The C&G | Volume VIII |Issue 2 | Winter Edition

Volume VIII, Issue 2, Winter Edition

January 2020

24

A Legacy of Love The people and past of HIES cross country

The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 January 2020 Volume 8, Issue 2, Winter Edition thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com

The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 January 2020 Volume 8, Issue 2, Winter Edition thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com

The C&G staff aims to be honest, accurate and accountable as they convey news, ideas, events and opinions that are relevant to the Holy Innocents’ community, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, parents, administrators, and prospective families. C&G aspires to publish complete and accurate coverage through journalistically responsible, ethically reported and edited content that values diversity of perspectives.

LIFESTYLE | 4 Teachers’ Bookshelf | 4 In the Know | 6 Food Trends of the Decade | 8 A Day of Vegan | 10

NEWS | 12 A Dishonest Sham | 12 Criminal-in-Chief | 13 The Rise of Teen Activism | 14 Off The Court | 16

FEATURE | 20 The Making of a Crisis | 20

PEOPLE | 30 Enter the Office of Father Bailey | 22

STAFF JAYLEE DAVIS Editors-in-Chief MATTHEW RAESIDE MAGGIE BELENKY

Managing Editor

MADDIE POCH Production Editor OMARI FOOTE Associate Editors ZAK KERR PARKER MILES Staff Writers KATHERINE POCH DANIELLE ELMS Adviser

A Legacy of Love | 24

cover design by MELINA SHARP

CONTENTS

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

W

hen our winter issue finally finds its way into your hands, a new decade will be upon us - 2020. A decade ago, The C&G was not the newsmagazine that we as editors have grown to love over the past three years. Astonishingly, it was once a newspaper, straight from the era of old journalism and black and white print, until one enterprising editorin-chief, Clara Forrestal, took a leap and transformed The Crimson and Gold newspaper into The C&G newsmagazine.

Through painstaking trial and error, we have found what best suits us, expanding from two to four issues per year, abandoning online journalism for the foreseeable future, and twice taking a shot at a freshman guide. As we’ve seen, the C&G staff is never a constant - always fluctuating and always developing to suit the staff and student body’s needs. For us, the start of 2020 represents a time for growth and change, and no one quite knows what awaits us in the future. Even so, we are ready to accept the challenges that face us this last semester as we still hold onto the captain’s hat. Before the inevitability of senioritis takes its hold and clouds our rationale, we look with excitement to the editors-in-chief who will follow behind us. Now is the time that we loosen our grip on the reins and step back.

Matthew Raeside Co-Editor-in-Chief

Jaylee Davis Co-Editor-in-Chief

Welcome to a new decade, and enjoy the winter issue of The C&G!

LETTER TO THE EDITORS

F

inding your wings is no easy thing. Just when they begin to sprout, they are turned this way and that, folded by right and by wrong. Often, the young are left back on the landing strip, with less gas and more confusion.

I watch wings sprout every day, it’s what I live for.

There are four I coach, for example, who were so shy none of them spoke when I introduced myself three years ago. They just stared politely, waited for me to leave.

Only a year later, when cranking up the bus to take them somewhere, those same four sang – loudly and badly – but I found myself turning down the radio to listen though I wasn’t sure why.

You see, when angels sing it doesn’t have to be on key; it’s simply their uniqueness coming out. They mean no harm, they’re just revving their engines, on the launching pad if you will. Besides, sometimes the biggest part of teaching is knowing when to shut up and get out of the way.

Moving on, there were three who would share the same lane on a track, even though two to their right

and left were open. They sat in the same seat on the bus, though other places were available. They’ve come unhinged since, yet still spend time together.

One, I had to give directions on how to run around a track. He’s now a captain. Another drew tardy slips almost daily – once glued her own hands together – but in her spare time she’d drift off into a corner and write songs. One likes to swim, and once drew me a picture.

The artistry was awful – it hangs on my office wall to this very day.

Flight paths are all around me as I walk from class to class. Some start slower than others. Many, by age alone, are cleared for takeoff whether they want to go or not.

I recall my own 20s when searching lift-off – often hitting the bed at night with no energy and less money. Then one night I asked one question: Why is it you can type 90 words a minute? Not bragging, because I had nothing to do with it. Nothing.

Another day in college, I was learning how to write a resume. The Objective part had me stumped, and I

put my pencil down while the whole class scribbled furiously. “How do you all know!” I screamed.

It’s the cosmic joke. You search everywhere only to find it within the whole time. You could shorten the time, but God wants you to experience life while you find your rhythm, crash and burn, get back up again.

In closing, I still crank the buses and many still sing – they destroy songs from Madonna to Led Zeppelin.

I recall being disappointed when one brought her music with her. After all, I wanted to hear them!

Now, and on nights when the moon is tilted funny, I still think of tardy slips, shy kids, resumes; remember asking a question to the person in the mirror; envision smoke from crashes with no black boxes, the smiles when acing a test, the pains of being rejected.

Just as often, I turn the radio down and I hear singing. It’s bad, off-key, yet so simply angelic. And I often laugh.

At least, that is, until I perhaps start to cry… ◼︎

Dunn Neugebauer Contributing Writer

4 | LIFESTYLE

Teachers’ Bookshelf EVER WONDERED WHAT TEACHERS READ IN HIGH SCHOOL? WELL, HERE IT IS. OMARI FOOTE, associate editor

THE C&G | 5

MS. ROWE Kate Chopin: The Awakening HIES Class of 2020 Dean, Ms. Adrienne Rowe, began reading at the age of five and has not stopped since.

As she grew and began to form her own opinions, some of the books she read felt like chores. When tasked with reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”, she found that unlike her classmates, she did not enjoy the book. With a working family, she did not have a lot of old or new money, so the book was not relevant. And books about fairy tales, and warlords, were not real, so why would she bother reading them?

Nonetheless, she kept reading, and found the book that began a never-ending journey of discovery. That book was “The Awakening”, by Kate Chopin.

“It was so important as a young woman to have felt the way that the main character did,” Rowe said.

“The Awakening” follows a young woman’s struggle to find personal freedom in the 1930s. The book was the introduction to feminism, a topic now held dear to Rowe’s heart. She found herself constantly relating with the young woman in the book and felt recognized. Although it started as a high school assignment, it became a book that she read each summer, finding little lesson each time.

“It was a very sentimental moment for me,” Rowe said.

MR. YARSAWICH

Langston Hughes: A Collection of Poems Mr. Christopher Yarsawich, HIES Assistant Director of Global Studies, has a picture where he is sitting down with his dad reading books, and in the photograph he is sitting with the book upside down. He laughed at this memory but pointed out that at his youngest, he did not always know what he was reading, but he was still elated to share that moment with his family.

“Reading awakens you mentally emotionally, psychologically, without having to think about it… you experience the world through other people’s eyes,” Yarsawich said.

With those early experiences reading as a child, Yarsawich was able to carry these principles into high school. Like many other students, his favorite book was not within the school’s curriculum. Instead he wanted to experience the life of people with different pathways and to learn about others. As a student with little connection to civil rights, he decided to “try on the life” of a poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes.

“Here’s a man, I really admire his craft, and he’s communicating an experience that I didn’t know existed. It was really eye-opening,” Yarsawich said.

Now years later, after Yarasawich has read countless other books and tried on the lives of many other characters, both fictional and nonfictional, he wants to instill the importance of reading in his students, with a bookshelf filled with a variety of literary works.

DR. COOK

George B. Schaller: The Year of The Gorilla HIES upper school science teacher, Dr. Theresa Cook, can read a book about wizards, destroying social constructs, or the life of a gorilla - and still find herself interested. For her, the importance of a book is determined by the different worlds that she can be introduced to. For example, in high school she read the book “East of Eden” and found that the stories about people forced to migrate in the story helped her to see the importance of farmers’ rights.

“It really broadened my view on histor[ical] events in America” Cook said.

On a different note, Cook also read the book “The Year of the Gorilla” which follows a scientist’s year of living with gorillas to better understand them.

“I think that really crystallized for me, being interested in ecology and animal behavior. And that’s what I ended up studying in college,” she said.

Dr. Cook still tries to make time to read, although most of the books are to help her students perform experiments and better their learning experiences.

