just because they have free time and want to do something exciting. The wrestling team has eight managers: seniors Sophie Lettes, Mae Shippen and Francesca Vaneri, and sophomores Allie Campbell, Megan Eghtedari, Sarah Elizabeth Hayden, Maggie Pope and Anna Rosenbloum.

Many of these girls decided to start managing the team to find out more about a sport they were unfamiliar with. “I wanted to take on this role so I could learn about wrestling, as my brother really loves the sport,” said Shippen. “It is also a really interesting sport to watch.”

Another positive that comes from becoming a manager is the opportunity that it can open up in the future. Many Pace graduates who worked alongside teams during high school either studied subjects like sports marketing or sports medicine in college or became a bigger part of their college’s athletic programs.

Alumna Carly Silverstein ‘17, who is in her junior year at the University of Georgia, was a football manager throughout her time in the Upper School at Pace. She now works in the UGA football recruiting department and is majoring in sports management and psychology.

Storming in with a record of 8-2 as the team headed off to the Chicago Elite Classic tournament last weekend, Pace Academy’s varsity basketball team makes the spectacular seem routine.

After a satisfactory season last year coming in as runner up region champions with a record of 20-9, varsity basketball has a newfound confidence this season with the addition of junior Matthew Cleveland.

Shooting guard Cleveland is new to Pace this year but has stepped right into a star role on the varsity team, leading in almost all of the offensive plays.

According to 247Sports, Cleveland is “one of the best wing prospects in not only the state of Georgia, but the entire country.”

He has received over 30 offers from colleges already, including Clemson, Florida State, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Purdue, Stanford and the University of Virginia. He set big goals for the team as he strives to win region and be in a strong position before playoffs.

This will be junior Cole Middleton’s third year on varsity as a center. He has only been playing basketball for five years.

He feels content with the team’s performance, but knows they still have a lot of work to do.

Photo: Fred Assaf

When watching a Pace sport, fans focus on the players on the court or field who take shots, score touchdowns or hit home runs. What goes on behind the scenes of these sports often goes unnoticed. Team managers are the influential forces behind the teams who not only help the athletes keep track of their schedules, but also allow for players to execute in games and matches.

The managers have a personal interest in each player’s achievements and take pride in the team’s performance. From football to soccer, Pace sports have student-managers who work alongside their peers with the goal of helping the team win.

There are many reasons why students decide to take on the position of team manager.

Some students, like senior Mary Lawson Bring, have a passion for watching certain sports and want to be a part of the team in any way they can. Bring was the manager of the varsity football team this year along with fellow seniors Brianna Thomas and Sydney Thomas.

She has worked alongside the team since her sophomore year, fulfilling duties of keeping the players hydrated, making sure the clock is running properly, and setting up the field before practices and games. “I grew up watching football and going to UGA games, and I wanted to get involved in that just because I love football,” said Bring. “I

was never doing a fall sport and I thought it would be something cool to be a part of during that season.”

Being a manager is a major commitment. Managers have to go to every practice and game during the regular season. Also, for fall sports, the managers have to work at practices in the summer when the season starts for the players.

“At first having to go to practices towards the end of summer sounded horrible to me, but it honestly made coming to school easier on the first day,” said Bring. “I learned to really appreciate it and realized how important it was for me to be there keeping the guys hydrated during the summer.”

For other sports, such as in the winter or spring, being a manager might mean that one would have to stay in town for Thanksgiving, the winter holidays or spring break.

Becoming a manager can mean igniting former passions.

Senior Kennedy Tate is one of the girls varsity basketball managers alongside freshman Avery Abram. For Tate, being a manager has made her excited to become more involved in her Pace community by working with a sport that she has had experience playing in the past.

Having played basketball for eight years of her life but stopping her freshman year, Tate knows the sport and has always loved the positive energy that comes with it. “I really appreciate how our team has already created a bond that is as tight as any family,” said Tate. “We always say that we are ‘like a fist,’ and we truly are.”

Online Editor Class of 2021

“We have been playing well with our new additions but we still have to learn to play together as a family,” he said.

Currently, Cleveland, Middleton and fellow junior Madison Durr have been included on the Atlanta All-Metro High School Boys Watch List, published by the Atlanta Tipoff, indicating the high level of talent this season.

In its Holiday Hoopsgiving Recap, 247Sports mentioned Durr as an “intriguing guard prospect,” calling him a “tough, scrappy guard that finds ways to impact the game.”

Senior Reign Watkins who is currently out with a hip injury is the only player who remains from the Pace varsity basketball team that won back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017.

“I understand that I am one of the few seniors, and I am ready to help my team with the experience I have,” he said.

