The C&G | Volume IX | Issue 1 | Winter Edition

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The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 December 2020 Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter Edition thecrimsonandgold@gmail.com

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The C&G Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30327 December 2020 Volume 9, Issue 1,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.

STAFF

MAGGIE BELENKY Editors-in-Chief MADDIE POCH ZAK KERR Managing Editor GRAYSON COLLIER Staff Writers AARON JORDAN ALEX NEWBERG ZAYNAH PRESTON MARINA QUINTERNO BROOKS SCARBOROUGH ANDREW KELLER Contributing Writers DUNN NEUGEBAUER DANIELLE ELMS Adviser

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS You’ve heard the word “unprecedented” more times this year than you can probably bear to count. Politically, socially, and emotionally, this year has been like no other. Despite the circumstances, The C&G staff is happy to present to you our first issue of the 2020-21 academic year. We’re coming to you a little bit later than usual due to the hybrid nature of the first part of the school year, but we are happy to be published nonetheless.

As we look to 2021, The C&G asks that you continue to wear a mask, socially distance, and wash your hands. If you have found yourself struggling with pandemic fatigue, know that you are not alone. Articles on mental health amid COVID-19 (page 16), our cafeteria workers and their struggle with COVID-19 (page 26), and the challenges that arise for students who have remained virtual learners (page 12) showcase our community’s struggles and triumphs over the virus. Our staff would also like to thank our community for its participation in the 2020 Mock Presidential Election. See the Election Section (page 18) for a detailed breakdown of results as well as two featured opinion pieces to continue the political dialogue.

Now more than ever, thank you for your readership. These times are not easy, but our staff wishes you the best in the new year to come.

Maggie Belenky Co-Editor-in-Chief

Maddie Poch Co-Editor-in-Chief

CONTENTS NEWS

Briefs | 4

2020 Timeline | 6 Immunize Wise | 8 GA Candidates: Beyond the Ballot | 10

12 PEOPLE

Backstage at SAGE | 26

30

Trapped in a Two-Sided War | 28

4 FEATURE

The Virtual Minority | 12 Thomas Barbershop’s Tremendous Tale | 14 A COVID Clouded State of Mind | 16 Election Section | 18

26

Change the Culture: Change the Game | 24

OPINION

What About Fairness? | 30

4 | NEWS

Tagging Our Teams

MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief

Recapping fall sports and previewing winter sports @FOOTBALL Football advanced to the opening round of state playoffs, ending their season falling 32-7 to George Walton Academy.

Throughout the season, captains TyQuann Alexander ‘21, William Willis ‘21, Bo Maxwell ‘21, Conor Swennumson ‘21, and Landon Kardian ‘21 led the team.

@SOFTBALL The team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round of state championship playoffs thanks to leadership from captains Lauren Leonard ‘21, Charlsie Birkel ‘21, Sarai Jackson ‘21, and Regan White ‘21. Both Birkel and Raven Webb ‘22 were named to the Area 3 All-Area Infield Team.

@CROSS COUNTRY

After a fifth place finish in the 2019-20 state meet, the Mat Bears are poised to have another successful. Jake Swink ‘22 will be a force to reckon with as he contends for his third individual Georgia title. Robert McDonald ‘21, and Israel Evans ‘21 will lead the team this season.

Football cheerleading captains Scarlett Smith ‘21, May Harvey ‘21, and Paige Asarch ‘21 have led the squad through successful performances and the Homecoming pep rallies. Maddy Sudlow ‘21, Morgan McGrotty ‘21, and Kenidi Cook ‘21 will serve as captains for the basketball cheerleaders.

@VOLLEYBALL

Both the girls and boys teams finished out their seasons as runnerups at the state championship meet. Key runners include Joe Sapone ‘23 and Hayden Puett ‘21, who were both named to the All-Metro Team chosen by the Atlanta Track Club. Reese Martin ‘23, Tatum McKinnis ‘23, and Emma Losin ‘24 also made the second-place finish possible for the girls. On the boys’ squad, William Welden ‘21, Parker Miles ‘23, Griffin Bittel ‘23, and Ryan Kelley ‘23 showed up at the state meet.

