Volume 46, Issue 2

October 30, 2020

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The

Knightly News

p. 4 Class of 2020 Update

p. 8-9 Election 2020

p. 14 Interview with Joe Russo

#StayStrongSloan

The Atlanta community has rallied around Jordan Sloan, sending him and his family prayers and support. See story on page 2.

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Pace News

October 30, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 2

Curriculum Changes Promote Racial Equity

Following this summer’s protests over racial justice and police violence that have continued into this fall, Pace published its Plan for Racial Equity in order to promote “a diverse, equitable and inclusive learning environment.” One of the components that the plan calls for is an evaluation of the curriculum across all divisions of the school.

Over the summer, English department chair Marsha Durlin and Head of Upper School Michael Gannon changed the summer reading assignment for all high schoolers to “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. “We want to emphasize narratives that are broadly representative of our school community,” said Mr. Gannon. “We shifted our summer reading to try to work toward preparing our children for the world we inhabit.”

In addition to the summer reading change, the English department decided to no longer teach Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” This

decision, however, was made back in April when they were putting together book orders.

“Huck Finn was taught for years as the great American novel with a strong anti-racist message, even in a time where the country was very racist,” said Mrs. Durlin. “But now, it seems to have come to a place where the virtues don’t outweigh the drawbacks.”

This is a similar conversation English teacher Robert Kaufman is having with his 11th grade American Literature class with the novel “The Great Gatsby.”

“Mrs. [Joanne] Brown encouraged all faculty to become antiracist, which is to say we have to speak out when we see, hear or read things that are insensitive to members of our community,” he said. “Fitzgerald does write some really beautiful sentences.

There is a really interesting ethical dilemma that manifests in many great works of art: is the work or art worth it for those beautiful sentences even though it is insensitive to Black and Jewish people? And for me, the answer is no.”

With a subject whose primary purpose is to educate its students about the past, the his-

tory department looks forward to continuing to foster an inclusive environment that strives to teach its students from all perspectives. “We are redoubling on that curriculum of asking questions that really provoke people to live outside of themselves, with other people’s experiences and identities,” said history department chair Tim Hornor.

In Mr. Hornor’s eyes, the way to teaching an anti-racist history curriculum is to be honest. “We have to live with our history, which is not always heroic, and in fact can be awful,” he said. “We have to start by being blunt and not try to work the edges of a topic.”

Teaching an anti-racist curriculum can be a bit more abstract in terms of math and science. Math department chair Heather McCloskey and science department chair John Pearson are working hand in hand in order to ensure that their curriculums encompass all of the perspectives of the Pace community. They have devised a two step process, the first being “trying to see where the implicit bias is in any word problems,” according to Dr. McCloskey.

The second step in this

process is learning a variety of teaching approaches. The science department is observing how women’s colleges or historically Black colleges may differ in the ways they teach their students. “What we are trying to see is if there is something that is different that comes out, and is there a way for us to foster that in our curriculum,” said Dr. Pearson.

The science department is not the only one that is learning from sources beyond Pace. As called for in the Plan for Racial Equity, all departments will have an outside expert review their curriculum with the hopes of attaining Pace’s anti-racist goal.

“We are going to get an external review from an Emory professor so that she can make sure our curriculum meets our aspirations, both in terms of delivery but also in terms of subject matter,” said Mr. Hornor.

Within the world language curriculum, department chair Cappy Lewis believes foreign language is itself a way to promote anti-racist thinking. “Actively learning another language opens your perspective to how people express things differently and have different experiences in

Photo: Jamie Kornheiser

For an English class project on the novel "The Hate U Give" written by Angie Thomas, juniors Jude Black, Thea Chastain, Sam Howe, Morgan Neill and Grant Thompson painted this panel of a mural that honors George Floyd. the world,” she said.

Spanish teacher Paula Pontes along with Upper School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Omar López Thismón inspired conversations regarding identity centered around choosing a Hispanic name while taking a Spanish course.

At Pace, if you took Spanish in middle school, you probably picked a Hispanic name off a list. “There is very little thought given to whatever name you get, and there were even names that were essentially jokes,” said Mr. López Thismón.

“If your name represents your identity, is the idea of giving a person a Hispanic name, in the context of race, like a costume?” said Dra. Pontes.

“If people are struggling with their identity and their names, why are we assigning them new ones?”

At the forefront of these changes is to deliver an antiracist curriculum. “Anti-racist means actively making choices and thinking about ways that, in daily interaction, racism is being identified, called out and worked against,” said Mrs. Durlin.

Community Rallies Around Jordan Sloan

Photo: Fred Assaf

The number 20 has been ever-present on our minds in recent weeks. Since sophomore Jordan Sloan’s injury during the Homecoming game against Westminster on Sept. 25, the community in and around Pace has rallied to support Sloan and his family in any way possible.

On Sept. 27, Pace organized a prayer vigil at Riverview Athletic Complex. Hundreds of students from every grade, along with Pace faculty and parents, attended to show their support for Sloan. The Lovett School hosted a similar event on their campus.

That same day, a GoFundMe page that was created

by Susan Chana and Betsy San Miguel, friends of the Sloan family, went live. Since then, the page has raised over $231,000 in support of his recovery. Over 2000 groups and individual donors have contributed, including the Holy Innocents’ football team; Marist football families; St. Pius X football, cheer, and sports medicine teams and families; and the Westminster cheer and football families.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and former Falcons wide receiver Roddy White both expressed their support for Sloan. “A lot of things happen that are so unpredictable in life and we have to come together to help so let’s help Sloan and his family reach their

goal,” White wrote on Twitter. The University of Miami football program, Sloan’s favorite team, posted an image of him on Instagram with the message, “We Are in this Together.”

The Pace football game against McNair High School on Oct. 1 was the team’s first since Sloan was hospitalized. Before the game, the team received shirts that read “#StayStrongSloan” with his number on the back. The theme for the evening was orange and green, the colors of the University of Miami. During the game, McNair’s principal and athletic director presented Head of School Fred Assaf and Jordan Sloan’s grandmother a framed picture and posters of Sloan.

Before their game on Oct. 2, the Westminster football team took to Instagram to announce they would be sporting “JS20” stickers on their helmets. The Pace football team did this as well, and the varsity softball team followed suit. In addition to the helmet stickers, the softball girls wore bands around their legs with the number 20 for the remainder of their season.

In order to keep Sloan in everyone’s thoughts and prayers, the Student Council handed out buttons with his number on Oct. 5. When junior Edward Blaha broke the school cross country record for the 5K on Oct. 3, he had “JS20” written on his arm. Senior football captain Justin Johnson is now wearing Sloan’s number.

Students, both in and outside of Pace, are supporting Sloan in any way they can, and we all are keeping him in our thoughts and prayers. To donate, the link is https:// www.gofundme.com/f/supportjordansloan.

Senior and team captain Jayden Thomas runs across Walsh Field before the Oct. 1 game vs. McNair High School with a flag that reads “20 #StayStrongSloan.”

Pace News

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 3

Five Minutes with Student Body President things with my friends and classmates.

KN: Were you sad to miss the beginning of the year traditions?

GT: I was definitely sad, but the way I look at it is that Pace is doing the best job possible for us to be here. If it means we can’t do the parade, that sucks, but it’s all in good spirit and all for helping us stay in school.

KN: What are you most nervous for this year?

GT: The common cliché would be to say college. However, I would say that I’m most nervous for baseball. We have a lot of talent, and we definitely have a chance to do very well this year.

I’m not necessarily nervous, but I’m excited for that to start and to hopefully to get a ring on my finger.

KN: Definitely. When you go to college, what’s one thing you’ll look back on and miss the most about Pace?

GT: I think, to me, what makes Pace special is the community – the group of friends and the teachers that I’ve met here, I’ll definitely miss a ton. I love the faculty and my friends and, I love hanging out with them. And I’m really going to miss that in college.

KN: Yeah. OK, so, I have a fun question. If you’re stranded on a desert island with one teacher from Pace, who would it be and why?

GT: So, I’ve got to go with Dr. McCloskey.

KN: OK! Why? GT: Dr. McCloskey is my spirit

Photo: Ashley Myers

Knightly News: Hey Gus! Gus Thomas: Hello there!

KN: How are you doing this year?

GT: I’m doing well. School’s crazy, but we’re hanging in there.

KN: Yeah. So, I know you haven’t participated in Student Council in the past – how’d you decide to run?

GT: Well, I did actually participate in sixth grade Student Council as vice president. I realized there have been multiple times where I had hoped that things would change and I knew a big majority of my grade was also hoping for things to change.

Our former Student Council had not done a ton, and since it was my last year, I wanted to help the people.

KN: Yeah, definitely. Did anyone influence that decision? Any friends or family?

GT: Not necessarily, but I would say that a lot of my friends and family were definitely supportive. However, I kind of came up with the idea by myself, probably six months ago or so.

KN: So, what are your plans?

GT: I have a lot of big plans.

We have a lot of things to do regarding Spirit Week, which is obviously up in the air right now.

Pretty much, I want to basically democratize the process of Spirit

Week so everyone can use their voice, and everyone can participate as much as they want. We also just started our student body email address, which has been successful so far. I’ve got a few more things tucked away that I’m not ready to reveal as well.

KN: Any changes in terms of COVID-19?

GT: Yeah, I mean things are definitely different. We’re trying to work normally, but a lot of our fundraisers have gotten shut down, which is hard, especially for the younger grades. Therefore, we’re working on alternatives right now.

KN: How are you preparing for Spirit Week with COVID-19?

GT: We’re kind of putting Spirit Week on hold right now. Nothing’s been made official. We’re sort of just waiting to see how things play out and not making any big movements one way or another.

KN: Got it. How does it feel to be a senior?

GT: I love being a senior. It’s definitely really cool to be the oldest people on campus. It’s cliché, but I’ve waited for three years to get to this point, so it’s super exciting. I like it a lot and I’m going to be sad when I have to leave next year.

KN: What are you most excited for this senior year?

GT: I would say that I’m excited for the end of the year. There are a lot of Pace traditions such as Assassin and GAP day that really revolve around the seniors, and I want to experience those

Student Body President Gus Thomas celebrates his victory in front of the Pace castle. animal. First of all, she’s a genius. She doesn’t get the credit she deserves from the student body, but she’s a Princeton grad with a Georgia Tech doctorate.

She taught Dr. Walter. She’s done it all! So I feel like her intuition will help us out on the island. She’s also raised two kids, so I feel like her ability to care for people is on a next level.

And for that reason, I would choose Dr. McCloskey.

KN: What advice would you give to freshmen as they begin

their time here?