She still pursues reading as a way to make her a better teacher and person, hoping to continuously enlighten herself and others. ◼︎

IN THE

6 | LIFESTYLE

MATTHEW RAESIDE CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

As young consumers reach back to “retro styles” such as bell-bottom jeans and “dad sneakers”, one shoe has made a surprising reappearance: Crocs. Yes, Crocs, the squishy orthopedic foam clog of America’s middle-class youth, are back in style.

Now ranked as the thirteenth most popular foot brand among female teens according to Piper Jaffray, Crocs have taken over. Once listed as one of the “50 worst inventions” by Time Magazine, the shoe brand has risen from the ashes. Their sudden rise in popularity can be credited to their inherent childhood nostalgia and ironic revivalism of sorts - they’re “so uncool it’s cool.” The company has additionally increased its visibility through partnerships with rapper Post Malone and luxury fashion brand Balenciaga, who produced pink clogs with five-inch platforms. By ignoring the shoe’s outward appearance, you could almost learn to love the clog again. Yet the question remains, will Crocs withstand the ebbs and flows of this fashion cycle, or is its revitalism temporary?

APPROVE

In case you’ve been living und the entertainment, music, and picked by o

KATHERINE POCH STAFF WRITER

OMARI FOOTE

MAGGIE BELENKY MANAGING EDITOR

Everyday, teenagers sift through endless content on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services searching for a TV show worthy of their attention.

Some viewers long for a show that paints a raw and emotional picture of what they face on a daily basis.

HBO’s new original series, “Euphoria” does all of that. From the very first episode, “Euphoria” distinguishes itself as a show aimed towards the Gen Zers. Though the show centers around 17-year-old Rue, a struggling drug addict just released from rehab, it also touches on issues that, at times, are uncomfortable, but crucial to discuss and uncover. The show tackles real obstacles that teenagers experience, such as mental health issues, teenage sexuality, drug use, peer pressure, and more. With the variety of characters all facing a different issue, there is something for everyone in “Euphoria.”

APPROVE

Billie Eilish recently made history as the youngest singer to be nominated for a Grammy in the Academy’s top four categories. Earlier in March of 2019, Eilish’s debut studio album was released and the public could not have been more excited. The album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO was a smash hit with popular songs like “bad guy” and “when the party’s over.” The 17-year-old singer/ songwriter is best known for her out-of-the-box style of music that steps away from today’s traditional pop, and this album is no exception.

In this album, Eilish gives listeners a more personal look into her life from her light-hearted obsession with “The Office” to getting real about her struggles with depression. Eilish’s brooding, emotional, and sometimes satirical tracks are sure to leave listeners wanting more.

APPROVE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

NETFLIX In 1989, a young woman was assaulted and raped in Central Park, leading to the false conviction and imprisonment of five adolescent boys of color, who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong skin. Now 20 years later, seasoned director Ava Duvernay aims to help these men gain a piece of justice in the Netflix special, “When They See Us”. The fourpart docuseries has become Netflix’s most viewed series, with over 13 million accounts having watched the show since its May release date. The gut wrenching mini series follows the lives of Korey Wise, Yusuuf Salam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, and Raymond Santana, throughout the investigation, trial, and imprisonment that changed their lives forever. After watching “When They See Us”,you will finally see the lives of a group of men that are well-deserving, and it will leave a lasting impression on your own life.

APPROVE

E KNOW

ZAK KERR

THE C&G | 7

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

under a rock, here are some of nd fashion trends of 2019, as our staff.

design, OMARI FOOTE, associate editor

JAYLEE DAVIS CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

MADDIE POCH PRODUCTION EDITOR

Avengers: Endgame, the highly anticipated conclusion to Marvel’s series, excites both avid fans and newcomers to the saga alike. Featuring an incredibly talented cast, Endgame skillfully combines tragic twists of plot with the happy endings fans demand for their favorite characters. Rightfully securing its place in cinematic history as the highest-grossing film of all time, Endgame triumphs as an original story blending heroes praised for generations with new personas working in tandem to save the fate of the universe from Thanos’ snap. Beginning where Avengers: Infinity War leaves off, half of Earth’s population has vanished, and the remaining heroes are tasked with traveling through vast reaches of time and space to bring back those who have disappeared. Keeping fans of all ages on the edge of their seats, Endgame inspires a love of Marvel’s superhero universe in all who see it.

APPROVE

As the familiar adage goes, “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” This podcast, however, saves us from that fate. A late gem of 2019, “The Alarmist” podcast, hosted

by Rebecca Delgado Smith, examines historical disasters spanning from the Irish Potato Famine to the sinking of the Titanic and the Salem Witch trials.

With a comedic twist, she transforms the most catastrophic events in history into an hour-long amusing who-dunnit case. Each episode delves into a scene from history, detailing the main events that led up to the historical disasters and making a short-list of potential perpetrators.

Smith, then decides who is most at fault. Her amazing wit, excellent choice in guests, and immersive storytelling style makes this podcast a must-listen for 2019.

APPROVE

PARKER MILES STAFF WRITER

Wireless. Effortless. Magical: A perfect description for Apple’s 2016 AirPods. These 0.14 oz pieces of plastic have transformed the way people experience music and media. As of July 2019, nearly 15.9 million airpods were sold. While small in size, the effect they have on headphones and technology as a whole is unprecedented. Almost as cool as the AirPods themselves is their backstory.

These AirPods have gone from being a meme in 2016. So many memes were put out about AirPods which is why air pods became so well known.

As a result, people began to start buying them. In other words, the memes contradicted themselves.

All over the world today, millions of people possess these which gives them a sense of pride because they are so convenient and comfortable.

After buying a pair of these AirPods, it’s impossible to not feel like you are living in the lap of luxury.

APPROVE

Look, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson are both extremely talented artists.

Between them, they have won 13 Grammy Awards and amassed a following of millions. However, their most recent holiday release, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is nothing more than, in the words of Sharon Osborne and Deana Martin, daughter of Dean Martin, a “ridiculously” “absurd” abomination of a track. Not only does the track fail to appeal to one’s auditory senses, it also taints the original version of the song performed by Dean Martin and written by Frank Loesser. Instead of weaponizing the #MeToo movement and using false interpretations of the classic song as a means of monetizing off auditory garbage, why don’t John Legend and Kelly Clarkson simply go write an entirely new song?

What they have done with their “rewrite” of Baby It’s Cold Outside is the equivalent of spraying graffiti on a centuries old famous work of art; truly unnecessary. ◼︎

DISAPPROVE

E D R I S L S

8 | LIFESTYLE

FOOD TR OF THE D

In the seventies, the fast food chain “White Castle”, created a five cent burger, about the size of a child’s palm for the “American working class.” They were called sliders, and while they aren’t as popular now, they made a resurgence in 2010, peaking in popularity in a much different way. It wasn’t just an affordable sandwich for hard workers, but instead the sultry sliders are made topped with lobster, goat cheese, and caviar!

F

S

O

R T U D CK O

Food trucks rise in popularity began in 2008, due to the American economic recession. It was more cost effective to use food trucks, as they require less maintenance, but even after the recession people are still hooked on the trend. According to IBIS world, a company that performs in-depth reports of world industries, the food truck industry has consistently grown by around seven percent since 2012, and matured into a billion dollar industry.

A C D O O V A

According to the International Trade Centre, global avocado imports hit $4.82 billion in 2016. The novelty has gained so much popularity that a recent shortage has caused the price of the fruit to double for consumers. Like many other trends, it made its quick start through social media in the middle of the decade. Despite rising prices, its versatility has kept avocados on the shelves to this day.

TRENDS DECADE OMARI FOOTE, associate editor

H E T TICS S E A

THE C&G | 9

In this day and age, one post can be the start of a revolution. For these foods, it was the right photo, meme, or tweet, that helped them reach their stardom. From unicorn themed food to satisfying videos of chocolate, as social media grew, so did the popularity of these foods.

O N C A B

At the beginning of the decade, bacon left the breakfast table, and flew onto turkey legs, bubblegum, and even breath spray! Many credit Ron Swanson of “Parks and Recreation” and his love for bacon for the beginning of the burst here in America. Although for me, a dedicated “iCarly” fan, I had no intense desire to eat bacon until Carly and Sam told me to try Canadian bacon on their hit Nickelodeon show.