With the arrival of head coach Sharman White last year, the team continues to play and compete at a high level. The Dec. 5 region win over Cedar Grove 74-49 marked Coach White’s 400th career win. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution’s Week 4 basketball rankings placed the Pace Knights at the number one spot in GHSA Class AAA. “[You] can only imagine the great heights this team will reach this season,” said Middleton. The team plays Westminster at home tonight in a region matchup at 7 p.m.

Junior Matthew Cleveland goes up for a rebound during a region matchup against Redan High School on Nov. 22. The Knights won 84-43.

Sports

Vol.45, Issue #3

The Knightly News - Page 11

Out for the Season: Sports Injuries Plague Student Athletes Mary Childs Hall Co-Editor in Chief

Class of 2021

Sophomore Paul Ramseur takes safety measures by stretching in the weight room before practice. athletes to become stronger, it can also have serious effects on their health.

At a school like Pace where 80% of high school students play at least one sport, the seasons are long and tiring. By the end of each season, or sometimes even before they are over, the players are worn down and many times walking away with stress fractures.

With many kids beginning to specialize in only one sport, the risks for overuse injuries increase. Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, the Director of Sports Medicine Research and Education at Emory Healthcare in the Atlanta area, followed 1,200 young athletes in

Chicago for three years.

According to espn.com, Dr. Jayanthi found that the athletes who specialized in a single sport were at a much greater risk for injuries, mostly those of bones and ligaments. “Young athletes who were injured tended to have more intense specialized training in one sport,” said Dr. Jayanthi.

“We should be cautious about intense specialization in one sport before and during adolescence.”

However, these athletes are not the only ones at risk, as anyone can suffer from random, freak injuries or just general overstress due to activity. Junior Lily Koch suffered a torn ACL during last year’s lacrosse sea-

stumbled upon a YouTube video of someone doing an IRONMAN and suddenly became interested.

So, I did some research about what exactly it consisted of and decided I was going to give it a try. I found a coach and started training right away.”

Tolliday started training in September 2018 and ran his first half IRONMAN in July 2019.

Since then, he completed another half IRONMAN in September, which qualified him for the IRONMAN World Championship in New Zealand in July 2020. He has also run multiple shorter distance triathlons.

The training to prepare for such intense events takes up a large part of Tolliday’s life, with an average week consisting of around 15 hours of training. “I will usually do two workouts a day,” said Tolliday. “Sometimes it will be a swim in the morning and a bike after school, or a bike and a run after school, etc. The hardest part by far is waking up at 5:45 some days to go and swim in a freezing pool for an hour and a half before going to school.”

Naturally, the physical rigor of the training is grueling, and it requires incredible motivation.

“With triathlon and especially IRONMAN, I feel like you are either fully committed or you aren’t,” said Tolliday. “Some people train to simply complete a race like this and are satisfied

to cross the finish line, but I know that wouldn’t satisfy me. I need to feel that I have done my best, and I want to race the races instead of just making it to the finish.”

Athletes are frequently reminded that it is just as important to be mentally strong as it is to be physically strong. “My training has made me more mentally strong because… when you are doing very tough workouts it is very easy to simply stop and quit, but it takes mental strength to keep going and to shake off all the negative thoughts,” said Tolliday.

It can be particularly difficult to maintain one’s focus and motivation during a race, which lasts for hours on end with no break. Tolliday handles the monotony in a couple of different ways. “I often start singing or just speaking to myself because it gets pretty lonely when you are out there by yourself. I just try to keep my mind off of any negative thoughts and just think about how much fun I am having.”

Despite having started his training just over a year ago, Tolliday has already risen through the rankings. In his latest half IRONMAN in Augusta, Tolliday placed first in his age group out of 70 people, and was 20th overall out of 2651 athletes, including professional athletes, and third overall not including

Photo: Gabriel Kadoori

Every year, millions of teenagers take part in high school sports. According to U.S. News & World Report, nearly 55.5% of high schoolers participate in sports. Although athletics enable students to stay active, make new friends and learn life lessons, there is also the risk of injury.

Walking around any high school, one is likely to spot students wearing braces or casts or walking on crutches. Whether due to a stress fracture, concussion or torn ACL, students often find themselves hurt, which can lead to loss of playing time in games or even time away from school. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that high school athletes account for over 2 million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits in the U.S. each year.

All of these injuries raise a serious question: what toll do sports actually take on young people’s bodies? In high school, many students start training strenuously to perfect their techniques. Although practicing for multiple hours every day helps

son. “Tearing my ACL was very, very painful and the recovery process was long and tedious,” said Koch. “I was unable to play sports for a year.”