GT: I’d say, embrace it. You know, it seems like a lot longer than it really is. But I feel like it was yesterday when I was meeting Mrs. Wilhelmsen for the first time or walking into my freshman year physics class. So I would just say embrace it, enjoy the little things and have fun with it.

KN: Any last words? Anything you’d like to say?

GT: I’m excited for a great year, COVID and all.

Jewish Affinity Group Hosts Shabbat Dinners

Photo: Mindy Shoulberg

For their first major event of the year, the Jewish affinity group hosted community Shabbat dinners for members of the cohort. Facilitated by English teacher Robert Kaufman, the affinity group was formed last year. Seniors Casey Shoulberg and Madison Martin spearheaded the operation and succeeded in getting many other Jewish people to join. The group includes around 75 members from all four grades.

For Jewish people, the Sabbath begins each Friday night at nightfall and lasts until Saturday at sunset, and is often referred to by the Hebrew word Shabbat.

Jewish people celebrate Shabbat in different ways, but it typically includes rest, traditional meals and candle lightings.

The beginning of the Sabbath is often marked by a Shabbat dinner on Friday evening. Dinners consist of customary foods like challah, wine, meat, soup and dessert. Observing Shabbat calls for the refrain from vigorous work and stressful thoughts.

It also allows the opportunity to strengthen community-wide and familial bonds.

Class of 2021 Jewish students gathered at the Shoulberg family’s house for Shabbat dinner and celebration on Oct. 23.

On Oct. 23, the Shabbat that the affinity group organized took place at four houses, one for each grade. The Lubins, Jankos, Leusinks and Shoulbergs hosted the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors respectively.

The night started off with some small talk. “It is important for the students to relax and have fun,” said Mr. Kaufman. “They do not always have to talk about their AP U.S. History exam.”

Next, there were many blessings

involving the candles, challah bread and grape juice (taking the place of wine). Eventually, the dinner commenced, which consisted of a few traditional Jewish foods, but mostly Americanized Jewish food such as beef brisket, potatoes and babka.

“I really enjoyed when we made s’mores at Shabbat after playing Jewish jeopardy,” said junior Marissa Goodman. “It ws really nice to bond with my Jewish classmates outside of

school.” Senior Eli Mautner enjoyed “coming together to share blessings and stories as a Jewish community.”

Aside from the Shabbat, the Jewish affinity group holds morning meetings sporadically that address different themes.

Themes include the state of Israel, anti-semitism and various other issues facing the Jewish community today. “There is a good diversity of thought within the group,” said senior Marc

Rosenthal. “A good part of Judaism is the amount of questioning and thought that goes into our beliefs and faith.”

In the future, the Jewish affinity group plans to do a lot more within the community than in previous years. Although COVID-19 poses unique challenges, the leaders of the group aim to engage in community service, mentorships with Jewish middle school students and field trips to various locations.

October 30, 2020

Pace News

The Knightly News - Page 4

‘Oh, the Places They’ll Go’

College for the Class of 2020 is anything but normal. While many students live on campus, some have stayed in Atlanta, taken a gap year or are traveling.

Last spring, the Class of 2020 faced an unforeseen obstacle having to complete their senior year on laptops. As Pace Academy, along with schools across the country, closed its doors in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation, prom and other senior traditions were cancelled or postponed, too. The Class of 2020 was finally able to come together on Aug. 1 for a graduation ceremony at Pace’s Walsh field, and soon after, many students headed off to college around the country. However, due to safety concerns, university life has looked extremely different these past few months, with many Pace graduates unable to even attend classes on campus. After a year unlike any other, this class has persevered, with students making the most of their individual college experiences, through living in single rooms in university dorms, logging into school from their bedrooms in Atlanta or even taking a gap year to explore job opportunities and traveling.

Klara Andra-Thomas – Stanford University

As Stanford University was unable to invite first-years and sophomores to campus for the autumn quarter, Klara Andra-Thomas decided to defer for the year. Now studying at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, Andra-Thomas is is excited to learn more about her Czech heritage, visiting her dad’s side of the family. What’s next for Andra-Thomas is unknown, but she plans to either continue classes at Charles, find a job or travel to a new region of the world.

Zoie Frier – Harvard College

Cambridge is looking a little different lately with just freshmen on Harvard College’s campus. For Zoie Frier that means a quieter campus, but also an easy way to meet fellow first-years. Students are even tested three times a week for COVID-19, so as to prevent massive outbreaks. “We can only hang out with people outside so I have spent a lot of time out by the Charles River or at courtyard parties,” said Frier.

India Behl – Princeton University

On Aug. 7, Princeton announced that its undergraduate program would be fully remote for the fall semester, as it could not provide an on-campus experience for students that would be in line with public health concerns and state regulations and guidance. India Behl, along with Paul-Louis Biondi, a fellow Princeton Tiger and member of the Pace Class of 2020, traversed to Park City, Utah for a week. (Both are pictured, left.) There, they hunkered down and started online orientation together. “We had maybe three hours of school those days, so the rest of the time, we could go out to hike and golf,” said Behl. Now back in Georgia and logging into classes from home, Behl has spent time with Matthew Quintana, fellow Pace 2020 graduate and University of Southern California freshman who is taking classes from home, while also testing out different Georgia-related activities, like picking apples and visiting corn mazes.

Mbiti Williams – United States Naval Academy

While at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, Mbiti Williams (center) has felt the onset of a busy schedule of grueling football practices and constant studying. In regards to COVID-19, according to Williams, he and his classmates have been in a bubble. “We haven’t been able to go off base at all but later this month they are planning to let us go off base,” said Williams. “We do have free weekends but again we are still constricted when it comes to where we can go.”

Mary Lawson Bring – Tulane University

Photos: All photos were contributed by the individuals featured in this story.

Although Tulane University has students on campus in New Orleans, currently, Mary Lawson Bring is studying at Universidad Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona for the fall through a Tulane University program specifically for architecture students. “There are three other freshmen from Tulane who are here with me, and then we will go to Tulane this upcoming spring,” said Bring. “Some weekends we have traveled to Tarragona, Madrid, and this upcoming weekend we are going to Girona in order to study the architecture in each city. I’m so thankful that I am able to be in Barcelona and that classes are in person. I had to get a visa which was a long process, but it is definitely worth it.”

Insha Merchant – Wellesley College

Just outside of Boston at Wellesley College, freshmen and sophomores are on campus, getting acclimated to a strange year of college. For Insha Merchant (center), who is living at Wellesley right now, that means making the most of the fall semester, meeting new friends and diving into her four classes for the two-term semester. With COVID-19 restrictions like only being able to eat with blockmates, Insha has formed a close inner circle, just like many other young women at Wellesley.

Aman Hashim – University of California, Los Angeles

The University of California, Los Angeles canceled housing on Aug. 21, so Aman Hashim has been taking classes online from his home in Chamblee, Georgia while working at a daycare center, going to the gym and learning to cook his own meals. Classes began on Oct. 1 and as many of Hashim’s friends are off at college, he hopes to stay motivated in his school work, while also feeling excited for Thanksgiving and winter breaks when he can hang out with his fellow Class of 2020 buddies.

Andrew Neville – Northwestern University

On Aug. 30, Northwestern University made the decision to hold off allowing first and second year students to come to campus. For Andrew Neville, who is continuing with his college classes online, that means staying in Atlanta at least through January. “If there’s one silver lining I’d take away from being fully remote, it is that it is sort of nice being able to adjust to the academic rigor of college without the social stress,” said Neville. In his free time, Neville is still working with KnightFlix, Pace’s student-run sports broadcasting service, as he hopes to pursue a career in this field. “It is nice to get as much on air commentating opportunities as I can, but if you had told me last September that I’d be calling Pace games in October of 2020, I would have said you were crazy,” said Neville.

(Continued on page 14)

Pace News

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 5

Isdell Center for Global Leadership How Students Today Are Shaping Tomorrow

Community Engagement Board

Photo: Darren Rosing, Globe artwork: Geography Teacher on Pixabayay

The Community Engagement (CE) Board is a select group of seniors who share a common passion for engaging with the community. It is composed of seniors Sloan Baker, Jack Brown, Lily Koch, Eli Mautner, Kate Mallard and Laura Romig.

They meet every Thursday morning with faculty advisor and ICGL Associate Director Ted Ward to discuss new events, planned happenings and upcoming dates. They are responsible for establishing grade-level community engagement days and actual partnerships with several of Atlanta’s non-profits. Some of these include Meals on Wheels, the Zaban Paradies Couples Shelter and the Atlanta Beltline.

The annual Ninth Grade Community Engagement Day was Oct. 14. At an assembly that morning, the CE Board members introduced themselves to the freshmen on a Zoom call, outlined several of Pace’s partnered organizations, and explained briefly why community engagement is so important to them.

“Community Engagement has allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills and connect with members of both the Pace and Greater Atlanta communities that I otherwise wouldn’t have known,” said Baker. During summer 2020, Baker organized a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels, where several Pace seniors raised over $14,000 for the non-profit.

Isdell Global Leaders

(L-R): Seniors Jack Brown, Lily Koch, Kate Mallard, Eli Mautner, Laura Romig and Sloan Baker serve on the Community Engagement Board of the ICGL.

ICGL Student Council

ICGL’s Visit to Grace Village On Oct. 3, several Upper School students on the ICGL Student Council traveled to the Grace Village Eye Clinic to assist the medical professionals working there. Dr. Krishna Mukkamala, a member of Pace’s ICGL Advisory Board, started this non-profit to support global health initiatives within refugee communities.

The students were separated into different stations so they could better facilitate the medical staff in their eye examinations. They also supported the project by welcoming in patients and helping them choose glasses. All the while, the students deepened their understanding of global health by talking to the Pace parent volunteers who worked in ocular medicine.

Members of the ICGL Council have engaged in several unique and exclusive opportunities to learn. In early September, council members spoke with Rebecca Baggett, who has a Masters in Public Health and is the Director of Student Programs at Emory University. “We investigated the Atlanta community with regards to discrepancies in healthcare and discussed Emory’s opportunities to get involved with service,” said senior Olivia Ullman.

On Oct. 5, the ICGL Council members attended a private Zoom conversation with visiting scholar Dr. Richard Zane, the Chief Innovation Officer at UCHealth in Colorado and the co-founder of the UCHealth CARE Innovation Center. “It was cool to dive deeper into our research through a private, elevated conversation with such an educated leader in the global health field,” said senior Tommy Assaf.

Photo: Trish Anderson

Photo: Ted Ward The ICGL Council opened a hand-sanitizer production booth to promote healthy habits during break in the Gardens..