E

This year, Starbucks announced that they would have its earliest release date, for the long awaited “pumpkin spice latte.” The festive spice added to coffee, muffins (my personal favorite), pies, and seemingly every other baked holiday good, has gained so much popularity that it has become a multi-million dollar industry, grossing over $500 million a year. ◼︎

PIC

K I P N M S U P

10 | LIFESTYLE

Cafe Sunflower

E

Buckhead

ven if it means you have to fight the 1pm Sunday brunch crowd, it is worth the wait to experience a meal at Cafe Sunflower. Contrary to its name, Cafe Sunflower is decorated with dark and sophisticated interiors, providing a moody and cozy dining experience.

Featuring different takes on southern classics, the menu included s “chicken” biscuits and tofu eggs benedict. Made with a variety of vegan ingredients, the chicken and homemade vegan waffles were topped with fried chicken seitan, a common vegan substitute made of wheat gluten, mustard maple syrup, and finished with vegan whipped cream. The sweet aroma of fried chicken and buttery waffles warmed me as my food came out.

Surprisingly, the waffles looked identical to your typical waffle, but the seitan was far thinner and darker than real chicken. To my surprise, there was no discernible difference between this dish and the real deal. Overall, the refined atmosphere, unique and diverse menu, and authentic flavors is what puts Café Sunflower on the list.

A DAY O

Veg MAGGIE BELENKY, managing editor

Herban Fix Midtown

E

legant décor, an array of Asian influenced dishes, and a welcoming team that makes a point of ensuring your dining experience is supreme makes “Herban Fix” a hit with both vegans and non-vegans. Offering both traditional and unique Asian dishes, Herban Fix’s menu enticed me. With so many options to choose from, I decided to try a few dishes: the traditional vegetable spring rolls, spicy kimchi dumplings, steamed buns with crispy soy duck, and the king oyster mushrooms glazed with a sweet sesame sauce. Each dish was full of intense flavors and fresh ingredients.

The strong meaty texture of the soy duck made it indistinguishable from real meat. This was much different from the other variations of meat I had tried at previous vegan restaurants. Between the sophisticated atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food, Herban Fix is a must try for all lovers of food, even if you aren’t vegan.

THE C&G | 11

Slutty Vegan

A

Downtown

n hour before opening on Friday afternoon, the line for this impossible burger restaurant was already down the street and around the corner. Smelling like fourth of July, the aroma of juicy burgers and fresh bread filled the air. Slutty Vegan, a new plant based burger sensation, is all about the experience. Rather than simply taking your order, your waitress partakes in your experience, shouting “we got a virgin in here!” after learning it’s your first dining experience. Reading through the menu choices with risque names, such as The Fussy Hussy and Menage å Trois, also add to the experience. After reading through the choices, I settled on the One Night Stand burger, loaded with vegan ingredients like soy bacon and vegan cheese. Once the dining experience ended, it was clear why the line forms at 3pm on a Friday. Get over to Westview to be a part of this one of a kind experience that is Now, head on downtown to be apart of this one of a kind experience that is Slutty Vegan.

Y OF

gan

Who needs meat when you have these delicious vegan options?

Dulce Vegan Bakery and Cafe Decatur

B

utter, eggs, and milk. Those are some of the essential ingredients for baking, but Dulce Vegan Bakery and Cafe manages to make their desserts just as delicious, even without those “essentials”. For example, cow’s milk is replaced with soy, hemp, coconut, and many variations of almond milk. As soon as you walk in, the sweet aroma of fresh cookies and cake baking fills the room. Bright and inviting, this spot is bustling with a line of people eager to start up a conversation. Featuring an assortment of specialty cupcakes, such as orange cardamom, lemon raspberry, and german chocolate, there were countless options to choose from. In the end, I landed on the unique lavender cupcake and irresistible cookies n creme cupcake. A combination of creaminess and unique flavors makes these cupcakes a must try for everyone. Dulce Vegan Bakery and Café also has many non-dessert options, such as salads, sandwiches, and breakfast items. It’s worth the drive to Kirkwood to enjoy this delicious alternative to traditional desserts. ◼︎

12 | NEWS

A DISHONEST SHAM EDITORIAL BY ALEX NEWBERG

S

ince President Trump was elected, Democrats have gone to extraordinary lengths to reverse the outcome of the 2016 election. First, there was “Spygate,” when the Clintons and DNC subsidized research to obtain a FISA warrant to spy on Trump’s political campaign. The Democrats continued, ordering Robert Mueller to look into Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. This report found no conclusive evidence of interference, according to the American Bar Association. Their left-wing narrative has continued to shift - first, they accused Trump of foreign interference and collusion, then obstruction of justice, and now, it is abuse of power and obstruction as grounds for impeachment.

First, look to the Constitution. It asserts the President can be removed for conviction of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Many people cite federal criminal code during this coup, yet the impeachment clause does not involve federal criminal code. When this nation was founded, misdemeanors weren’t a thing. “High crimes and misdemeanors,” when interpreted from British common law, mean a grave offense.

Why impeach President Trump? The President asked Ukraine to investigate Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy corporation, and the Bidens. Hunter Biden, former VP Joe Biden’s son, was on the board of Burisma Holdings, making millions of dollars despite his lack of experience in the energy sector, dishonorable discharge from the Navy, and his drug problems. When Burisma Holdings was under investigation, Vice President Biden leveraged one-billion dollars in loan guarantees to fire the prosecutor investigating Hunter Biden, and even celebrated it on television. Democrats dismiss this quid pro quo as a conspiracy.

Before this hoax, journalists like Kenneth P. Vogel investigated Ukraine’s sway in the 2016 election. Ukraine pushed anti-Trump smears, disseminated fabricated information, and aided Clinton’s campaign.

This impeachment inquiry, predicated on feelings and concerns rather than facts and evidence, will be a failure for Democrats for one reason. The President has committed no impeachable offense… not one. “[Those who have testified] were unable to identify a crime or impeachable offense that the President committed,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) in response to the testimonies. In the 55 days the Ukraine aid was delayed, President Zelensky had five calls and meetings with high-ranking American officials. In each of those conferences, there was never a link made between the defense aid and investigation of the Bidens. While the aid was withheld, US diplomats and leaders verified President Zelensky’s worthiness of U.S. aid. “President [Volodymyr] Zelensky didn’t announce he was going to investigate Burisma or the Bidens. He didn’t do a press conference and say: ‘I’m going to investigate the Bidens. We’re going to investigate Burisma.’ He didn’t tweet about it … and yet you [Ambassador Taylor] said you have a clear understanding that those two things were going to happen — the money was going to get released but not until there was an investigation. And that, in fact, didn’t happen,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). There was no quid pro quo due to the lack of connection between the aid and the investigation. As Rep. Elise Stefanik reiterated, “For the millions of Americans viewing today, the two most important facts are the following. Number one, Ukraine received the aid. Number two, there was, in fact, no investigation into Biden.”

As Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) said, “the aid freeze was always temporary. It got released.” We, as the most powerful and influential country, had to make sure Ukraine’s new government was fair. This is especially important considering Ukraine’s history of corruption. Additionally, Kurt Volker, the U.S. Special Rep. for Ukraine Negotiations, said, “At no time was I aware of or knowingly took part in an effort to urge Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden,” said Volker.

And, Ambassador Sondland repeatedly confirmed no one told him the aid was tied to the investigation.

This impeachment has been on partisan grounds, which our founding fathers warned us against because it tears the country apart. The two articles-ofimpeachment passed on December 18 were on complete party-lines (230-197, 229-198).

Democrats’ argument is ineffective. According to mid-November’s Politico poll, 47 percent of independents reject the inquiry, compared to 37 percent the week prior, proving that independents increasingly oppose impeachment.

Meanwhile, general support for the inquiry fell 2 points, while opposition to it rose 3 points.

As of December 2019, every House Judiciary Committee witness has essentially testified that the President committed no impeachable offense. This impeachment inquiry has been hearsay, speculation, and presumption. If Democrats truly believe President Trump has behaved unlawfully, let the people vote in 2020. What Democrats have done to President Trump to sully and remove him has never been done before in American history. They have harassed, slandered, and dishonored the President, dragging his family through the mud time and time again, all over a farce. When we cut through the second-hand and thirdhand information to look at the hard facts and direct evidence, it is apparent what this is: a sham and a miserable one at that. Let the President do his job. ◼︎

THE C&G | 13

CRIMINAL-In-CHIEF EDITORIAL BY JAYLEE DAVIS

O

n July 25, 2019, only a day after the Russia hearings, President Trump made a now highly controversial phone call to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that raised the concern of a whistleblower who alleges that Trump disavowed the integrity of his oath of office. In the conversation, Trump bullied the President of Ukraine into investigating his political rival, Joe Biden, for the sake of his own political gain.