@WRESTLING

@CHEERLEADING

The state champion volleyball team left little to be desired. On their final year on the squad, Paige Collins ‘21, Renee Davis ‘21, Ellen Goetz ‘21, Caroline Harper ‘21, Caitlyn Surdykowski ‘21, Mary Anna Wearing ‘21, and Maddie Whitaker ‘21 led the team to success. Collins, Davis, Goetz, and Whitaker were all named 1st Team All-State for their performance throughout the season, while Coach Taylor Noland was named Class 1A Private School Coach of the Year for Volleyball.

@DRUMLINE Captain Regan White ‘21 led the drumline through successful performances during football games for the 2020 season.

Because of social-distancing protocols for indoor competition, the drumline will not perform during the 2020-21 basketball season.

@SWIMMING AND DIVING In early meets for the Aqua Bears, Gaby Diamonon ‘21, Anna Harper ‘23, Laney Bertholf ‘22, and Norah Hannan ‘24 have swum strong times for the girls, while Andrew Keller ‘21, Christopher Binney ‘22, and Benjamin Cummings ‘23 have performed well for the boys. Callan Middlethon ‘24 shows promise as a diver this season. The team also awaits swimmer Sterling Hartrich’s ‘23 return to the team as football ends as well as diver Jules Ford’s ‘21 return as football cheerleading ends.

@SPORTS MEDICINE For both fall and winter sports, the HIES Sports Medicine team has provided aid across all athletic disciplines. Madeleine Rojas ‘21, Julia Knight ‘21, Laney Noble ‘21, and Claire Schlatterer ‘22 can be counted on for their help in games and the trainer’s office.

@BASKETBALL Girls and boys teams are both poised for a strong 2020-21 season.

Following the girls’ state championship victory last season, Rachel Suttle ‘21, Brooke Suttle ‘24, and Charlsie Birkel ‘21, will ensure another deep run into the playoffs. After the boys advanced to the Elite 8 last year, Garrison Powell ‘21, Landon Kardian ‘21, and Justin Wilson ‘21 will be essential in securing post-season success this year.

THE C&G | 5

In Brief News stories close to campus and across the country The Birth of a Book

F

ive years ago, a mom of a soon-to-be graduate asked if I’d write some tips for her daughter before she packed for college. One day, while bored subbing because you all are such good kids, I threw together about 20 “tips” – ranging from serious to philosophical to off the wall.

“Know when to go with the flow and when to break out the oars,” “If you get off a plane and your knuckles are white and your pants are brown, you may want to reconsider being a frequent flyer,” and “Take naps; when you wake up in your own drool you’re good to go,” were just some of the tidbits.

Anyway, I hit “send” and thought that was the end of it. Moving forward, the grad returned to campus the following fall to pick up her sister. Rolling down the window, she yelled, “I’ve kept your list minimized on my computer and I refer to it often!”

Wildfires Rage in California

I

ndicators on EPA.gov demonstrate that the frequency of wildfires nationally has doubled from 1983 to now. Upon further consideration of this worrying statistic, not only causes, but solutions become evident.

Across the western United States, innumerable wildfires have devastated homes, landscapes, and businesses. But fortunately, there are, in fact, coordinated and scientific solutions to prevent these life-altering tragedies.

Climatologists often warn the general public of the threat of climate change.

Furthermore, they believe dry air and years of neglected fire suppression have greatly contributed, too.

According to the New York Times, Park Williams, a bio-climatologist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory said, “as long as stuff is dry enough and there’s a spark, then that stuff will burn.”

And according to the Scientific American, “more than half of the acres burned each year in the western United States can be attributed to climate change.”

DUNN NEUGEBAUER, contributing writer Now, to give you some perspective, having someone read your stuff is a home run; when they “refer to it often” is like hitting a grand slam and pitching a nohitter in the same game.

Fast forward to this pandemic, I was bored. Having saved my list of 20, I began thinking, and typing, and thinking. In the end, the list is now 735 tips and the original title of the forthcoming book was “Life’s Little Instruction Book for Graduates.”