While many Pace students spent Fall Break relaxing at the beach or diving into pools, the four ICGL Leaders, seniors Madison Martin and Evan Elster and juniors Jordan White and Pranavh Pradeep, dove deeper into their study of global health through a series of field research study meetings with professionals.

Two of these include Christian Beauvoir and Corbie Sandoe, MPH. Beauvoir is a Health Equity Fellow at the Greenlining Institute, a public policy, research and advocacy nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California. Sandoe is a Physicians Assistant at CHOA and a Public Health Consultant in Madagascar.

The ICGL Leaders’ collective interactions with professionals from a wide array of disciplines reinforced how interdisciplinary and collaborative the field of global health truly is.

The Leaders will spend the rest of the year considering medical differences among varying communities.

“We’re excited to begin to build upon our scientific study of global health with an examination of the social determinants of health outcomes,” said faculty advisor Ted Ward. “My hope for these scholars is that they can tackle inequities within the global health sector and explore innovative solutions that are being implemented around the world.”

(L-R): Allie Campbell, Amalia Haviv, Olivia Ullman, Jay Foster and Ovie Nirgudkar, along with Ms. Anderson’s son Oliver, volunteer at Grace Village Eye Clinic.

Pace News

October 30, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 6

Pace Hosts Virtual Model UN Conference Photo: Mary Amelia Weiss

In order to enhance the Model UN (MUN) program at Pace, where students learn skills including how to research, make presentations and problem-solve, the MUN Student Executive Board along with faculty advisor Helen Smith decided to host the school’s first Pace-only model this year. The Student Executive Board is comprised of seniors Isabel Battista and Michael Fu, and juniors Kargil Behl, Leah Favero and Ryan Varma.

Clockwise from top left: Sophomores Eloise Gaudet, Jack Wagreich and Haley Hirokawa and freshman Pace’s very own virtual David Fu discuss preventing the next pandemic.

MUN conference, known as dents participated in meetings is a member of the PACEMUN ensuring that the logistics of the PACEMUN I, was held on Oct. with Ms. Smith every Sunday Executive Board. model were running smoothly 17. The committees present were until Oct. 17 to prepare for the In years past, Pace students and handling any technology the World Health Organization conference and to learn how have attended various models problems.

(WHO) with 15 participating to research and write position in person, including those at Junior Rebecca Kann of the delegates and the UN Refugee papers.

WHO commitGeorgia State University, George Agency (UNJunior Rebecca Kann Howell said that the planning tee and senior Washington University (WAHCR) with 11 process was similar to previous Claire Howell MUNC) and Tufts. However, delegates. The of the WHO committee years, except that meetings took of the UNHCR due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two commitand senior Claire Howell place over Zoom. She added that committee physical Model UN confertees focused on of the UNHCR committee ences were canceled this year for her favorite parts of Model UN, were awarded preventing the were awarded best position safety reasons. Many will still be learning about current events best position next pandemic paper in their respective and developing fundamental held virtually. paper in their and the Veneskills she wouldn’t otherwise “I think even if we weren’t respective zuelan refugee committees. learn, were definitely still presvirtual we would have done our committees. crisis, respecent throughout the process. own model because we want tively. Battista and Favero served The best delegate awards went “I feel like the virtual structo do a better job of training to senior Laura Romig of WHO as the UNHCR chairs and Behl ture has made it more difficult people to take part in models... and freshman Henry Gaudet of was the chair for WHO commitbecause it was harder to ask we’d never done one, so learntee, aided by science teacher and UNHCR. Varma was also an questions, but it made it easier to ing how to do it seemed really MUN advisor Kaylan Haizlip. outstanding delegate but could Fu acted as Secretary-General, not receive his award because he important,” said Ms. Smith. Stu- set up meetings,” said first-time

Model UN participant Gaudet in reference to the virtual meetings.

“I had to manage my research more individually since we couldn’t meet in person.”

The conference used software called Gatherly for delegates to communicate and discuss their topics. “Think of Gatherly as Zoom with the ability to create your own breakout rooms,” said Fu. “It allows delegates to make blocs during unmoderated caucuses on their own.”

Fu also commented on how the Executive Board put in a lot of time for preparation and planning, as it was not only a virtual model but Pace’s first time hosting a model ever. “Our organizing team was in constant communication throughout the week,” he said.

“I like working and sitting down with students to help them with their research and writing,” said Ms. Smith. “I love traveling and seeing everyone work together after the model, which we are not able to do virtually... I miss that daily interaction.”

Although Ms. Smith continues to direct the MUN program at Pace, she is not working at school physically this year due to the pandemic. She lamented that she was no longer able to “hunt people down” at break to work with them like she has been known to do in years past.

Pace Theatre’s “As You Like It” Coming Soon

Photo: Sean Bryan

Although the upper school student actors social distance and wear masks at school, many had concerns at the start of the year about how performances could be pulled off safely.

But Performing Arts Department Chair Sean Bryan has developed a plan to produce William Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It” to the Pace community in November, date to be determined. “We have really been working on the fundamentals of acting Shakespeare, which is very different from just reading it in English class,” said Mr. Bryan. When acting, you have to focus on the individual characters.”

Mr. Bryan said that the production is being filmed by Pace alumnus Andrew Riley ‘10. He has been following the socially distanced and unmasked actors around the Pace campus from scene to scene. “There will be no stops when filming because I want it to be less like a movie and capture the essence of a live theatre production, similar to ‘Hairspray Live on TV,’ said Mr. Bryan.

“I think this show is helping me to read and think about

the lines rather than an action to go with it, and my only critique is that some shots are a bit too long and played out as if it’s on a stage,” said freshman Jackson Allegra. Allegra is just one of many cast members who are working to produce a high energy and comedic show.

“I think being able to take multiple takes of one scene will be helpful for the cast, instead of just having one try in a live show,” said senior Audrey Holton. This approach will leave seniors with a special send off to end their Pace theatre career, as the new technique of filming and acting is a new experience for the veteran actors.

Mr. Bryan loves live theatre, and filming a live performance was something he wanted to try whether or not COVID-19 was a factor. At the same time, he is disappointed by the inability of the audience to see the last scene, a wedding, in person.

He said that it provides greater comedic impact when performed live and face to face.

The film of the show will be presented in the Pace Fine Arts Center (FAC) to masked parents, students and faculty once editing of the film is completed. “We would prefer for the audience to see the show live, rather than watching it on their computers, so that the actors and the audience can experience the show

The actors of “As You Like It” pose as they take a look at their outdoor set. together,” said Mr. Bryan.

Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” first written in 1599 and first performed in 1600, is set in France. It begins in the French court and moves toward the Forest of Arden. The story captures the adventures and love stories of the Duke’s two daughters, Celia and Rosalind. Some of the main characters include Rosalind, played by senior Alivia Wynn, Orlando, played by senior Jack Carson, and Olivier, played by senior Denzel Welsh.

“The main reason why I selected this play was because of the personalities and large number of characters,” said Mr. Bryan. “The woods location is also incorporated at the top of Pace mountain. The location really works for the concept of the play.”

“It is interesting to film such a complex show around the campus like the tennis courts and castle,” said sophomore Jack Schmitt. “It shows a cool contrast between modern and

historical times.” Schmitt’s interest stems from his love for old productions that are then altered with a modern twist.

The actors are mic’d, due to social distancing, but Mr. Bryan says the choice of Shakespeare was also influenced by COVID-19. The immense number of narratives, while less interactive with characters, perfectly fits within the constraints of social distancing.

Pace News

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 7

COVID-19 Affects College Process Photo: Sloane Wagreich

While COVID-19 has certainly changed the way everyone is going about their day-to-day lives, it has had a prominent impact on the college process for the class of 2021. Due to the virus, many students have not had the opportunity to take standardized tests, and schools across the country went pass/fail for their classes at the end of this past spring semester.

Families around the world have experienced financial crises, losing jobs and months’ worth of income. According to CNBC, student loan balances are expected to rise in the coming years, and 56% of students reported that they will need to apply for some form of financial aid. To make matters worse, around 40% of parents have had to pull money from their children’s college savings in order to compensate for lost income during the pandemic.

One drastic change in the process has been the shift to testoptional and test-flexible policies. Almost all of the colleges and universities in the U.S. have switched their testing policies

for students applying for the fall 2021 semester as they recognize that testing companies have canceled their tests, including the SAT and ACT. “It’s so frustrating because my test got canceled in April, June and July, and I had limited chances to improve my score,” said senior Mary Paige Pope.

Schools such as Harvard, University of North Carolina and Tulane are waiving the requirement for standardized testing, claiming that it will not harm students’ chances of admission if they don’t submit test scores.

A Knightly News poll of Pace seniors indicated that almost 36% of respondents are taking advantage of these policies and choosing not to submit their standardized test scores.

Pace college counselors are prepared to address this change.

“I would say one of the major changes in this process has been standardized testing,” said Director of College Counseling Jonathan Ferrell. “This is certainly one of the places that we’re having to have different conversations with students and families – around submitting tests or not.”

Due to the pandemic, many students have reevaluated where they are looking as well. According to ABCNews, a student who

(L - R) College counselor Ben Wescott examines Scoir with senior Lily Koch during her free period. had her heart set on attending the University of Southern California immediately crossed all West Coast and Midwest schools off of her list due to fears of contracting the virus and being too far from home. In the Knightly News poll of Pace seniors, 61.3% of respondents expressed interest in staying in the South, and the same percent of students showed interest in schools in the Northeast.

Pace students are more hesitant about applying early decision to schools this coming year. Early decision is a binding agreement, meaning that if you get in, you are required to attend said school. Students

have claimed that since many of their college visits have been canceled, they don’t feel comfortable committing anywhere so early in the process.

“Due to the fact that many of my college tours were canceled this spring, I had to eliminate some schools off of my list because I know nothing about them,” said senior Jack Brown.

“The virtual tours are helpful, but not the same as visiting the actual campus.”

Pace college counselors are working to make this process run as smoothly as possible, knowing how stressful it is layered on top of these unprecedented times. They have

recognized the cancellations of in-person college visits, taking time to speak with students about what the best approach may be.

“There are deadlines particularly coming up soon which are November, or early decision, deadlines,” said Mr. Ferrell. “It’s very difficult for our students to wrap their mind around committing that deeply to a school that they may not have seen. We are having lots of conversations around whether early decision is the best tool or strategy for [students] to use or might we adjust that strategy based on where they have or have not been able to visit.”

tours of campus. “The perspective and what they are sharing is the same, but the format and the platform is all different,” said Mr. McCallum. Instead of hosting traditional tours or oncampus admissions events, there is a new 360˚ software that gives prospective families a panoramic view of different areas within the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School, as well as other spaces where upper school students spend their time.