The impeachment inquiry into Trump’s illegal offenses has been long overdue.

Republicans should be ashamed at turning a blind eye to the reality of the situation: our President overstepped the capacity of his power of his office.

Period.

Article II, Section 4 of our Constitution reads “The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

Over the course of the impeachment hearings, veritable evidence has been presented that President Trump is guilty of a quid pro quo. No matter how Republicans try to spin the story, there is no denying that our President has committed an impeachable offense. Withholding aid from another country on the condition that they launch a biased investigation into one of your political rivals is an undeniable abuse of power. Doing so with the intention of boosting your reelection campaign constitutes bribery, one of the “high Crimes and Misdemeanors” cited as an impeachable offense. Harvard Law professor and constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe said in an interview with Anderson Cooper, “There’s more than enough evidence now to conclude that this president has committed what the framers would have regarded as grave high crimes and misdemeanors, including one that is named in the Constitution, namely bribery.”

Convinced of the President’s impunity, all Republicans have left to say is there was “no quid pro quo.” Denying a crime, however, doesn’t make you any less guilty. This is especially true for someone who refuses to comply with the investigation. When the “no quid pro quo” argument was proven false by their very own Gordon Sondland on the third day of the impeachment inquiries, they decided instead that the impeachment inquiries are a waste of time. This is merely a deflection. Republicans would rather spend that time trying to convince the American people of conspiracy theories like that Ukraine hacked the 2016 election instead of Russia. Or suggesting that the FBI waged a deep state war against him and his campaign by starting the Russia investigation. Both of these lies have been proven false. The Inspector General Report failed to find substantial evidence that political bias motivated the Russia probe. And despite how much Sean Hannity yaps about a Politico report that he claims is evidence that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election, there is no evidence anywhere to back the claim up.

“Our nation, our democracy is being tested against the criminal impulses of President Trump.”

- jaylee davis ‘20

All these schemes are merely avoidance tactics from the obvious truth.

Despite this apparent fact, Republicans are willing to compromise the sanctity of our democratic process to blindly support a demagogue of a president.

Republicans have reached unbelievable levels of sycophancy in order to secure future political approval from Trump’s base. An almost absurdly laughable (but eerily cultish) display of this unending worship occurred recently when Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy, claimed that Trump was sent by God as “the chosen one.”

A President that relied on Russian propagandists to get elected thinks he can bully his way into reelection. Elected members of our government, who pledged to serve our country, are sitting idly by and letting Trump rip our ideals into shreds. This should not be a partisan issue. Our nation, our democracy is being tested against the criminal impulses of President Trump. It is crucial that everyone takes this threat seriously and holds the President accountable for his actions. We will look back on this moment as one that shaped the course of our democracy. It is now up to our representatives in government to decide whether we continue to support a leader that has insulted the very foundations of our country. ◼︎

matthew raeside/CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

14 | NEWS

THE RISE OF TEEN ACTIVISM

Today, more and more teen activists advocating for many different issues are gaining suprising amounts of fame for a number of reasons.

KATHERNE POCH, staff writer

Actvist: Royce Mann Where: Atlanta, GA Instagram: @the_royce_mann Twitter: @TheRoyceMann

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efore he was 18, this ambitious teen activist and senior at Grady High School wrote a poem on privilege that went viral and received millions of views, led the Atlanta Pride Parade as a grand marshall, and led the Atlanta March for Our Lives as a coordinator. While most 17-year-olds would probably be busy studying for school or going out with friends, Royce Mann has dedicated much of his time to participating in activism in the Atlanta community.

Today, more and more teenagers like Mann are beginning to take a stand for what they believe in and participate in activism all over the world.

Recalling the first time he really thought about his privilege, Mann said, “I took a course that year in school, my eighth grade year, called Race, Class, and Gender, where we explored topics of privilege, of institutional racism, of silent sexism, and a lot of different issues that really connected a lot of dots for me.”

Soon after taking this class, Mann wrote a poem called “White Boy Privilege” where he talked about the privileges that he has in his life because of his race, gender, and class. This poem was Mann’s first step into the world of activism.

After it received a large amount of popularity, Mann began to write more poems about other issues he was passionate about, even performing some on television. As he got older, Mann was inspired to begin participating in activism outside of his poems and he started attending and leading marches.

Photo courtesy of Royce Mann

“After the shooting at Parkland, when I saw the many other students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas rising up and demanding change and organizing the March for Our Lives, immediately, I was inspired by the way that they turned tragedy into action so quickly and so courageously that I wanted to be involved in Atlanta,” Mann said. From there, he contacted the organizers of the Women’s March from a few years ago who helped get a group of youth activists to organize a March for Our Lives here in Atlanta. The march was incredibly successful and ended up being one of the largest in Georgia’s history. Mann has continued his work after

THE C&G | 15 the march by trying to engage more youth in the Atlanta area.

Mann also recently was nominated and chosen to be a grand marshall in the 2019 Atlanta Pride Parade. His interest in the Atlanta Pride organization did not begin when he was nominated, however. “I went to my first pride in utero when my mom was expecting and getting to be honored by an organization that in many ways sort of introduced me to activism and introduced me to a lot of the issues I’m passionate about today was a really great experience,” Mann explained.

Actvist: Greta Thunberg Where: Stockholm, Sweden Instagram: @gretathunberg Twitter: @GretaThunberg

Although Mann has had great success with the large and popular marches he has organized and the poems he has written, being a teen activist forces Mann to face challenges in the political arena that adults do not have to worry about.

While trying to stay involved in the community, Mann is also currently focusing on applying to colleges and keeping up with schoolwork. The balance between activism and school can be a struggle. Another issue is that school hours conflict with the Capitol’s legislative sessions. Mann explained that while trying to advocate for gun safety, he would go after school and arrive a few hours after the session had ended when most of the representatives had already left.

Mann does not believe that all adults want kids to stay out of activism, however. “I think there are a lot of [adults] who are experienced in community organizing and to recognize that they can bring something to the table and that experience and then that wisdom, but also recognize the value in having younger perspectives on the table and want to work collaboratively. And I think that working with those people is the key,” Mann said.

Mann is not the only teenager who decided he wanted to stand up and fight for the things he believes in. Youth all over the world have been getting involved in activism. Figures like climate activist, Greta Thunberg, Parkland shooting survivor, Emma Gonzalez, and conservative youth advocate, CJ Pearson, have received fame and popularity recently for their outstanding achievements in the world of activism despite their young age. The rise of so many kids in the news advocating for different issues begs the question: why are so many kids getting involved in activism today?

Maria Andrade, the Vice President of Programs for the Young Democrats of Georgia theorizes that the spark of youth activism is in part due to the activity in the political world today, specifically in America with the election of Donald Trump. “There were issues that a lot of people were very, very much excited about or very energized because there were issues that they did not agree with.

Or maybe they were on the other side and they did agree with and wanted to make sure that they were highlighted,” Andrade said. People saw these events occuring and decided they wanted their voices to be heard.

The popularity of social media has also allowed younger people to take action in a digital world. “I think social media is incredible in terms of activism, because this allows for a larger network. It allows us to amplify the messages that young people are trying to get across,” Andrade said. Social media can help bridge the gap between youth activists and the real world.

Activism should not be limited to a screen, however. “I think [social media] also is limited because you definitely need to expand your action outside of social media to get really significant systemic changes on a broader scale,” Mann said.

Mann and Andrade both advise people to get out and get involved in their communities if they want to become activists. “There are so many tools at your fingertips. You may not even realize, but just go online. Look at activist groups near you, especially youth led activist groups. There’s so many issues that groups are focused on,” Mann said. ◼︎

Actvist: Emma Gonzalez Where: Parkland, FL Instagram: @emmawise18 Twitter: @Emma4Change

Actvist: CJ Pearson Where: Augusta, GA Instagram: @thecjpearson Twitter: @thecjpearson

16 | NEWS

OFF THE COURT

MATTHEW RAESIDE; co-editor-in-chief

On a rainy Tuesday night in early November, the Bears’ Varsity Basketball team (8-2) faced the Buford Wolves, narrowly losing to them 47-44 in the final few minutes of the game. After the game, Head Coach Dixon led the coaches in their talk to the players.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

THE C&G | 17

Rachel Suttle ‘21 (forward) greets Olivia Hutcherson ‘23 (right) as she rejoins the Bears bench during a timeout.