Being allergic to lawsuits (a book exists called “Life’s Little Instruction Book”), I changed the name to “Wits, Wisdoms, and Wonders for Navigating This Thing Called Life” and voila, there it was – and is.

In closing, it has NOTHING to do with the pandemic or the election or riots. It’s available in the bookstore and in my office. It’s Rated G – for all audiences – and the reviews have stated that it “makes you laugh, think, and ponder!”

BROOKS SCARBOROUGH, staff writer Others also theorize that lightning strikes cause the forests to run ablaze.

Steve Butler, a forester in Mississippi said, “the wildfires in the West are a direct consequence to the fact that the Forest Service is not actively managing their forests anymore by not coming up with solutions on how to prevent these fires.”

“A lot more windage...a lot of lightning strikes. It’s weather related. We’re going to have to revisit our timber [and] the way we harvest timber,” according to Jason Dewitt, a retired firefighter in Louisiana.

While climate change plays a major role in the wildfires, having created warmer, drier conditions and increased the frequency of droughts, it certainly is not the only reason why the fires have spread so virulently. Cigarette lighters and gasoline are also culprits.

More than 80 percent of all fires are caused by humans. This speaks directly to the fact that this can be tamed. It must be tamed.

6 | NEWS

2 0

T I M E

MAGGIE BELENKY, co-editor-in-chief MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief

JAN 15 House of

Representatives sends impeachment articles to the Senate

MAR 12 HIES has last in-

person day of 2019-20 academic year

MAR 13 Police shoot and kill

MAY 16 JC Penney files for bankruptcy

Breonna Taylor

MAY 25 Police in

JAN 26 Kobe Bryant dies in

MAR 26 Boris Johnson,

MAY 30 Two U.S. astronauts

JAN

MAR

MAY

JAN 20 First COVID-19 case reported in the US

a helicopter crash along with his daughter Gianna and seven others

FEB

FEB 23 Ahmaud Arbery

is shot and killed while jogging in Georgia

FEB 29 The first

COVID-19 death in the US is reported

Minneapolis kill George Floyd

British PM, tests positive for COVID-19

APR

APR 8 Senator Bernie Sanders drops out of the Presidential race

are launched into space by SpaceX to the International Space Station

JUN

JUN 15 Supreme Court

rules that employers cannot discriminate based upon sexual orientation or gender

2 0

THE C&G | 7

L I N E

The peaks and valleys of an eventful year.

JUL 27 Congressman John Lewis becomes the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the Rotunda in D.C.

JUL

AUG

AUG 20 Senator Kamala Harris accepts the nomination to be former VP Joe Biden’s running mate for the 2020 election

AUG 28 Actor Chadwick

Boseman dies of colon cancer

NOV 7 Pennsylvania SEP 18 Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies

SEP

OCT

OCT 6 Musician Eddie Van Halen dies of throat cancer

OCT 26 Justice Amy

Coney Barrett confirmed to the US Supreme Court

OCT 28 Hurricane Zeta makes landfall

finishes counting their ballots, giving Biden the necessary 270 electoral votes to become the 46th President

NOV

DEC

DEC 9 Federal Trade

Commission and dozens of states file antitrust lawsuit against Facebook

8 | NEWS

Immunize

Wise

MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief

Read more about vaccines and their development process below.

Defining Vaccines* A vaccine is defined as a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, thus protecting that person from the disease. Vaccines are often administered through an injection via a needle, but they can also be sprayed into the nose or taken by mouth. Some vaccines require multiple doses or boosters in order to be effective.

Inside a Vaccine* Each ingredient in a vaccine serves a specific purpose: to provide immunity, to keep the vaccine safe and long-lasting, or to aid in the production of the vaccine. Stabilizers such as sugars and gelatin keep the vaccine effective after it has been manufactured. Adjuvants like aluminum salts help to boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine.

8 Facts About Vaccine Planning*

1 3

Safety is the CDC’s top priority. The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are made as safe as possible, and this is accomplished through the collaboration of several federal partners.

2

Because many different vaccine trials are occuring simultaneously, the CDC is planning for different possibilities as some vaccines may be ready before others.