“What’s missing is [the ambassadors] sharing [their] experiences,” continued Mr. McCallum. “One challenge that we didn’t anticipate was that since our tours and shadow visits were during the school day, it’s harder to get students onto virtual tours during the day,” said Mrs. McGurn. Ambassadors still participate in greeting sessions with families, only this year, they are held virtually and directly after the virtual tour. This gives families and students more to discuss and more questions to ask.

The largest admissions event of the year, the open house, is also facing changes this year.

While there is not yet a formal plan for what will replace the event, it may have a positive outcome for families who would typically be unable to attend.

“On open house day, there’s so much good information shared and connections made, but if you can’t attend, then you miss some of that,” said Mrs. McGurn. “If we can capture some of that in video, it’s not just the families that attend this open

house session, but hundreds of others that end up viewing that.”

While many of these changes are temporary and wouldn’t take place in a typical year, there are also some portions of the admissions process that were rolled out because of COVID-19 that are here to stay. “Recently, we publicly rolled out PeerPal, which allows alumni and parents to connect with prospective families,” said Mr. McCallum. On the admissions webpage, prospective families can now connect with members of the Pace community who they would not typically see on campus to get a better understanding of what it means to be a part of the Pace family.

In addition, prospective students can now connect with ambassadors through meet and greet sessions, where students applying to Pace can Zoom with current students in a more relaxed setting without parents.

“Whatever we can do to get [ambassadors] in front of everyone is so important for our process,” said Mr. McCallum.

There are many other aspects of this year’s process that are new, from the formation of a more organized parent ambassador program, to how administrations of the SSAT are adapting from their usual format, all of which will make for a memorable year in admissions. “We still hope to enroll our target as the same group of highly involved, highly motivated students,” said Mrs. McGurn. “Our end goal is the same, but our process just looks a little different this year.”

Admissions Adapts to COVID-19 Restrictions

Photo: Isabel Battista

In a year when so much focus has been placed on how the college admissions process has changed due to COVID-19, an area that hasn’t been covered as much is how the admissions processes at independent schools have adapted because of the ongoing pandemic. In the Pace admissions office, the pandemic has brought about many changes in how prospective students apply to join the Pace community, as well as how upper school admissions ambassadors can interact with prospective students and their families.

As of now, visitors are not allowed on the Pace campus through Nov. 12, although this date is subject to change.

Because of this, the Pace admissions process has been moved online, with prospective applicants and their families spending the entire admissions cycle touring, interviewing, and learning about our school through a new, online format.

In addition, events such as shadow visits will not take place as they typically would. However, the challenges that COVID-19 presents have not stopped the admissions office from adapting to the circumstances and innovating new ways to connect with future Pace students.

For starters, the selection process for new admissions

Mr. McCallum (top left) and a group of student ambassadors discuss feedback after the first session of virtual meet and greets with prospective students. ambassadors was different than ever before. Instead of applying and then interviewing with one of the members of the admissions team for a spot in the program, students sent in videos of themselves talking about what they do, why they love Pace, and how they can share that love with prospective families.

“That’s how they’ll be engaging with families this year, and they were awesome,” said Director of Upper School Admissions Mac McCallum. “The strength of the applications was just stunning and the depth was great.

With so many seniors this year, we knew we were going to need a lot of freshmen, and this was

one of the stronger groups that we have had.”

The change in this process also benefited the admissions office, as more members of the team could get to know new ambassadors through the program.

“Interviewing kids is always a highlight, to hear what they love about the school,” said Director of Admissions Jen McGurn.

“The videos brought it to life and allowed us all to hear what we love. We even thought about repurposing the videos and using them later.”

Another aspect of the admissions process in which ambassadors play a major role is greeting families and giving

Election 2020

October 30, 2020

The Knightly News - Page 8

THE 2020 ELEC

Healthcare

Expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by lowering the eligibility age from 65 to 60.

Create a public health insurance plan similar to Medicare, open to all Americans.

Provide a tax credit for middle class families to help with paying for insurance coverage.

Foreign Policy

Maintain and repair international alliances. Replace tariffs on China along with an international coalition.

COVID-19

Create a nationwide contact-tracing program with at least 10 free testing centers in each state and establish a nationwide mask mandate.

Race and Police

WHO DO YOU

Sees racism as a systemic problem in law enforcement. Not in favor of defunding the police, but wants additional resources to be tied to maintaining proper standards of policing.

Economy

JOE BIDEN 82.4% STUDENTS

Raise taxes for only those earning over $400,000 a year in order to pay for public services. Raise the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour. Extend crisis unemployment insurance for those who are out of work during the pandemic.

Provide financial assistance to “Main Street” businesses and entrepreneurs.

Climate

Rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and set a goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Invest $2 trillion in renewable energy sources.

Gun Control

Ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, implement universal background checks and limit monthly gun purchases. Buy back assault weapons and high capacity magazines already in communities. End the online sale of firearms and ammunition. Fund research into gun violence prevention.

OF PACE

119 upper school students responded to a Knightly News poll on the upcoming election. The question posed here: Who would they vote for for president?

VOTER SUPPRESSION QUESTIONS

Reproductive Rights

LEFT Work to pass a federal law to protect a woman’s right to abortion that would remain in force even in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court.

Restore funding to Planned Parenthood.

Jermiah

al

senth Marc Ro

“I have a lot of p roblems with Joe Bid en...

However, I would pick a moderate any day over a fascist lead er who denies basic human rights to immigrants, associat es with white supre macists and engages in the spread of ha rmful rhetoric.”

Polk

“Neither T rump nor Biden hav e interests that matte r to me or the qua lities of a candidate I’d vote fo r.

I’d also say that I think some peo ple invest too much headspace in politics [t extent] tha o the t they lose their sense of empathy for oth ers.”

With the election only four days away, anxiety around voting ticularly in Georgia. The state has a long history of voter suppression pro

Between 2012 and 2018, county election officials in Georgia cl ing to the AJC. The AJC also reported that 53 out of 159 counties had few those counties – 30 – had “significant African-American populations.”

Minority communities were particularly hard hit in 2018. Acco Voters Matter, complained that “Georgia’s elections were a HOT MESS! La predominantly Black community in South Fulton County, which had the s Black areas had extremely long voting lines, with some wait times even

A 2019 research study sought to quantify racial disparity in wa data. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Californ of Chicago, found that voters from all-Black neighborhoods waited 29% at the University of Pennsylvania in 2017 determined that nonwhite vote wait in line more than an hour.

Many accusations of the suppression of the Black vote in 2018 and refused to give up his seat while running for governor. NPR reported istrations in Georgia. Of the 53,000, 80% were people of color, fueling c in Georgia from voting. Because Georgia has such a large Black populati have disastrous implications.

According to the Washington Post, Kemp beat Abrams by 1.4% the accusation that the Democratic Party of Georgia attempted to hack th Homeland Security to investigate. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation re unfounded accusation cast further suspicion on Kemp’s eventual win.

The 2020 primary was much of the same. According to The Co waited four, five, and even seven hours to cast their ballots. Police even million and a half Georgians requested absentee ballots, but many neve

But, this is all in the past, so how is this potentially affecting t

As early voting began in Georgia on Oct. 12, the issue of voter majority non-white neighborhoods have seen an increase in line length, able polling places. Metro Atlanta, which is majority Black, has nearly ha places. Problems with voting machines and the state’s slow voter check-in Union City, it took five hours for some voters to even enter the building. she had to cast a provisional ballot.

Many believe that the difficulty of voting in majority Black com For more, see Jayla Wideman’s full story on The Knightly News website,

Election 2020

Vol. 46, Issue #2

0 CTION

The Knightly News - Page 9

Healthcare

Repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would eliminate protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Replace the ACA with a new plan that has yet to be detailed. Lowered the cost of prescription drugs. Repealed the individual mandate for healthcare.

Foreign Policy

Decrease the number of troops stationed overseas while continuing to fund the military.

Continue placing tariffs on China and challenge the US’ international alliances.

COVID-19

Fund the production of a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment with $10 billion. Focus on re-opening the country’s economy safely. Hold China “fully accountable” for the spread of the virus.

Race and Police

U SUPPORT?

Maintains that law enforcement does not have a systemic issue with racism and positions himself as a staunch supporter of law enforcement. Opposes the use of chokeholds.

OTHER Economy 7.5% STUDENTS Climate DONALD TRUMP 10.1% STUDENTS OF PACE

States that he will create over 10 million jobs in just 10 months. Institute more income tax cuts.

Encourage companies to hire U.S. workers.

OF PACE

Skeptical about the reality of climate change, withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord. Has reversed 72 Obama-era regulations that protected the environment and wildlife, and is reversing 27 more. Has opened up more federal land for oil and gas leasing and removed protections for U.S. wetlands.

Gun Control

LINGER HEADING INTO NOV. 3

is at its highest. Many worry for the validity of the election, paroblems, and made headlines in 2018 around voter suppression. losed 214 polling places, amounting to an 8% reduction, accordwer precincts in 2018 than they did in 2012, and the majority of

ording to The Nation, LaTosha Brown, the cofounder of Black ast voter walked out at 12:37 a.m. in Union City.” Union City is a same issues during this year’s primary elections in June. Mainly extending to five hours. ait times at polling places in the United States using smartphone nia, Los Angeles, Carnegie Mellon University and the University longer to vote. Another study conducted by Stephen Pettigrew ers in the U.S. were seven times more likely than white voters to

8 revolved around Kemp, who held the role of Secretary of State d that the Secretary of State’s office blocked 53,000 voter regclaims that Kemp was purposefully trying to keep Black people ion that tends to vote Democratic, its vote being excluded could

%, or 55,000 votes. Just two days before election day, Kemp made he state’s online voter registration and My Voter Page, asking evealed that there had been no hacking attempt at all, and the

onversation, hundreds of voters, many in majority Black areas, attempted to send some of them home without having voted. A er received them. the presidential election? r suppression has resurfaced. ProPublica reports that many in due to an increase in registered voters and a decrease in availalf of the state’s active voters but only 38% of the state’s polling n database further exacerbated problems with wait times. In One claimed that by the time she did, the polls had closed, and

mmunities could have major repercussions on the Nov. 3 election. www.knightlife.paceacademy.org/knightly.news.

Protect Americans’ rights under the Second Amendment to bear arms. Proposed tightening background checks, but no action has been taken by the White House. Make oncealed weapons permits valid in every state.

Reproductive Rights

Overturn Roe v. Wade, removing federal protections over abortion. Install conservative Supreme Court justices to do so. Defunded Planned Parenthood and blocked federal funding for any reproductive health providers that provide abortions or make referrals to abortion providers.