Charlsie Birkel ‘21 runs onto the court from the Varsity Girls’ lockeroom at the start of the game against Buford.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

18 | NEWS

Head Coach Dixon critiques the team’s defense after calling for a timeout as the Golden Bears trail behind Buford during the last period of the game.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

At the end of Head Coach Dixon’s (left) half-time talk with the team in the Varsity Girls’ lockeroom, they break before heading back out to face Buford.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

Jillian Hollingshead ‘21 (right) jumps above the Buford player to reach for the jump ball at the start of the game.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

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THE C&G | 19

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here’s one thing [that we lack], and I want to see if you guys know it. What is one category, that’s not offense, guys, the one thing that [Buford] had that beat us. It’s not offense - it’s a part of a bigger concept. It’s not a statistic.

GRIT. That’s a part of it. We got slapped in the face. Listen to me. If somebody is holding me like this, I’m getting off of him. You don’t throw a punch - that’s not good sportsmanship.

Well, you have got to have more of something. We need more fight in the dog. I mean they were tougher than us. They’re a tough group. He runs them hard, and it makes them tough.

Head Coach and assistant Athletic Director Nicole Dixon made a speech after a tough loss to Buford in a huddle of players and coaches in the lockeroom.

But we can be just as tough. There’s no reason in the world. They have five kids going 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. DIVING for loose balls, BUMPING, GRINDING, PUSHING, GRABBING, STEALING, whatever they can do to win the game, because they desperately want to win.

And we have to get more of that. We have [only a] few kids who have it all the time. We have a bunch of kids that don’t - they have it hardly at all.

We got to get it together, it has got to come together. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it means you are getting people off of you. You have to have higher self-esteem.

Y’all, I’m fighting like a CRAZY PERSON over there for you, and I hate to lose more than you guys know. But what I love is that we’ve improved. Have we not gotten better? If we would’ve played [Buford] two weeks ago, I doubt it would’ve been like that.

What I love about this group is that YOU GET BETTER every single day, and I’m proud of you. ◼︎

Team captain Jada Farrel ‘20 (center) jumps above the Buford defense to shoot.

MATTHEW RAESIDE/co-editor-in-chief

20 | FEATURE

Photo via iStock JAYLEE DAVIS, editor-in-chief

The Making of A Crisis: How the Opioid Epidemic Ruined America

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n October 21st, three prime wholesale drug distributing companies –– McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health along with drug manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals –– settled a 260 million dollar lawsuit with two Ohio counties for damages related to the opioid addiction crisis. With this settlement, the companies successfully avoided what would have been a landmark trial on the epidemic that has been plaguing America for nearly two decades.

Since the 1990s, the opioid epidemic has resulted in 400,000 overdose deaths. It has been the subject of thousands of lawsuits, some of which are still pending.

Lawmakers and experts argue that the October settlement is not enough to resolve the costliest and deadliest epidemic ever before seen in America. They disagree, however, on the best course of action. The enduring struggle prompts the questions: What started this crisis? How, if ever, will it end?

Opioids are a class of drugs encompassing both natural substances derived from the poppy seeds and synthetic substances created in a lab. Most often prescribed for treating surgical or chronic pain, the drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain. This process blocks pain signals from being transmitted to the brain and as a result, reduces feelings of pain. While suppressing pain, opioids also run the brain’s reward circuits into overdrive, leading to an overproduction of dopamine – a neurochemical that induces feelings of happiness and euphoria.

The continuous activation of this reward circuit eventually leads to addiction and tolerance. Once tolerance develops, a higher and higher dosage is needed to satisfy the cravings of addiction. The likelihood of trying more lethal substances such as fentanyl or heroin to reach the same high increases, exposing the user to greater health risks including the possibility of overdose.

The use of opioids to treat pain is not a new development, but in fact, goes as far back as thousands of years ago. There have even been opium-related addiction crises in the past. The first struggle that any country faced against opium addiction was in China during the mid-19th century. Addiction from the opioid trade, which was mainly exported by British traders, had violently disrupted the social and political systems. When they tried to suppress this trade and quell the surging tide of addiction sweeping across their country, they sparked not one, but two wars with Britain.

America’s history with opioids has involved less geopolitical conflict, but it has been just as destructive as a national burden. According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers’ estimate, the epidemic has cost our country more than $2.5 trillion over the course of 2015 to 2018. This estimate includes the value of lost lives and productivity, spikes in healthcare, substance abuse, and criminal justice costs. In addition to this steep price, the Centers for Disease Control report that opioid overdoses claims, on average, the lives of 130 Americans a day.

David Herzberg, an associate professor at the University at Buffalo in New York specializes in the history of the opioid epidemic. He gives two catalysts for the rise of the epidemic in the United States.

“The causes of the opioid epidemic were a toxic mixture of insufficiently regulated capitalism and racism,” Herzberg said.

According to Herzberg, government relaxation of regulation and oversight on businesses, including pharmaceutical companies laid the foundation for the crisis. Empowered by more freedom to market their drugs, they flooded doctors

THE C&G | 21

“I blame the crisis of addiction on drug companies.

And then they persuaded authorities basically to turn it into a crisis of death.” - David Herzberg with propaganda encouraging them to prescribe their products.

Herzberg notes that this “resulted in a lot more prescribing and sales of opioids, and that just meant there were a ton of opioids flowing through American communities. And you know, where there’s a lot of opioids, there eventually is a lot of addiction.”

This coincided with a movement among medical organizations against the undertreatment of pain. In 1996, the American Pain Society designated pain as the fifth vital sign, meaning that it would be considered crucial to be regulated along with the other pre-established vital signs -- body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. Doctors would suddenly be penalized if patients reported overwhelming amounts of untreated pain. Combined with increased marketing for opioids to treat pain, this spelled for a drug overdose disaster.

“There are particular medical organizations, professional organizations that tell them [doctors] what to do in particular situations… What happened in the 80s and 90s is that the opioid manufacturers started to give millions and millions of dollars to these organizations so that they would when they issued their guidelines for how conditions should behave, they issued guidelines that ... prescribed opioids,” Herzberg said.

The other unexpected and controversial reason for the epidemic according to Herzberg was racism.

“It turns out that physicians were taught for much of the 20th century, that nonwhite people don’t actually experience pain as intensely as white people do…

And so they tended not to prescribe them opioids,” Herzberg said.

This racial divide explains why the main population affected by the epidemic has been predominantly white rural areas. Herzberg also suggests that this was also a marketing ploy by pharmaceutical companies to disassociate the drug from stereotypically addiction-laden groups such as African Americans. “in this country drugs that are used a lot by nonwhite people… They tend to get a bad reputation and they tend to be criminalized,” Herzberg said.

The epidemic eventually spread, however, to affect all demographics indiscriminately, becoming increasingly ethnic and urban. Many activists have called for pharmaceutical companies to make direct reparations for the devastating effect the crisis has had on the American population, claiming that settlements are not enough. Herzberg claims that companies are not the only ones at fault.

“I would place the origins of the crisis on the opioid companies,” he said.

But Herzberg also cites misled American drug policy initiatives as another factor in prolonging the crisis.

“It’s because American drug policy, sees people with addiction as less than human and doesn’t genuinely treat them as people who need to be protected and people who are... fully human and loved by the people in their families and friends,” Herzberg said, “That’s what transformed it from a crisis of addiction into a crisis of death. So I blame the crisis of addiction on drug companies. And then they persuaded authorities basically to turn it into a crisis of death.”

Treatment and medical policy changes to address the crisis often prove elusive. In fact, preventative measures such as limiting the amount of opioid prescriptions have backfired as the addicted turn instead to deadlier street drugs such as fentanyl and heroin. On the other hand, limiting the amount of opioid prescriptions has led to a backlash movement by chronic pain patients who complain that the new prescription measures prevent them from seeking the treatment that they need.

Tapering down doses of opioid prescriptions in an attempt to reduce addiction has increased the risk of suicide for chronic pain patients. Activists joined forces to protest the pharmaceutical restrictions that overwhelm their lives with pain and reduce their ability to enjoy life.

Claudia Merandi, founder of the Don’t Punish Pain Rally, is among those chronic pain activists that have stood up against limiting the amount of opioids for pain patients who rely on them.