COVID-19 vaccines may first be used under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration before approval of a vaccination.

4

Though there may be a limited supply of vaccines available before 2020 ends, the CDC plans to have several thousand vaccination providers available to increase supply in subsequent months.

5

Based on input from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the CDC will recommend which groups should be vaccinated first in the event of a limited supply of vaccines.

6

Because only non-pregnant adults participated in the first vaccine trials, early COVID-19 vaccines may not be recommended for children, though clinical trials are expanding their participants.

7

The federal government will ensure cost will not be an obstacle to a COVID-19 vaccination, though vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving shots.

8

As new research becomes available, the COVID-19 vaccination planning continues to be updated.

*Adapted from the CDC

THE C&G | 9

Phases of Vaccine Trials

The FDA has established three phases of clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy. Here are the questions each phase addresses.

Phase 1

Phase 2 Several hundred volunteers

20 - 100 healthy volunteers

• Is this vaccine safe?

• Does this vaccine seem to work?

• Are there any serious side effects?

• How is the size of the dose related to the side effects?

• What are the most common shortterm side effects?

• How are the volunteers’ immune systems responding to the vaccine?

Phase 3

Hundreds or thousands of volunteers

• How do people who get the vaccine and people who do not get the vaccine compare?

• Is the vaccine safe?

• Is the vaccine effective?

• What are the most common side effects?

Development Timeframe 2020

2022

2024

2026

2028

2030

2032

2034

2036

Academic Research Pre-Clinical

Typical Development

Pre-Clinical

Goal Development

Phase 1 Trials

Phase 1 Trials Phase 2 Trials

Actual Development

Phase 2 Trials

Phase 3 Trials

Phase 3 Trials

Building Factories

Building Factories

Manufacturing FDA grants Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Manufacturing

Approval

Approval

Distribution

Distribution

Vaccine by Aug. 2021

Vaccine by Nov. 2033 Goal and Typical Development Source: The New York Times April 2020

Phased Allocation of Vaccines While the supply of COVID-19 vaccination is low in the U.S., The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will make recommendations on how the vaccines should be allocated. Four groups will be prioritized to receive the vaccine in the early stages of distribution: health care personnel, essential workers, adults with high-risk medical conditions, and adults aged 65 years or older, including residents of long-term care facilities.

Phase 1c

Adults with high-risk medical conditions, adults 65+

Phase 1b

Essential workers

Phase 1a

Health care personnel, long-term care facility residents

52 <10%

vaccines are in clinical testing on humans, according to The New York Times as of November 2020.

of all drugs that enter clinical trials are ever approved by the FDA, according to a peer-reviewed 2017 study published on PLOS One.

Operation Warp Speed

Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is a collaboration overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with the goal of producing 300 million vaccine doses with initial distribution of those doses beginning January 2021.

Ga Candidates: BEYOND THE BALLOT A look into the results of the 2020 election surrounding 805 Mount Vernon Hwy State House District 52

Republican

Debra Silcox

Democrat

49.4% 50.6%

Shea Roberts

US House District 11

Democrat

Dana Barrett

Republican

39.6% 60.4%

Barry Loudermilk

State Senate District 6 Republican

Democrat

38.8% 61.2% Harrison Lance Photos via Ballotpedia

Jen Jordan

MAGGIE BELENKY, co-editor-in-chief

HOW THESE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn Each of Georgia’s 14 United States Representatives and 236 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts.

District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census.

The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

When politicians draw district lines to benefit a candidate or political party, it’s called gerrymandering, and while the practice is often criticized for diluting citizens’ power over elected officials, both parties do it to get and hold onto power.

EXPLANATION OF DATA

T

he data to the left shows the results of the 2020 Election for local candidates in the district surrounding 805 Mount Vernon HWY. For the US House, Georgia has 14 representatives elected every two years. For the Georgia House and Senate, each member is elected every two years. Incumbent Barry Loudermilk defeated newcomer Dana Barrett in a sland slide victory for the US House District 11 race. After a crushing loss in 2018, Shea Roberts came back for a rematch against incumbent Debra Silcox for the State House District 52 seat and won by just 300 votes. Roberts’ victory completes a Democratic flipping of local state House districts.