RIGHT on

homps Grant T

r Cavinde Hayley

“I think that what is most important this election is not which candidate wins, but how we react as a country. I believe strongly in refraining from hate speech towards any person or party and also allowing others to have their own beliefs. “

“I think the electi on will be closer than most people thin k.

Many potential Trump voters are scared of the consequences of asso ciating themselv es with his sometim es erratic behavior.”

October 30, 2020

Opinion

The Knightly News - Page 10

Now Is No Time to Replace RBG Sept. 18 started out as another ordinary day but ended with the tragic news that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) had passed away at the age of 87. RBG was the second woman in history to serve on the Supreme Court, following in the footsteps of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

RBG dedicated her life to breaking down gender barriers and ridding the country of gender-based stereotyping. Her dying wish was not to be replaced until after the 2020 election. This wish must be respected and honored.

On Feb. 13, 2016, almost nine months before the presidential election, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away. President Obama nominated Justice Merrick Garland to replace Scalia on March 16 of that year. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell insisted on waiting until after the election, almost eight months away, to consider Scalia’s replacement, claiming that this action was “justified by history.”

The Republican majority in the Senate refused to even hold hearings following Garland’s nomination. After President Donald Trump was elected, he nominated Neil Gorsuch to replace Scalia on the Supreme Court.

Now, with RBG dying less than two months be-

fore the election, Republicans are insistent on pushing through a Supreme Court nominee to replace her as fast as they can. Not even two weeks after RBG’s passing, Trump nominated federal judge and Notre Dame law professor Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

News outlets have widely reported that Barrett is connected to People of Praise, a conservative Christian group that believes in “prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healings,” according to The New York Times.

The group subjugates women and advocates for a patriarchal society. According to Rolling Stone, a married woman in People of Praise is “expected always to reflect the fact that she is under her husband’s authority.”

Barrett is President Trump’s third nominee to the court. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced her nomination to the full Senate, despite Democrats boycotting the vote with cardboard cutouts in their seats. If she is confirmed by the Senate Republicans, conservatives will have a six-justice majority on the nine-justice court.

Roe v. Wade, which Barrett has criticized in the past, Marriage Equality and the Affordable Care Act could all be in jeopardy with a court skewing so far to the right.

Ginsburg’s passing should be honored at this time, especially considering the close proximity of the 2020 election. RBG dedicated her life to ensuring that women – and other marginalized groups – had equal rights and opportunities in society. After all she has done for our country, it is only fair that her dying wish be granted. We applaud her legacy and must not let her work be undone.

Why Pace Won’t Exist in 10 Years: Climate Change!

Set your watches everyone. Seven years is all the time you have left before climate change becomes irreversible. Seven years before famine, drought, floods and suffering. Climate change has remained a pressing issue for years, yet our response to its rapid developments have continued to remain sluggish. We have already seen the effects of climate change in states like California, Florida and Louisiana, where wildfires and hurricanes continue to ravage these states at unprecedented levels.

And that’s in the United States alone. If we look at climate change on a global level, we welcome a whole new set of challenges. However, despite the numerous lives that are being lost as a result of extreme weather events, local and national authorities have failed to act sufficiently. Climate change isn’t getting any better, and neither is our response.

Climate change in the United States has been a leading topic of discussion in recent times, and it is even becoming a platform issue for the parties to run on. With the recent increase in severe wildfires in California and the back to back hurricanes along the Southeast coast, the United States seems to finally have felt the shock of climate change. It’s a shock that has led to the rise of climate activists in the government, such as Governor Gavin Newsom of California.

Newsom, a strong fighter for climate change reforms, has been working hard to advance new state regulations to decrease the rate of climate change. On Sept. 23, he announced that sales of all new passenger vehicles in the state of California must be zero-emission by 2035. “This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” said Governor Newsom when announcing his Sept. 23 executive order. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and

families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse – and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has also been advocating heavily for climate change reform. He passed the Super Pollutants Act, a bill that regulates the federal government’s emissions of certain pollutants.

However, despite these efforts, many climate activists suggest that such solutions are too few in number. They have pointed out that climate change is a global issue, and while state legislation to help reform climate change is highly appreciated, the United States must also be focusing on solving the issue on an international scale.

Since President Trump dropped out of the Paris Climate Agreement and is not focusing on climate change as a major issue, activists worry about the future direction that the United States will take in regards to protecting the planet. Most recently, neither presidential candidate has agreed to adopt the Green New Deal, a plan designed to help stop the effects of climate change.

The United States continues to remain ineffective in dealing with climate change.

Simply put, it isn’t getting better, and things are on track to get worse. NASA, a federal agency that has been gathering information on climate change over the past decade, recently updated their findings, which are shocking. It turns out that carbon dioxide emissions are increasing by 414 parts per million, the highest ever recorded, and sea levels continue to increase at a rate of 3.3 milliliters per year.

Connecting that back to the climate attacks taking place in the U.S., NASA’s statistics prove a direct correlation between climate change and the California wildfires. With more CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere, California’s climate has gotten hotter with each passing year, reducing the amount of moisture present for vegetation. This makes it easier for parched vegetation to ignite and start wildfires.

Photo: Wikimedia Wildfires in Beaumont, California burn 700 acres of land and keep growing north of the city center on July 31.

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

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Managing Editor: Ashley Myers

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News Editor: Isabel Battista

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Staff Writers: Niko Karetsos, Emmy Mininberg, Stella Nelson, Ryan Varma, Jack Wagreich, Mary Amelia Weiss, Jayla Wideman Faculty Advisers: Robert Kaufman, Lee Wilson Tech Adviser: Matt Walker

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 600 copies are printed by School Publications Company.

The Knightly News welcomes letters to the editor 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 same can be applied to the recent waves of hurricanes plaguing Florida and Louisiana. With an increased number of trapped carbon emissions in the earth’s atmosphere, ocean waters are absorbing more heat, increasing the rate at which hurricanes form. Hurricanes also draw their energy from warm ocean waters, so they are becoming more powerful as storm winds are increasing in magnitude. With water levels continuing to rise, the risk of surge flooding continues to worsen as well.

The scariest part, however, is that NASA’s statistical trends for CO2 emissions and ocean water, rising since 2005, have continued to increase. Over the last 15 years, there hasn’t been a significant drop in either trend, which implies a continued trajectory in the years to come. This only means that we should expect to see more severe wildfires and hurricanes in upcoming years.

So what does this mean for us? Well, in ways now more than ever, humanity is at the brink of extinction.

Between nuclear warfare and climate change, we as a civilization are dealing with an increasing number of threats. The Doomsday Clock, which is a clock that counts down to the end of the world, was shifted to 11:58 pm (12:00 am marks the end of the world) earlier in 2018 as a result of these accumulating threats.

Scientists now argue that as climate change continues to remain an uncontrollable problem, that the minute hand on the doomsday clock will continue to inch towards 12. We have seven years before climate change becomes irreversible. Seven years before the clock strikes 12... But it’s not too late.

Now, more than ever, we as a national and global community need to put our differences aside and come together to solve this pressing issue. We need to work towards reducing our carbon emissions and moving towards renewable energy. Corporations and factories need to immediately shift to renewable energy and abandon fossil fuels, and even as individuals, we need to try and reduce our carbon footprint to whatever extent we can.

Climate change is a problem that is at our doorstep as of this minute, and we need to decide immediately on how to deal with it. There is still time for change, and we need to stop wasting the precious seconds that are going by. It’s not too late to act, but we have to start now.

COVID-19

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 11

Pandemic Impacts Music Industry Photo: @Virginmoneyunitaryarena

Like every aspect of life in 2020, the music industry has been deeply impacted by COVID-19. As the live concerts and other music events that people had on their calendars were canceled one by one, it became clear that 2020 was not going to be the year that everyone had planned it to be.

The music industry took quite a financial hit with the onset of the pandemic. With the whole world stuck at home sheltering in place, revenues from concerts and the sale of physical albums dropped by millions of dollars, according to Rolling Stone, devastating the industry.

Highly anticipated live shows and festivals like Coachella and Atlanta’s own Music Midtown were postponed, as they went against guidelines for social distancing, and fans were left disappointed.

Music artists had to make the best of the circumstances

Socially distanced concert goers in Newcastle, England await the appearance of Sam Fender on Aug. 11 at Virgin Money Unity Arena. for their careers and their fans, and make the best they did. Bob Dylan released a new album called “Rough and Rowdy Ways” in June. Taylor Swift released a surprise album in July, a quarantine project called “Folklore” she would not have otherwise created without the

Hosting from Home: Talk Show Hosts Go Virtual

from home as well. The “Global Citizen One World: Together At Home” digital show was curated

by Lady Gaga and attracted a massive number of performers that included Paul McCartney, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves and Elton John. The virtual event garnered almost $128 million for healthcare supplies and workers on the front lines.

The United Kingdom held their first major socially distant in-person concert in August, one of the innovative ways used to keep the music industry alive while also ensuring the safety of fans. The concert was outdoors and viewers were seated on separate and socially-distant platforms. Also, drive-in concerts have been a recent popular choice for some musicians.

While experts predict normal live shows will return around late 2021, the safety of concert goers and music artists is the primary concern. Until then, fans of music can enjoy new ways of attending live concerts amid COVID-19 as well as the new releases that time in self-isolation has sparked.

Movie Industry vs. COVID-19 testing and temperature checks, and masks and social distancing are required when possible.

These precautions and more make production take longer and cost more. This can also mean fewer takes per scene.

Instead of being able to walk around freely, crews are divided into pods. More precautions must be taken for craft services (food stations) and makeup.

The Washington Post also described that there will be changes in content. Filmmakers are not shooting crowd scenes, limiting their use of real world locations. Less physical intimacy will be portrayed, unless it is between actors with offscreen relationships. Extras, who create the environment for most scenes, Tom Holland poses with fans on the set of his new movie will be limited.

“Uncharted.”

Writers have big choices to of this transition. make regarding how much of the Viewers have flocked to pandemic they want to incorpostreaming platforms such as rate into films.

Making movies Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime about the past is one solution. and Disney+ for their main The horror genre benefits from source of entertainment during this because they the pandemic, as can incorporate The coronavirus pandemic live TV stopped Filmmakers are themes of the has drastically impacted how production. Pre- not shooting crowd pandemic, like most industries operate, includviously filmed scenes, limiting their isolation, into their ing the film industry. When the movies were use of real world loplots. world went on lockdown, film released on these cations.