“People with chronic pain are paying the price of addiction and they shouldn’t be,” Merandi said, pointing out that more people have died from fentanyl, a more potent illicit opioid, in recent years.

Merandi believes that restrictions will lead to more harm than good. She describes the tragic effect the epidemic has had on chronic pain patients -taking parents away from their children and people away from their lives. Those who look for other, more deadly alternatives will only exacerbate the crisis and add to the toil.

“People that were once living good lives, that were able to get out of bed, wash themselves or go to work -- police officers, firefighters, doctors, lawyers, engineers -- they can’t do any of that anymore.. The greatest impact is that these people were living; they’re no longer living,” Merandi said.

These competing forces between treating patients and managing addiction has made the resolving epidemic an uphill battle for the country. Despite high dollar settlements to counties, there is no telling when the crisis will end or if the current strategies will ever be successful. If this cycle carries on as it has been, this crisis, which has ruined America for the past decade may continue to spread unabated. ◼︎

22 | PEOPLE

Enter the Office of

Father Bailey ZAK KERR, associate editor

S

omeone once told me, “You can tell a lot about a person from the state of their office or desk,” and so far, I have found such a measure to be fairly accurate. The way one arranges his or her desk, what pictures (if any) one elects to hang or place, the overall neatness, etc. all exhibit characteristics of the resident’s personality.

Of all the offices I have visited in my lifetime, especially within the domain of school, few have ever intrigued me as much as the office of Father Bailey. Everything from the regal smell of the fresh cigars to the action figurines from decades past perched high atop shelves have always inflamed in me a great sense of intrigue. They all seem to tell a story.

We join together most Thursdays with Bailey to celebrate life and explore our Faith. But aside from the Bailey we join with most Thursdays, what is his story? How do all the trinkets in his office piece together to illustrate his personality?

On a November afternoon, I stopped by his office to put those pieces together.

Proudly dressed in the colors of his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, Bailey walked over to the cushy leather meeting chairs of his office where we began our interview. Given the many religious icons throughout the room, learning more about Bailey as a man of religion seemed a fitting place to start our conversation.

“In the Catholic world, particularly when you start serving as an altar boy, that becomes something that is really part of a social DNA. [You’re] taught that you can go be many other things in your life,

and those things are not discouraged. But being a priest and entertaining the idea of priesthood and being serious about it is something that you gotta be prepared for. But it ends up being a huge honor for you and your family as you now share in the young priesthood of Jesus Christ that was established 2,000 years ago” Bailey said.

The great mystery of Faith has enthused and intrigued billions over the course of history. So what does Faith mean to a man of the modern day who has devoted his entire life to such a concept?

In a cadenced and meaningful tone, Bailey explained his definition of Faith as “[an] understanding of who God is and what God’s love is for me without physically or tangibly touching God.” He continued in a state of admiration, “but at the same being able to see and recognize and know God’s presence is around me, through people, through circumstance situations, through events. I feel the presence of God in my life and I know that (said presence) allows me to be who I am today and be able to help other people as well.”

While inquiring as to whether or not Faith has always been something Bailey has been aware of, he immediately and emphatically responded, “No!” There are even times now Bailey “does not recognize the presence.” But it’s when he “recollects” that Bailey comes to the realization that “Oh, wow! That was God, because that had nothing to do with me.”

Despite the many undulating twists and turns associated with life, Bailey’s Faith stays strong; he attributes his firm sense of Faith to his mother.

“Witnessing my mother, who struggled very hard through life, who remained generous, loving, so kind, so unselfish. I’d never been loved and never, probably

ever, will be loved the way that woman loved me. The way she sacrificed and really gave herself.”

Bailey’s mother, Elizabeth Bailey, never married Bailey’s father, Harrison Price, who suffered from “severe alcoholism.”

Bailey continued, “the way she prayed, the way she understood God and conveyed that to me still resonates a very special place in my heart to this very moment.”

If not for his mother, Bailey said “God only knows [what I would have been]. I am what they call the Boyz in the Hood Generation. We were told, as young black men, that we would either be dead before 21 or we would be incarcerated or we would have multiple babies and everything. And I thank God that I, and many others, did not fall victim to that.”

“But, If I had not been a priest, I would love to have been a Marine. I love that uniform, that thing is tight man!” Bailey jovially declared.

Looking around the room, my eyes landed on a picture of Bailey’s wife, Marica Bailey. The average marriage in the United States lasts eight years and the odds of finding and marrying your “high school sweetheart” are unbelievably low (The Balance). But Bailey experienced love at first sight, while still in high school, in the summer of 1991.

“They used to have this TV dance show for teenagers in the urban area known as Atlanta Jamz. Every Wednesday, they would open up this club for all the teenagers in the area to go and dance to different songs, and it was televised. So every Wednesday on channel 36, I would watch this show and there was this one girl who caught my eye. I just became a fan, I was like, ‘This girl is the most beautiful thing I’ve

THE C&G | 23 ever seen.” Bailey said, clearly caught-up in the bliss of his memory.

to persevere through that suffering and become stronger and better.”

It was that summer that Bailey was working at Subway Sandwiches off of Clairmont Road.

While working at Subway, Bailey recalls one of his coworkers saying that, “he and his girlfriend were going to go to Six Flags and did I want to go on a double date?’ He then said this phrase that absolutely every guy is petrified of. and it is: ‘My girlfriend has a cousin. Oh, man!”

Bailey continued discussing why evil and sin exist.

After a mutual chuckle, Bailey continued, “Lo and behold, when the day came for us to meet up, his girlfriend gets out of the car and brings the cousin who walks by the door of my restaurant.

When she comes in, I’m like: ‘Oh my gosh, that’s that girl from Atlanta Jamz!’ And the rest is history. I feel that God tattooed her on my soul.”

The Bailey’s have four children: three daughters and a son. His middle daughter, Makiya, says her Dad “really is just a go with the flow type of guy…

In most ways, he is similar to how he acts here at school, but at home he is just an extra level of goofy. He truly is kind, supportive, and goofy.”

Makiya laughingly said her Dad “loves smoking cigars in his downtime… but he [also] is often times washing clothes. So, I guess he does that to relax!”

Zahria, Bailey’s younger daughter, added Bailey “collects G.I. JOES, action figures, and a bunch of Batman stuff.”

If you’ve had the privilege of being in Bailey’s God & Humanity class, you would most certainly be familiar with Bailey’s obsession with Batman and the G.I. JOES. “I still have my collectibles from the G.I. JOES 1987 series. I have to be kind of protective over all that stuff because my son (age 4), well, he doesn’t take as good care of them! You know he’ll slam it together and I’m like, “Man! You can’t do that!” Bailey said.

The story of Batman seemed as though it were a good segway into the discussion of why God allows evil to persist throughout the world. “If God just snapped His fingers and said, ‘Let there be no more evil,’ we would not understand what the love of God is all about. I believe that all of those constructs are just the reality of the skin that we’re in as human beings. So, if I am suffering in whatever form or fashion I may be in, I still have my faith. I’ll be able

“We [as humans] want to have a Frank Sinatra spirituality: do it our way, not God’s way, but our way. And then we turn from God. Theologically, that’s

“If God just snapped His fingers and said, ‘Let there be no more evil,’ we would not understand what the love of God is all about.”

- Father Bailey what we say sin is because you’re walking against God. God is always there but when we turn our back, that’s when we fall and make mistakes. But that’s when we come to realize that if we just did it God’s way and not Frank’s way, maybe the outcome -more than likely -- would have been a little different.”

While looking around Bailey’s office, I noticed an old pamphlet from his church in Decatur, Georgia, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. As part of my quest to piece together just part of the story Bailey’s office tells, I journeyed across Atlanta to attend one of Bailey’s services.

On its exterior, St. Timothy’s Church is of modest design. However, what lies behind its doors is nothing short of spectacular. The people, the choir, the smell of the rich incense, the long flames from candles behind the altar, and the invisible, yet, clearly present force of love and joy are overwhelming.

At the beginning of the service, Bailey humorously shared with the congregation a story from his trip to meet with the Presiding Bishop Curry in New York City. After earning a free evening in New York, “Thanks be to God” Bailey learned of “the other city right under New York, known as the Subway.”

Bailey described how he attempted to find his way to the cigar store, A Casa de Monte Cristo.