Senior Hayden Sample also suffered from a serious knee injury in her gymnastics season, which required surgery. “It was isolating because you don’t feel close to your teammates when you can’t condition with them,” said Sample. “I am not able to execute at the same level of difficulty that I used to be able to. However, attitude and self advocacy are everything.”

Although athletes can suffer from injuries, they also learn to become stronger after dealing

with these struggles. “During my resting time, I have gotten a lot stronger, and I am excited to get back into things and see what I can do,” said Koch.

Nineteen students from the Class of 2019 went on to play sports in college. Being a college-level athlete is demanding, even before the students enter the playing arena at their new universities. Students who want to pursue athletics in college have to work day and night in high school to get on the radar of recruiters. However, there is danger in this, as many athletes begin to overwork their bodies and find themselves fatigued early on. “Kids are broken by the time they get to college,” said Dr. Jayanthi in the ESPN piece.

In playing a sport, there are precautionary measures that athletes can take in order to maximize their performance in a safe way. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers many suggestions to prevent injury for athletes.

However, the point the academy stresses the most is how students must take breaks. AAP claims that a healthy exercise schedule includes taking at least one day off per week and one month off per year to allow

(Continued on page 12)

Ben Tolliday Aspires to Become ‘Ironman’ Francesca Vaneri

News Editor Class of 2020

Photo: Ben Tolliday

Most high schoolers spend their time bouncing between school, home and team practices.

But senior Ben Tolliday has chosen to pursue a very different and incredibly rigorous path – IRONMAN training.

IRONMAN triathlons are a series of long-distance triathlon races that take place all over the world. They involve a 2.4 mile swim followed by a 112 mile bike ride and, finally, a full marathon. These races are widely regarded as being some of the most physically grueling and difficult single-day athletic events in the world. The average IRONMAN finishing time is 12 hours and 35 minutes.

As a result of the extreme physical demands of this race, very few people complete IRONMAN triathlons. For most people, the thought of completing a race like this sounds impossible.

But Tolliday hopes to become one of about 75,000 people each year who complete these feats of strength and endurance.

Tolliday first discovered the IRONMAN race by chance about a year ago. “I quit baseball and needed to find something to do because I couldn’t sit around all the time,” said Tolliday. “I

Senior Ben Tolliday begins a grueling 112-mile bike ride, the second of three stages in an IRONMAN. the pros. He is also in the top 1% of all athletes in his age group for the 70.3 mile distance in 2019.

Tolliday has already accomplished a lot, but he has his eyes focused on his next goal, the 2020 World Championships in New Zealand, as well as his ultimate goal – the full distance IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Whatever awaits in the

coming year, Tolliday is certain that he will continue running triathlons for the long term. “Triathlons are something that you can do for the rest of your life,” he said. “In one of my previous races there have been people in their 80s racing. I don’t know if my body will be able to last that long, but as of right now, I plan to keep doing triathlons and IRONMAN distance races until my body says no more.”

Sports

December 13, 2019

The Knightly News - Page 12

Swimming & Diving Dips into New Season Sam Webb

Staff Writer Class of 2021

Photo: Ashford Little

As winter sports get underway, the Pace varsity swimming and diving squad is back in action and has already competed in multiple meets. Coming off a successful 2018-19 season with three individual state championships (Charlie Kaye ‘19 with two and junior Lizzy Kaye with one), many state qualifiers and a solid 25th place finish out of 107 teams, the group is optimistic about this season.

So far, the team has clashed in meets with Landmark Christian, Atlanta International School (AIS), Lovett and Loganville, all of which have been in the Pace natatorium. The girls won all three meets and the boys have won two, only losing to Lovett. Many swimmers throughout all grades have been performing to their potential, and the team achieved 52 personal bests at their Dec. 5 meet versus Pope High School.

Coming into their first high school season, freshman boys

Senior Erin Hood swims a breaststroke race against Paideia and Walker. The Knights have started the season strong..

Carter Freudenstein and Barrett Hight have contributed to the success of relays, as well as competing impeccably as individuals. Freudenstein has already earned a few first place

finishes along with a couple second places as well. His main events are the freestyle events such as the 50 and 100 meters, for which he has state qualifying times, but he also stands out in

the individual medley. Hight also swims the individual medley and in the second meet got a state qualifying time for the 100 meter back. For the girls, freshmen Iowa Vance and Marisa Sapre have accumulated a fair amount of points as well.

The team has 10 returning seniors who are using their veteran skills and leadership to flourish as a cohesive unit. “The team looks promising,” said senior captain Jason Rosenbloum.

“With new incoming freshmen and seniors such as Dillon Carrol, I think we have a great team.