Less physiAccording to production halted. Many jobs platforms instead cal intimacy will be the Washington were impacted since Hollywood of being shown Post, independent supports over 2 million workers. in theaters, like portrayed, unless films are strugMovie theaters are a huge “Mulan” on it is between actors gling the most as a source of revenue, as box offices Disney+. with offscreen relaresult of COVID-19 collected around $42 billion According to given their smaller worldwide in 2019, according the Washington tionships. budgets. All to the World Economic Forum.

Post, limited productions require insurance However, over the past couple of production began to resume policies to protect films from years, there has been an ongoaround August with casts and lawsuits and completion bonds, ing transition from watching crews gradually returning to where money is guaranteed if a movies in theaters to viewing on sets. However, being on set now project stops.

However, insurstreaming platforms. When the looks very different. There are ance companies are reluctant to COVID-19 pandemic hit, movie COVID-19 compliance officers to monitor health and safety include coverage for COVID-19 theaters were forced to close policies on set.

There are regular in their policies. temporarily, increasing the rate

Photo: @tomholland2013 on Instagram

When COVID-19 began its rapid spread across the United States in March, many did not know what to expect for the film and television industry.

Talk show hosts James Corden, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel quickly switched to virtual platforms, still managing to interview numerous celebrity guests.

In the beginning of the selfisolation period, the late night shows raked in a significantly higher number of viewers. According to TheWrap, viewership skyrocketed in most cases by over 30%. Even during this difficult time, these hosts have managed to maintain their high ratings and produce interesting content for all the people forced to stay home.

Jimmy Kimmel, who has been conducting interviews from his home, has had discussions with Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, Samuel L. Jackson, Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler and many other celebrities over the past six months. On Sept. 20, Kimmel hosted the 72nd Annual Emmys, an awards show for the most acclaimed television programs of the past year. During the ceremony, he was isolated, constantly sanitizing and utilizing gloves to open the winning envelopes.

Like Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon

is also conducting interviews from his house, as is Stephen Colbert. Fallon has even included his wife and daughters in a handful of shows. Jimmy Kimmel incorporated his son and daughter into a virtual show.

He asked them questions and hosted a spoof version of the famous “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” show with them. At the end of their game, Kimmel announced that he would donate $10,000 to NoKidsHungry, an organization that provides impoverished children with fresh food.

Another hugely popular and successful avenue that actors have been involved with during the pandemic is the reuniting of casts through virtual table reads. Casts from movies up to 30 years old have come together, recalling the nostalgia of classic films. Josh Gad brought together the cast of “The Goonies” and later reunited with the “Back to the Future” cast, reading famous scenes and having engaging indepth discussions surrounding the respective movies.

In August, Kimmel brought together an all-star cast for a virtual table read of the classic high school comedy “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Morgan Freeman narrated, Shia LaBeouf played a dazed Jeff Spicoli, and other cast members included Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn and Brad Pitt. This table read not only brought laughs, but also created a warm-hearted atmosphere during these troubling times.

spare time. Recording sessions for this album were done virtually in order to maintain social distancing.

“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned that DID happen,” Swift wrote on

Instagram in reference to her surprise eighth studio album.

Country singer Jason Isbell had an album set to release during this time and adjusted his plan by releasing his album directly to small businesses a week before the actual release date in order to support them.

Unanticipated music releases like these injected excitement into the otherwise dull experience of self-isolation.

Artists also found ways to continue live performances, with some changes to the original plans. The “Video Music Awards” (VMAs) were the first award show broadcast since the onset of the pandemic, followed by the “Academy of Country Music Awards” (ACMs) a month later. There was no live audience at these shows, and performers at the ACMs were spread across three different locations in Nashville. Some artists like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande also performed with masks at the VMAs. Musicians kept spirits up and promoted their music with livestreams and casual and spontaneous performances

Lifestyle

October 30, 2020

Top Five Halloween Movies

Photo: Flickr

The leaves are falling and the temperatures are dropping, meaning fall is upon us once again. There are many activities that are fall classics, such as apple picking, making jack o’ lanterns (my personal favorite), and raiding Starbucks of anything pumpkin spiced. One underrated activity is wrapping up in a warm blanket and enjoying Halloween movies. While Christmas movies get most of the hype, there are great Halloween movies that are often overlooked. Here is my list of the top five Halloween movies of all time.

“Halloween” – When it comes to horror, the number one name in the film industry is Michael Myers, the assailant in the original “Halloween” who goes on to appear in nine of the 10 sequels. The original “Halloween,” which came out in 1978, was a classic American horror movie directed by John Carpenter. A very scary movie, “Halloween”

Original poster for “Halloween” from 1978 will keep any viewer spooked the entire time. Michael Myers makes an amazing antagonist

that you will love to hate. If you have not seen it yet, this is definitely the first movie you need to

The Knightly News - Page 12

watch to get into that Halloween spirit.

“Clue” – If you love a great mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, “Clue” is the movie for you. The movie is adapted from the beloved “Clue” board game. There have been many great mystery movies over the years, but what makes this one so cool is the fact that there are three different endings. The director, Jonathan Lynn, went to great lengths to make sure different theaters across the country received different versions.

Viewers were bewildered when they talked to other moviegoers who saw the same movie, but witnessed a different ending.

Make sure to watch all three endings if you decide to watch this movie this fall.

“Haunted Mansion” – There is no better horror comedy than “Haunted Mansion.” Lead Eddie Murphy carries the movie and keeps you laughing yet scared the entire time. The movie is adapted from the Walt Disney World attraction “Haunted Mansion.” Despite harsh critics’ response, it will keep you entertained from start to finish.

“Casper” – “Casper” was the

first ever feature film to have the main character be fully CGI (computer-generated imagery).

While today most movies use tons of CGI, it is interesting to see how far we have come from some of the first uses of CGI. This movie features an excellent plot line, visual effects, music score and performances. All in all, “Casper” is a fun movie to get into the spooky Halloween mood.

“Halloweentown” – Another Disney Channel original, “Halloweentown” is the perfect movie for kids. The story follows the events that transpire after the main character Marnie, played

by Kimberly J. Brown, finds out she is a witch.

She is transported to “Halloweentown,” an entire town filled with monsters, goblins, witches, ghosts, vampires and other freakish creatures. Joey Zimmerman delivers an excellent portrayal of her brainiac brother that adds excellent humor to the story. If your family is looking for a movie to watch together, you should definitely check it out.

Safe Halloween Costume Ideas 2. Purge

3. Ninja

1. Darth Vader

5. Cowboy/Cowgirl 4. Doctor/Nurse

Lifestyle

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 13

Takeaways from ‘The Social Dilemma’

1. “If you are not paying for

the product, you are the product.” The only two markets that label their participants as “users” are the drug and social media industries. Similar to how drugs only benefit the seller, social media apps also create platforms for, really, the advertisers. Social media targets the vulnerable aspects of human psychology like how the drug market profits off the buyers’ addiction.

These social media companies perform small experiments called growth hacking. Algorithms are constantly changing to maximize the amount of money and data they can get

Photo: Netflix

Netflix released its original film titled “The Social Dilemma” on Jan. 20. Throughout the documentary, former social media developers and technology experts are asked to identify problems created by social media and the root of these problems.

The interviews are interspersed with short scenes of a young male character that portray the dangers of social media brought up by the interviewees.

Below are five major points that the movie lays out.

The Netflix original film “The Social Dilemma” follows the character pictured above as he navigates the challenges that social media presents. from each user. The users rarely notice each tiny change in the algorithm, as it is changing the way we think or interact with the internet. These experiments use humans as pawns to figure out how they can most successfully benefit the advertisers.

2. Along with the experi-

ments in growth hacking, social media apps are also watching everything their users do. This idea of surveillance capitalism uses the data it collects from how long a user looks at a post, to the time of day a user is active, to create models that

can predict users’ actions. In short, your social media apps are analyzing you to maximize your engagement and viewing of the advertisements on your feed.

3. While you may feel like

you have the strength to limit your time on social media or not be influenced by opinions you see online, in reality, you don’t. That being said, there are some things that you can do to consciously limit your social media use and the data that the apps collect. Some of these tactics include turning off your notifications, leaving your phone

in another room at night and choosing the posts you look at rather than viewing computerrecommended posts.

4.

In our current environment, fake news is a frequent topic and a pressing issue. Fake news travels up to five times faster than real news. It is important to keep in mind that Google or any other social media platform does not know the truth.

The computer is simply recommending posts that an algorithm assumes you would like.

An example of this is the Google search bar. If a user

types in part of a question, the computer will automatically give you suggested autofill options, which are entirely unique to you and your previous data.

This process of recommended information that is not necessarily true plays a key role in the political polarization of our society today.

Every party only sees the information they want to see on the internet, not the truth. A way to counteract fake news is to always fact check your information from multiple reliable sources.

5. Since 2011, teen and

pre-teen depression rates have skyrocketed. While you may not think it affects you personally, it is impossible to ignore an over 100% rise in depression and suicide rates for pre-teens. While teenagers have had monumental increases in depression and suicide rates as well, Gen Z was the first generation to be introduced to social media in middle school.

Exposure to social media in a child’s pre-teen years has been proven numerous times to increase anxiety and decrease students’ willingness to step outside their comfort zone and take risks. The bottom line is that data does not lie; social media is detrimental to the mental health of students during their developmental years.

Best of Atlanta

These eateries will satisfy your every craving.

Free Period Fun: Whole Foods

Brunch with Besties: Egg Harbor Cafe

Going off campus to eat lunch is always fun, but sometimes it’s hard to find a group that agrees on where to go. I have the place for you. Located five minutes from campus at Paces Ferry Plaza, Whole Foods truly has something for everyone.

The hot bar is only $8.99 per pound of food and has multiple different cuisines so everyone can get the food that they want. My favorite picks from the hot bar are definitely the mac and cheese, pizza and salad. The mac and cheese instantly brightens my school day as the perfect comfort food. The pizza is always a reliable go-to as well. The salad bar offers a plethora of toppings and dressings to play with. If you haven’t tried the Whole Foods market yet, I recommend going for a quick and yummy lunch.

After a tiring week of school, Saturday morning brunch is essential for me. A fan favorite among my family and friends is Egg Harbor located on Peachtree Rd. in Brookwood Hills. I have been going to Egg Harbor religiously for the past few years so I know the best entrees, sides and drinks. My favorite meal is definitely the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. If you are someone who prefers sweet over salty, this entree is for you. It combines the sweetness of cinnamon roll frosting with the texture of french toast.

If it’s cold out, you must try their hot chocolate.

Served with a hearty amount of whipped cream on top, this drink warms you up and tastes amazing.

My favorite side has to be potatoes or bacon, the perfect salty side to complement a sweet entree.