After smoking his cigars, it was 11 o’clock and Bailey headed back to the subway. But, not to the knowledge of Bailey, the M-train had stopped running at 10 o’clock. “I took that train all the way up to Coney Island! I figured, Coney Island was way far away from Times Square. So, I went to the ticket counter and the lady said, ‘well baby, you are very far away.’ I got on another train and ended up in Harlem, New York. I noticed there were some very interesting individuals who joined me on my train ride so I prayed and said, ‘Lord, just cover me. Everything will be alright.’”

Bailey said, over the laughing audience.

Bailey comes to HIES not just during the weekdays as a job––more accurately, his vocation––persists not only into the weekend, but also 24 hours a day, seven days a week; he lives and breathes his faith and service to God. The office of Father Ricardo Bailey most certainly tells a rich story, a story so vast and colorful a mere 2,000-word profile could not do it any justice. But, at the end of the day, Bailey’s office is irrelevant. Whether it be through a simple conversation in the hall or a Thursday sermon, Father Ricardo Bailey already has shared with us his story. A story we can apply to our lives to better understand Faith, a universal concept applicable regardless of background, and to be better people to ourselves and others.

“My favorite quote comes from a gospel song, and it’s this right here: ‘Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving, God’s been so good to me. Everyday he’s blessing me. Every day is the day of Thanksgiving.’” ◼︎

24 | PEOPLE

A Legacy of Love Meet the people and the past of the cross country program MADDIE POCH, production editor PARKER MILES, staff writer

William Welden ‘21, carries James Watson ‘21 alongside Hayden Puett ‘21 in the trail connecting HIES to the Temple Sinai parking lot.

parker miles/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

THE C&G | 25

26 | PEOPLE

Six years ago, just over 20 students comprised the entirety of the HIES varsity cross country team.

The runners fit easily into assistant coach Jason Rutledge’s classroom, and even so, the varsity boys’ team took fourth place in the 2013 State Championship meet and the girls placed sixth. Since then, the program has grown exponentially.

In the 2019 season, the roster overflowed with 100 junior varsity and varsity athletes, including two managers and one team videographer. Nine coaches led the team and 10 juniors and seniors served as captains for their teammates.

While the cross country program has existed at HIES for 27 years, the recent popularity and success of the team attracts attention across school divisions.

Before many middle school students start their academic year in the Fred Rowan Family Middle School, over 100 runners have already attended a summer cross country practice on Baker Field.

Though no one can deny cross country’s prevalence in the HIES community, the program’s performance can be attributed to numerous dedicated runners throughout the years. Coaches, alumni, and current runners have a profound love for the sport, and the program has thrived as a result.

To understand the program’s success, one must look beyond the team’s achievements. Cross country has never been about a win, a title, or a trophy. Each coach, runner, and spectator can attest to the social nature of the sport. The program’s foundation has been built upon relationships rather than successes.

Each participant adds to the program, and their contributions ensure that cross country will always be more than a race.

Cross Country Today

C

urrently, the Upper School cross country team outnumbers all other high school teams, and the 2019 season concluded with the best finish in the high school’s history. The boys clenched the runner-up spot at the state championship, and the girls team won by a margin of 21 points.

While the team is known for recent success, cross country’s greatest accomplishment lies in its ability to unite the HIES community. Though runners join the team for vastly different reasons, the bonds they form in practices and competitions are often the most attractive part of the sport.

“

Emily Kallis ‘20 ran cross country with the HIES team throughout middle school.

After a three-year gap in high school, Kallis returned to the sport as a senior. For the first time, only senior runners participated in the Peake Invitational in Macon, Georgia. The temperature was well above 90 degrees, and the team overcame numerous obstacles in transportation to arrive at the race.

“We went to Macon for that first meet, and we got stuck in a bus in the middle of nowhere,” Kallis said. “We just kind of took it as a fun trip instead of a meet we’re supposed to run. All the senior girls were having a good time with it.”

Runners from the class of 2019 left a legacy of inclusivity and passion in the program. 10 served as captains for their teammates, and they fostered a sense of commitment by making the team’s newest members feel welcome.

“The people who continue to do cross country until they’re seniors become really, really good leaders,” said Reese Neumann ‘23. “The captains this year reached out to everybody and made the team so much more like a family.”

Neumann describes herself as an unlikely participant in the sport. In sixth grade, she joined the cross country team because she needed a fall sport in order to compete as a three-season athlete for HIES. In comparison to other team sports, Neumann appreciates cross country’s ability to unite its participants.

“You become so much closer to your teammates without even knowing it,” Neumann said.

The bonds that form between teammates also serve to motivate runners to perform their best. In the sport, no runner is alone The team camaraderie facilitates improvement in practices and meets.

“It really is a fun team,” Neumann said. “At any moment in time, you have someone giving you encouragement throughout the meet.”

Similarly, Reese Martin ‘23 became a part of the cross country program at HIES because of the sport’s social dynamic.

“I kind of just went out and tried cross country at first because my sister did it, and she said it was a lot of fun,” Martin said.

Though Martin and Neumann characterize their first year of varsity cross country as a fun season, both freshmen exceeded expectations and helped lead the girls team to the program’s first state title. In their first year of competing

Cross country has given me my best friends, whether it be the ladies who I ran with every day after school or the new girls on the team!

Jessica McNair ‘20 Caroline Lyles ‘20 (left), Erin Hill ‘20 (middle), and Jessica McNair ‘20 (right) bonded through cross country, and they became known as ‘The Triplets’ throughout the team. melina sharp/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

THE C&G | 27

“

Cross country is bonding.

The whole experience, whether it’s the mile repeat workouts, the river runs, or the never-ceasing 5 a.m. wake-up calls, they all bring you closer to your teammates to make lasting friendships.

James Watson ‘21

James Watson ‘21 smiles as William Welden ‘21 carries him. Both will serve their team as captains in the 2020 season. melina sharp/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER in five kilometer races, personalized coaching especially helped the freshmen prepare for the extended distance.

“Jayaraj and Dunn both are really good at understanding your strengths and weaknesses,” Martin said. “Before meets, they have basically your whole race plan laid out before you even knew what it was.”

Though the coaching staff provides crucial guidance, runners must learn their own strategies to have their best performances. Teammates often repeat the mantra “no pain” during practices and workouts in order to emphasize the need to push beyond expectations.

Freshman Joe Sapone often crossed the finish line first for HIES runners, and he maintains a “no pain” mindset during his races to perform at the highest level possible.

“When you get in the mentality of “no pain,” you just kind of seize the moment and work towards the best of your ability,” Sapone said.

Martin, Neumann, and Sapone comprise only a few members of an exceptionally talented class of runners. Though their cross country careers have barely begun, their achievements thus far in the sport indicate promising futures beyond the high school level.

“I definitely want to run in college,” Martin said. Sapone hopes to continue his running career at the collegiate level because of the relationships he has developed through cross country.

“If I can carry that and keep that bond with other runners, for as long as I can and keep doing what I love, I’ll be happy,” Sapone said.

Coaches: The Foundation

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s the saying goes, a team can only succeed with the right coach. Whether it is pushing one of their runners to break a personal record or giving positive energy to the team, the coaches of the HIES cross country team are the main reason that the team has had an incredible amount of success.

They all acknowledge that being part of the cross country team is like being part of a family.

“In cross country, the bonding and friendships between people are just as good as the results,” Co-Head Coach Dunn Neugebauer said of the high school team.

Dunn ultimately came to the school by way of the “Northside Neighbor” newspaper. There, he was a sportswriter and the publication covered varsity sports at HIES. He started going to HIES and remembered driving to school for the first time and thinking to himself, “I like this place.” He knew that it was the right place for him when he saw how upbeat and positive the students were. A few years later, he was hired when the position he was looking for opened up.

When he became part of the school, he immediately knew it was the right place for him, and he does not plan on going anywhere anytime soon.

Throughout his time at HIES, Dunn has realized that the success of the high

28 | PEOPLE

Coaches Stephen Jayaraj (left) and Dunn Neugebauer (right) stand back-to-back. The two have been coaching together at HIES for 10 years. matthew raeside/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER school team ultimately starts with the middle school. Every day after school, roughly one third of the entire middle school division, amounting to about 100 runners, show up to practice and work as hard as possible to be the best version of themselves. He acknowledges that their passion and eagerness early carries over to the Upper School for great results.