As a team, I hope we break a few relay records for the school.”

Exemplifying teamwork, the seniors still have individual goals for their last year of high school swimming. Senior girls Erin Hood and Meghan McMillin have had a strong start to the season.

Hood has already reached five state qualifying times and broken a record set by Grace Ferry ‘16 (now a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania) in the 100 fly. McMillin has also finished first in many heats this season, specifically the 50 and 100 frees.

Out for the Season: Sports Injuries (Continued from page 11)

Photo: Rodney Schiffer

Sophomore Jude Black secures the pin against his foe from Hampton High School.

Wrestling Pins Competition do something there – pretty good

Jamie Kornheiser for Pace standards.” “We are Managing Editor all just looking forward to the Class of 2021 postseason,” agreed sophomore

Beginning the season after one of varsity wrestling’s most productive offseasons to date, there is a lot of excitement about the future possibilities. “This year’s group has been more motivated in the offseason than just about any team I have had since I’ve been at Pace,” said head coach Gus Whyte. “They are really a group of self-starters who have been driven to get better.” Despite not fulfilling all the weight class requirements, the wrestlers are optimistic as to what the season has to offer.

This year’s team is dominated by 10 sophomores. Sophomore Sam Howe is looking ahead to the end of the season when he hopes that his hard work will pay off. “I am looking forward to the state tournament in February because I think I can

Thomas Wells.

Due to the length of the football season, a lot of the upper weight classes could not be filled for the first matches of the season, likely contributing to their three losses to open the season. However, Coach Whyte is determined to focus on how the team can improve. “Right now the team aspect is having a good team cohesion,” he said. “We want to have a team that people want to be on, that people have a good time on and that everyone gets better on.”

Wrestling is different than many sports in that it is a “combination of an individual sport within a team sport,” said Coach Whyte. ”There are individual goals about how you want to perform, and then there is the team aspect of can we be competitive as a team and can we win dual matches as a team.”

“You can’t bank on some-

body else. If you lose it’s your fault, and if you win it’s all you,” said Howe on the individual aspect. “You can’t blame it on anyone else.”

One of the things Coach Whyte is most excited for is the mutual commitment from all the wrestlers. “We are a smaller team, but the guys that are out there are really working hard,” he said. “I don’t think we are going to be a team where we have one dominant guy. Everyone is making the same strides.”

The team added a new community coach this year named Devin Billings, who was a wrestler in high school and played football in college. “Mr. Stevens and I have coached for the past several years, but now we have another guy to not only wrestle with our guys, but to show technique and to bring his own set of expertise,” said Coach Whyte.

As of press time on Dec. 9, the team is 5-8. The team will compete at the Westminster Duals at Westminster on Dec. 14 beginning at 9 a.m.

Along with the swimmers, the team’s few divers have also had a strong start. So far, sophomore Kate Grabowski has two second place finishes and a first place finish under her belt.

Pace diving legend Lizzy Kaye is coming off a season where she broke the school’s 6 and 11 dive records and won a state title. She has also qualified for the state meet once again.

“Personally, I hope to have another successful season,” said Kaye. “I’ve got a couple new dives I’m trying out this year.”

Kaye went to the USA Junior National Championships as well, and placed eighth in the 3-meter synchronized diving final along with a semifinal finish in both the platform and springboard dives.

“The social aspect of swimming is one of the best parts of the sport,” said Rosenbloum.

“During practice, people who would not usually talk get to know one another, which makes the team into one big group rather than multiple small cliques.”

The team usually goes to dinner after meets as well. “We always try to go out and eat as a team to celebrate,” said Kaye.

the body to recover.

The academy also recommends wearing the right protective gear, strengthening each muscle in the body through conditioning – staying away from singling out specific body parts – and avoiding heat-related illnesses by drinking fluids before, during and after practices and games.

In a 2019 August press conference, former quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck announced that after years of pain and injury, he had decided to stop playing football altogether. “This is not an easy decision,” said the 30-yearold. “Honestly, it’s the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me. For the last four years or so, I’ve been in this cycle of injury, pain, rehab, injury, pain, rehab, and it’s been unceasing, unrelenting, both inseason and offseason, and I felt stuck in it. The only way I see out is to no longer play football.”

Not all athletes have to go to this extreme of quitting their sport entirely, but students should remain aware of how they are feeling and to what extent they are pushing themselves.

In an article from TeensHealth, Dr. Mary L. Gavin, a children’s health specialist at DuPont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, claims that no matter the degree of injury, “if you think you’ve been injured, pull yourself out the game or stop doing your activity or workout. Let a coach or parent know what happened in case you need to see a doctor.”