Late Night Bite: Insomnia Cookies

Photos: Yelp

Delivered until 3 a.m., Insomnia Cookies are the best late night bite in Atlanta.

The chain has three locations in the city, on Spring St. near Georgia Tech, and in the Poncey-Highland and East Atlanta neighborhoods. You can go in-store and order, but I would recommend ordering online.

My favorite order would have to be the Deluxe Cookie’wich, with warm chocolate chunk cookies that boast gooey, melted chocolate chips surrounded by a sweet, soft cookie exterior.

The best part is that this dessert is fully customizable with twelve different cookies to choose from, ranging from Snickerdoodle to S’mores Deluxe, and various ice cream flavors. My choice is chocolate ice cream that is sandwiched between the two cookies making for an incredible dessert. If you’re looking for a treat, look no further than Insomnia Cookies.

Post-Workout Provisions: Arden’s Garden Post-workout, Arden’s Garden is a great place to swing by to pick up a bottled juice or order a personalized smoothie. Arden’s Garden boasts 15 locations in the metro Atlanta area, so you can find a location closest to you. My order of choice is the personalized smoothie. You first choose a size, either 16 or 24 ounces, and then you choose your base, fruit and any healthy extras you want to add.

My order is usually a 16 ounce smoothie with a pineapple base; bananas, strawberries and peaches; and kale as a healthy extra. If you aren’t sure of what you want in your smoothie, you can always consider the specialty 24 ounce smoothies, such as the Spinach Slam or the Summer Island. Another option if you are in a hurry is the pre-made fruit smoothies or juices.

In my opinion, these aren’t as good as the smoothies that they make in front of you, but they still provide refreshing nourishment after a workout.

October 30, 2020

Lifestyle

The Knightly News - Page 14

‘Oh, the Places They’ll Go’

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (L-R): Joe Russo and his brother Anthony Russo speak at the 2019 International Comic-Con Convention in San Diego, California.

Joe Russo Talks with KN about His Career In Film, Television

Ryan Kann – Georgia Institute of Technology Now settled into dorm living at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Ryan Kann has begun almost all of his classes online, with the exception of a lab that he gets to attend in-person every other week. “Classes are going alright, as it is not that different from last year, just with harder tests and bigger classes,” said Kann. Already a member of several clubs, including the American Medical Student Association, Student Hospital Connections and Stamps Health Services Student Ambassadors, Kann is excited to pursue his premed studies outside of the classroom as well. “I’m also in a support and discussion group for trans students and have been getting really involved with Jewish life on campus,” said Kann.

Brianna Thomas – Spelman College Spelman College is not providing on-campus housing for first-years, so Brianna Thomas has been taking her classes online from the comfort of her own home. “I missed out on a lot of freshman traditions that every Spelmanite looks forward to,” said Thomas. “However, I am making the best of this situation and am excited about being on campus in the future.” Thomas has appreciated the help that her classmates have provided during this time. “We are all going through this together and have decided that no woman will be left behind,” said Thomas. “Whether the conversation is about class or just about our day, we are there for one another. That is the part I love the most.” Thomas has enjoyed joining the gospel choir, practicing virtually with Spelman and Morehouse College students.

Lauren O’Sullivan – Colorado School of Mines On campus at the Colorado School of Mines, Lauren O’Sullivan (pictured left in photo) has started her classes both online and in person with limited capacity in Golden, Colorado. “Right now, we don’t have any restrictions about leaving campus so I’ve been exploring Colorado, whether it be hiking in the area or going to Denver,” said O’Sullivan. “I’ve also been organizing climate strikes in downtown Golden as part of the Fridays for Future campaign.” However, after Thanksgiving break, classes will become fully remote, so Lauren will be headed back to Atlanta to visit with high school friends at that time.

Evan Duncan – Texas Christian University At TCU, having a smaller student body has been quite the advantage for students who are living on campus right now.

Although some students chose to take an entirely virtual approach to this school year, Evan Duncan is living in Fort Worth, Texas right now, attending school through hybrid-style classes. “I have been really lucky at TCU because my classes have been great and in regards to meeting new people, it has been cool to get to know kids from across the country and outside of Pace,” said Duncan. “I have also been able to go to every home TCU football game so that has been a highlight of my time here.”

Photos: All photos were contributed by the individuals featured in this story.

who’s your favorite child.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the film industry, Russo has done most of his work on Zoom. “It makes it much more difficult to execute because movies require lots and lots of people in an enclosed space together, which Marvel fans everywhere know Anthony and is really dangerous during COVID,” he said. Now Joe Russo, brothers with numerous directing on set, standard precautions are taken, like testing, and producing credits for films and television temperature taking, social distancing, mask wearshows. They’ve directed blockbuster films such as ing and isolating in bubbles. “It’s certainly made “Avengers: Endgame,” the highest grossing movie things more difficult, but everyone’s persevering of all time. The Knightly News had the opportuni- and doing well,” said Russo. ty to interview Joe Russo, one half of this dynamic This past fall and winter, the brothers made duo, about his career. a movie called “Cherry” with Tom Holland, who For Russo, it all started at a young age. He plays an Army medic with PTSD. He struggles enjoyed watching films with his older brother with opioid addiction and turns to robbing banks.

Anthony. “I always loved movies,” he said. “They The movie will premiere on Apple in 2021. “Tom were a really important part of culture for us.” is amazing in the role,” said Russo.

In high school, Russo began Currently, the brothers are workwatching more independent films.

“You guys live ing on “The Gray Man,” starring Ryan “I started to appreciate movies more in an incredible Gosling and Chris Evans. Starting artistically and thematically,” he in January, they will shoot in Los time where you said. He learned about the metacould pick up an Angeles, Prague and Thailand. “That’s phors, imagery, dramatics and social iPhone and shoot really what our main focus is at the context of movies rather than focusmoment.” anything and it ing solely on the plot. “It opened up In 2017 and 2018, the brothers and can look great, a whole new dimension to films for their families lived and worked in and you can use me.”

Atlanta. “I love Atlanta, said Russo. “I technology to your kind of miss Atlanta. We had a great At 20 years old, Russo was advantage.” – Joe experience at the studios there. Everyworking toward his degree in actRusso ing at Case Western University in one is so friendly.”

Cleveland, Ohio. He enjoyed acting, Russo expressed how much he but he decided that he did not want to pursue it any loves working with his brother, saying, “It’s great further. Instead, he moved toward what he truly being able to work so closely with family. We enjoyed: directing. “I had the opportunity to direct support each other and take care of each other.” a few plays while I was studying acting, and I reWith such a difficult, demanding and draining ally got the directing bug, and I think that’s what job, Russo says that it helps to have Anthony as inspired me to become a filmmaker.” his partner. “Having a partner that you can rely on The Russo brothers directed the shows “Arrest- when you’re exhausted is invaluable.” ed Development” and “Community,” which were Russo said that the person who has been most critically acclaimed but didn’t make a lot of moninfluential in terms of his career is his father. “He ey. Their first big success was “Captain America: really supported our first movie, helped us out Winter Soldier,” when they began working with financially, helped us get it made. It was a really Marvel. They went on to direct three more Marvel big risk for him, and he took that risk.” movies, “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Russo had some advice for Pace students who Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” want to work in film: “You guys live in an incredRusso’s favorite project he has worked on is ible time where you could pick up an iPhone and “Avengers: Endgame.” “We were very close to shoot anything and it can look great, and you can that cast and we’ve been working with the same use technology to your advantage. So I would crew for 15 years; they’re like family,” he said. “It say film things and put them on social media and was a really powerful movie to sit in the theater YouTube.” and watch with an audience. The way people reIn fact, that is how Russo discovered Donald sponded to that movie I would say is probably the Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, who highlight of my career.” grew up in the Atlanta area. “He was making Russo has had the opportunity to work with comedy shorts with his friends from NYU on an many famous actors, including Tom Holland, iPhone and putting them together, and somebody Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Chris forwarded it to me and said this guy is hilarious,” Evans and Scarlett Johanssen, but he says it is said Russo. He ended up casting Glover in “Comdifficult for him to pick favorites. “It’s like saying munity.”

(Continued from page 4)

Sports

Vol. 46, Issue #2

The Knightly News - Page 15

MJ Morris Returns to the Castle

Photo: Fred Assaf

With five games under their belt as of press time, the Pace varsity football team prepares for the final stretch of the season and a playoff push. “We have a lot of weapons that I think will really help us score some points,” said Head Coach Chris Slade. One of those weapons includes star junior quarterback MJ Morris, who returns to Pace from 7A Carrollton High School.

After attending Pace for middle school, Morris went on to play for the Trojans, starting both his freshman and sophomore year. Morris threw a total of 2500 yards and 25 touchdowns for Carrollton, and he now plans to help the Pace team go far this fall.

Starting their season strong on Sept. 4, the Knights defeated the Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears 14-7 on Walsh Field.

After their second game against Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy was cancelled due to weather conditions, the Knights fell short to Westminster in a tight 7-3 Homecoming game on Sept. 25. However, they bounced

Junior MJ Morris threw an impressive four touchdowns against McNair High School at Walsh Field on Oct. 1. back on Oct. 1, demolishing McNair 55-0. The following week they lost to South Atlanta 22-14 in a close, one possession game, then travelled down West Paces to beat Lovett 21-16. As of Oct. 26, the Knights are slated to play their fourth region game against DM Therrell on Oct. 29.

Morris missed the first

game due to a shoulder injury, but returned to the backfield against Westminster. After warming up against the Wildcats, he came back to throw for 480 yards through the following three games.

Highly ranked in his respective position, Morris has already gained the interest of various

NCAA Division 1 coaches. The third ranked quarterback in the class of 2022 has offers from Auburn, Michigan, Penn State, Stanford and many others, according to 247 Sports.

“He’s really smart. His football IQ is pretty high, and he grasps whatever concept you want him to and catches on

things pretty quick,” said Coach Slade, recalling one of Morris’ best qualities in the backfield.

Coach Slade said that along with Morris’ knowledge, “he does a really good job breaking down coverages and finding the open receiver.” Morris can also run if necessary, according to the head coach. Morris plays a dual threat style, threatening opposing defenses in the air and on the ground.

His arrival back to the Castle did not just result in a reunion with old teammates and coaches, but also renewed relationships with old classmates. Morris says that his decision to come back to Pace had more to do with his experience off the field. “I’ve always missed my Pace family because of the relationship I had with the staff and students,” he said.

“Being back at Pace is great,” he said. “It feels good to be back with my old friends.” Morris’ teammates are also thrilled with his arrival. “It is great having him throw to me because he is like my little brother, and the relationship on and off the field is great,” said senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas.