Stephen Jayaraj, teacher and co-head cross country coach at HIES, has learned a similar lesson about teamwork.

“You learn that you do need other people to run [their] best because no one could go out there and have immediate success on their own.”

Jayaraj knows this from experience he gained throughout his own running career. He ultimately began to run during his junior year of high school at Phillips Exeter Preparatory School in Connecticut, and he continued to run for Emory University. His career peaked when he ran in the marathon at the 2003 National Championships in Birmingham. He placed 17th overall with a finishing time of 2:26:52, equating to a quick 5:36 mile pace.

Jayaraj ultimately found out about HIES in 2010 when he and Jenna Downey, a HIES alumnus and a member of the Hall of Fame, were working at Big Peach Running Company.

He was an assistant coach his first year and worked on middle school and varsity track teams for a few years. He slowly built up his record as a coach until the summer of 2013 when he became the varsity head coach for both varsity cross country and track.

One of his favorite memories in his time at HIES was in the fall of 2013 when the boys team made the podium for the first time in school history at the state meet, finishing fourth. Warner Ray was their number one runner, and Hall of Famer Ben Davies was only a freshman. He says the thing that shocks him the most is “that gap between our first time ever and now, both our teams State runner-up and state champs... It’s been quite a journey.”

Both Jayraraj and Dunn have learned an important lesson: They mention, “In running, people establish lifelong relationships with others, and these are the people that can help you be the best you can be in all phases of life.”

Roots in Middle School

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ith an overflowing roster of over 100 students, the middle school cross country team is as large as it is dominant. Every middle schooler has the opportunity to be a part of one of HIES’ most competitive teams, and an increasing number of students in grades six through eight choose to take part in the sport each fall.

“It’s the largest, most successful entity here at the school,” middle school coach Randi Aton said of the middle school cross country program.

Aton, known to her runners as ‘Coach A,’ fondly recalls the origins of the middle school’s team. Alongside her late friend and coworker Coach Lucie Bornholm, Aton often found time to run around Sandy Springs during her planning periods and after school.

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“

In running, you establish lifelong relationships with other people, and these are the people that can help you be the best you can be in all phases of life.

Head

Aton and Bornholm talked with a group of kids running for Red Smith on a team called the Red Runners. On the track at Baker Field, both coaches saw young runners beginning to love the sport, and they became inspired to bring cross country to the HIES middle school. From there, Alice Malcolm, the headmaster at the time, granted permission for the coaches to found the team in 1995.

Coach Stephen Jayaraj

While the size of the middle school program has increased throughout the years, Klingman’s coaching also led the team to build a legacy of success. In the team’s 2019 season, middle school runners won the state championship race for the tenth consecutive year.

Aton’s experience coaching the middle school team has been remarkable in that she sees friendships form and strengthen throughout each season.

Warner Ray ‘14 inspired the team during his middle school years to begin their streak of success. Before the middle school team participated in the state championship meet, Warner Ray ran in the race as an individual in 2008.

“It becomes really like lots of small little families because that’s your pack,” Aton said.

“When he came back, he came in first place, and he had a trophy that was bigger than he was,” Klingman said of Ray’s race.

Gary Klingman, a former teacher and coach at HIES, can also attest to the bonds that form between runners through the years.

The season after Ray raced as an individual, the middle school team competed in the state championship for the first time. At the team’s first showing, the girls took fourth and the boys seventh.

“It built a lot of close relationships, and I think there’s still a lot of them who are still running today,” Klingman said.

“At the 2009 race, the kids said to themselves, ‘We can come back next year and win this thing,’” Klingman said.

Klingman became the head cross country coach for the middle school team during his first year of teaching at HIES in 2004, when he estimates the team numbered about 50 runners. From 2004 to 2015, Klingman saw tremendous growth in the size and caliber of his team.

Sure enough, the 2010 state championship race began a succession of wins that continues today. Even with the team’s growing success, Klingman maintained a fun environment.

“As time went on at Holy Innocents’, running became something exciting for the middle school kids to do,“ Klingman said. The team soon grew to number over 100, and the roster continues to grow each year.

“We set an atmosphere where anybody could come out and they weren’t going to be pressured at any time to do anything more than what they thought was the best they could do, whatever that was,” Klingman said.

After Klingman retired from his position as head cross country coach in 2015,

30 | PEOPLE Coach Tim McClain helped to maintain the middle school team’s strong record.

In his approach to coaching the team, McClain provides mentorship including all four aspects of the HIES mission statement: a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God, and a sense of service to the world community.

To address the learning component of the mission statement, McClain educated his runners on the importance of using racing strategies and pacing techniques.

“It was this whole business of becoming aware of what pace you’re running and the intervals,” McClain said. “[There were] all these little kids with magic markers doing their split times on their arms when they were running in cohorts.”

McClain also fostered a continued faith in God in his program by beginning a season with a blessing. Middle school chaplain David Wagner ran alongside the team and prayed for the runners in their athletic pursuits in the upcoming cross country season.

With the help of assistant coach Chris Yarsawich and Aton, the middle school cross country team partnered with lower school P.E. classes in their first annual Water Walk-a-Thon. The runners who participated in the water walk carried gallon jugs full of water around the track to raise money in support of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Initiative. The lower school and middle school combined donated $10,000 to build 23 pumps in developing countries, and McClain regards the experience as one that encourages both respect for and service to a broader community.

Running Alumni

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oth middle school and high school cross country teams at HIES have been incredibly successful, and it is important to appreciate how they got there.

They acknowledge the formula to the team’s success and why it is so special at this school.

Blake Morain ‘18, a varsity runner for the team, points to one key element.

“Family, just because the coaches really care about all the runners”.

Morain was originally a baseball player but became part of the cross country team out of curiosity more than anything else. What made him interested was the fact that “You can see tangible results for what you put in you’re going to get out,” according to Morain.

He acknowledges that in sports like baseball, someone could be working for hours and face a great pitcher and not get the results they want. In cross country, however, what you put in, you’re going to get out.

He has seen that unlike many schools, all the coaches at HIES care about every runner, not just the varsity runners. He mentions, “You see Jayaraj getting giddy over an 11th grader who broke 22 minutes for the first time...everybody cares about each other.” In his eyes, the excellent camaraderie and teamwork has always been there under all circumstances, which is why he thinks the team is so special at this school.

“For it being an individual sport, there was a huge team aspect”Ray ‘14, a former high school runner, said. He attests to the fact that the great team aspect ultimately comes from the coaches.

“They spend time with each runner to figure out what their goals were for the season and for the race,” Ray said.

In middle school in particular, he loved how the coaches made practices a very fun and enthusiastic environment. He mentions that the coaches were focused on the right things and taught him lessons that have helped him in his life.

“You learn to work with other people, to work for a goal bigger than yourself,” says Claire Kelsey ‘15 graduate and valedictorian.

Kelsey began running in the second grade with her dad. She grew up biking with him on trails near the Chattahoochee river and later began to run with him.

While she was a child, she played numerous sports, but running was the sport that she clicked with immediately.

After her time at HIES, she began to run marathons and half-marathons at the University of Notre Dame and since college, she has run the Chicago Marathon and has also qualified for the Boston Marathon. She made some of her closest friends on the cross country team and will always remember the unmatched team they had.

And to cap it all off, Ray mentions, “It was great to see how the team grew through the years and this year, the girls getting their first title and the boys getting runner-up. Just reading that made me so happy just to see the legacy of Jayaraj and Dunn and the middle school coaches.”

His best piece of advice he could give to younger runners would be to be a teammate and “Look after other runners...ask how their seasons are going.” He acknowledges that it’s the little things that can go a long way in cross country and in building relationships.

On a similar note, Blake Morain’s message to the younger runners is to “find your WHY. If it’s for the sole purpose of competing, then I’m going to do as much as I can to make myself or my team competitive. If you just love running, buy into that or even if it is just for the social aspect of it, go and make your environment better for all those around you.” Overall, he encourages all runners to find out why they are doing what they are doing and then buy into it. ◼︎

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If I can carry that and keep that bond with other runners for as long as I can and keep doing what I love, I’ll be happy.

Joe Sapone ‘23

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Logan Miller ‘23 (left), Joe Sapone ‘23 (middle), and Ryan Kelley ‘23 (right) have continued to bond in their first year of varsity cross country team after strong careers in middle schools. matthew raeside/CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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