Fantasy Football: More Than a Game football, and why it is indeed more than just a game. “It just brings all the boys together,” he said. “It’s a great, magnificent time that creates a competitive atmosphere between all of our friends around the greatest sport, football.”

2020 Pace Fantasy Football Rankings Photo: Gabriel Kadoori

Despite months of concern that COVID-19 would result in its cancellation, the 2020 NFL season is well underway, and with it comes the long-awaited fantasy football season. Every year, Pace students of all ages compete against one another in an attempt to prove their dominance on the virtual gridiron.

For many, fantasy football is more than just a game, it’s a lifestyle.

Before the season begins, leagues get together to draft players that will make up their team for the year. A league decides to hold either an auction draft or a snake draft. In an auction draft, each person begins with an imaginary $200 to bid on the players that they want on their team. In a snake draft, participants choose players in an order that reverses each round.

Therefore if someone receives the last pick in the first round, that person will hold the first pick in the next round.

Both the auction and snake format are represented with different groups at Pace. One league of junior boys led by commissioner Alex Karamanolis uses the auction draft. League member Josh Reed explained that “the auction draft is more fun and it results in the teams being more fair.” Despite Gabriel Kadoori holding the title of most

horn, saying, “Me, definitely me.” Although this will be their final year competing at Pace, the seniors plan to continue their league. It will “be a great way to stay in touch as we all go to college,” said Mininberg.

Junior Henry Smith described why he loves fantasy

(L-R) Juniors Jude Black and Robert Mallis talk trash regarding their upcoming matchup. points scored through Week 4, Reed believes that either Matthew or Will Aronson will be crowned this year’s champion.

Porter Kendall is the commissioner of a sophomore league that uses the snake draft on the ESPN app. When asked who has the best chance of winning this league, sophomore Charlie Fleming chose Kendall as this year’s favorite. However, this did not come without some harsh criticism and a heavy accusa-

tion from Fleming. “Porter kind of cheated the system to get the first pick,” he explained. “As commissioner, he took advantage of his power and gave himself the first pick of the draft.”

Like the sophomores, a league in the senior class headed

by Bennett Boushka enjoys the ESPN snake draft. Being senior year, the stakes are higher than ever. When asked who will win this year’s competition, senior Josh Mininberg tooted his own

Post-Week Six Standings CLASS OF 2021

CLASS OF 2022

League 2 Commissioner: Eli Mautner Top 3: 1. Austin Chastain 2. Sean Glennon 3. Will Brennan

League 2 Commissioner: Sam Howe Top 3: 1.George Blaha 2. Kargil Behl 3. Samuel Bready

League 1 Commissioner: Bennett Boushka Top 3: 1. Tripp Trimble 2. Sam Webb 3. Rivers Graham

League 1 Commissioner: Alex Karamanolis Top 3: 1. Gabriel Kadoori 2. Will Aronson 3. Matthew Aronson

Sports

October 30. 2020

The Knightly News - Page 16

Varsity Volleyball Looks to Young Talent

Photo: Fred Assaf

After three consecutive state championships and the loss of four elite players to graduation, the varsity volleyball team had big shoes to fill this season. Ada Jane Agolli ‘20 now plays for Brown, Sasha Ratliff ‘20 for Ole Miss and Dominique Turner ‘20 for Marshall. Lucy Ferry ‘20 was a key contributor as well, although she opted not to play volleyball in college.

To fill their shoes, the team has looked to seven new freshmen: Grace Agolli, Gadit Bejar, Adrienne Durr, Dhru Lalaji, Ellie Siskin, Caitlyn Rocker and Isabelle Wilhelm. In addition, sophomores Brooke Brumfield and Breia Craft have stepped onto the court as varsity players for the first time. “I know that we are a young team and will do our very best,” said Siskin, early in the season.

With the eyes of the whole school on them, the team feels immense pressure to continue their state championship winning streak. “Now that Westminster is no longer in our region, I think

Junior captain Megan Hardesty goes for a kill in the first round playoff game against Banks County on Oct. 21 in the Inman Center. we definitely have a chance at the state title,” said Knowlton.

“But then again, this year is more like a fresh start, and I know the freshmen will take the team really far in the future.”

The team persevered through early losses to pull out a 2-1 region victory over rival Lovett School on Sept. 22. On Oct. 17, Pace defeated Lovett for a second time, earning them the Area

Championship.

Pace swept Banks County 3-0 in the best of five series in the first round of the state playoffs on Oct. 21. The Knights defeated the Leopards 25-5, 2512, 25-7 in the Inman Center.

Next, the team played Dade County at home on Oct. 24 in the Sweet Sixteen, handily defeating the Wolverines 25-9, 25-9, 25-8.

With the 3-0 victory, the team secured a spot in the Elite Eight of the state playoffs. That game is scheduled for Oct. 28 against Vidalia High School in the Inman Center. As of press time on Oct. 26, the team’s record was 19-7.

Given the team’s championship-calibre skill level, freshmen starters have been few and far between. In the past three years, only a handful of players started on the team as freshmen. This year, however, “the talent in the freshmen class is insanely high,” said junior team member Taylor Knowlton. “Being a freshman has its challenges, but it’s also very rewarding to compete with the upperclassmen,” said Durr.

With freshmen and sophomores now comprising over half the team’s roster of 15, the team dynamic has shifted as the two sole seniors and a junior stepped

into leadership roles. This year, seniors Hannah Pace and Elliot Mathis, along with junior Megan Hardesty, are leading the team as captains. “As the oldest on the team, Elliot and I have taken leadership by including everyone at all times, making sure there is no beef between anyone and always setting a good example on and off the court,” said Pace.

Despite the age gap and awkwardness of new friendships, the team has quickly transformed into a family. “As much as I love volleyball, my favorite part of the team is making new friends, especially with the upperclassmen,” said Lalaji. All the players enjoy warming up together before games and taking game-day selfies in the locker room.

Grace Agolli, a rising star, is the younger sister of Pace alumna and volleyball veteran Ada Jane Agolli. “My sister and I have always been very competitive,” said the younger Agolli.

“It is hard trying to live up to her legacy and trying to fill her shoes on the court.” Nonetheless, Grace Agolli has already made a name for herself. Prep Volleyball ranked her in the top 150 players in the nation for the Class of 2024.

Softball Makes First Round of Playoffs adapt to a new coaching staff.

“There was also a complete coaching staff change, and the different ways they coach had a big impact on this year’s season,” said sophomore Victoria Hadley.

Long time head coach and math teacher Jewell Marable stepped down from coaching this year and was replaced with Coach Vizcaino-Santiago, who teaches third grade at Pace.

“In a year with so much uncertainty, these ladies have shown grit and perseverance when it has mattered most,” said Coach Vizcaino-Santiago. “I especially want to thank our senior captains, Jamie Kornheiser and Sydney Silverstein, for leading by example.”

Alongside the head coach, former Pace softball star Lauren Hadley ‘15 joined the coaching staff. “I love being back at Pace,” she said. “When I was a student and player here I loved the environment and the community as a whole.” Hadley is the older sister of sophomores Victoria and Madison Hadley, both of whom play on the team.

“She is definitely one of the hardest on me because she can be, but I think it’s pretty beneficial to my overall playing,” said Victoria Hadley. Lauren Hadley noted that one of the reasons she actually returned to Pace was to see her sisters more and spend more time with them.

The team this year was tasked with replacing Molly Buffenbarger and Caroline Landis from the Class of 2020.

The two played vital roles on the team last season, and Landis

continues her softball career at Bowdoin College. With the loss of these two seniors, the team was left with only 11 players this year.

While the team still had lots of talent, only rostering 11 players means having no substitutes.

This put lots of pressure on the three pitchers the team has had to cycle through: Silverstein, sophomore Sophia Mador and Madison Hadley. Despite the pressure put on them, Coach Hadley noted that “learning how to work together on the field and support each other is one thing they have improved on the most.”

Although the players fell

short of their goal to go far in the playoffs, the girls did not define themselves by wins and losses.

“We are a really close knit team and over these past four years they have become my best friend,” said Silverstein.

The overall goal for the team was to do their best and have fun. “One of the best moments of the season was the rain delay in Dalton when the field was literally mud, and we just got to hang out and slide in the mud,” said Goodman.

The team also had themed practices. “We have had neon, USA and white lies,” said Silverstein. “We go all out and it was really fun to be with everyone.”

Photo: Fred Assaf

The girls softball team made it to the first round of the state playoffs for the second year in a row, playing Pepperell High School at Charlie Owens Field on Oct. 19. Despite hanging close in the first game of the doubleheader, ending 4-2 in Pepperell’s favor, the girls lost 8-1 in the second game. “It’s really sad knowing the season is over and that I won’t be able to play with this team again,” said senior captain Sydney Silverstein. “I know that they are going to do great next season.”

Softball had a busy regular season this year, playing almost 30 games and going 12-15-1.

This includes only two region losses, both coming against Lovett. The team was able to outsource local rival Westminster twice this season, 4-3 and 9-1, an incredible feat considering the program’s successful history.

“Someone hit it to right field and they caught it, and there was a very close play at home which could have gone either way,” said sophomore Victoria Hadley describing the team’s win against Westminster on Sept. 26. “We beat the throw by sliding under it and ended up scoring the winning run.”

Complementing the two Westminster wins were wins against Woodward, Holy Innocents’ and Campbell High School. “My favorite moment

this year so far was seeing the girls win their games against Westminster and Holy Innocents’,” said Assistant Coach Lauren Hadley on Oct. 19. “They did not have a great start but they came together and found a way to beat both teams, and I think that was the turning point for the season.”

As with other sports teams, the girls had to take safety precautions this season given the COVID-19 pandemic. The softball team was fortunate enough to be one of the first teams allowed to practice due to the natural social distancing of the game. Softball is mostly a non-contact sport, with the fielders spaced out at least six feet at the start of each play. The only players who are not six feet apart are the batter and catcher.

All players wore masks, however, so there was little concern even for these athletes. “Wearing masks and socially distancing mainly affected us by limiting our ability to cheer on our teammates from the dugout,” said junior Marissa Goodman.

There were some other noticeable rule changes this year: each team had their own set of balls, mound visits had to be socially distanced and fan capacity was limited. Another indirect effect of the virus was the mental side of not knowing what was to come in the future. “We just didn’t know what to expect at so many different points throughout the season,” said Head Coach Armando Vizcaino-Santiago.

While also adapting to the special circumstances with the coronavirus, the team had to

Sydney Silverstein comes to bat in the first-round playoff game against Pepperell High School on Oct. 19.