State Senator Jen Jordan from District 6 defeated Harrison Lance in an overwhelming victory, allowing her to serve a third term.

12 | FEATURE

THE VIRTUAL MINORITY ZAYNAH PRESTON, staff writer design, MAGGIE BELENKY, co-editor-in-chief

The realities of remote learning during a global pandemic tudent: tired. Email inbox: flooded. Computer screen: blinding. Zoom: monotonous. The pain-invoking two-tone entry chime that plays as students file into the Zoom for yet another day of class has become customary, but is dreaded each morning. Though unsettling and unwanted, this description encapsulates the basic cycle of online learning.

S

students to experience online learning for the first time. At first, many felt pleased.

Abundant distractions inundate the workspace. Pens and pencils cover the desk. Siblings and parents working on other Zoom calls serve as a constant disturbance, detracting from the ability to maintain the necessary focus required to learn effectively. This style of learning is unconventional, but these are precisely the conditions to which students of 2020 needed to adapt. And so, they did.

Along with most schools around the world, shutting school down worried many students about their ability to be social and remain in contact with their friends. On April 24, Governor Kemp closed all Georgia public K-12 schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Soon, 2020 summer camps and social events were cancelled or postponed. Subsequently, social gatherings with friends could no longer occur. In total, HIES students went 73 days – not including the summer – without consistent or sanctioned social interaction between friends.

On Friday, March 13, 2020, schools across the country closed, forcing many

“It wasn’t bad because everybody was online. We had independent work days, everything like that. So it was really cool,” Jayla Jackson ‘23 said.

THE C&G | 13 “I was pretty sad for the school year to basically be over and not see my friends anymore,” Ahmari Whitehead ‘22 said.

learning styles. In order to figure out what learning approach works best for them, online learners have been forced to change their study habits.

Chances for students to interact with their friends and classmates slipped away. In an age when phones and technology are deemed a distracting addiction, they brought friends and family back together.

Whitehead has adapted to these new circumstances and figured out how to make the most of her learning experience. “I found that I’m teaching myself a lot more, which allows for me to develop better study habits and retain more information. It’s also taught me to do things that keep me motivated and inspired because during online school we are at home and we’re always sitting in front of a computer,” Whitehead said.

“I still talk to my [friends]. We still call. Obviously, I’d rather talk to them in person, but we’re still connecting,” Ciara Alexander ‘24 said.

After starting the school year with the entire HIES Upper School population learning remotely, HIES decided to reopen the campus on Aug. 31. HIES families were given a difficult choice: either send their child to school for in-person learning, or keep their child at home for remote learning. Although many students went back to school, there were still a large number of families who made the decision to remain remote.

“My biggest concern was health and safety,” Jackson said. “I have an immune system deficiency. Me and Corona, it wouldn’t go well. I really didn’t want to take that risk,” Jackson said. Her choice also protects her family. “I have a lot of siblings. So if I do get it, it won’t be just affecting me. I’ll be bringing it home.”

Whitehead’s situation was similar to Jackson’s: “My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of this year. For her safety and everything, we wanted to start off the school year, especially like first semester online learning.”

Many other students felt the same way about returning to campus due to their health and safety concerns. But staying home and learning remotely has drastically changed the way students learn and experience school.

Students have also reflected about the time they should have spent before the pandemic.

“I just think it’s gotten into the perspective of you can’t really take anything for granted. Because when everything was taken away, we were just stuck in our house, I never would have thought I would have been in this space where I literally can’t go out,” Alexander said.

“It’s gotten into

the perspective of you can’t really take anything for granted.”

Some students have plans of where they will be once this pandemic comes to a close.

Online learners especially have a few plans for the coronavirus epidemic’s end. “I will return back to school because I miss being at school in person with others,” Jackson said.

Students at home face some critical disadvantages. “When you’re at home, it’s harder to actually get that hands on experience, especially if you have a question,” Whitehead said.

“You know, teachers will forget to talk to us. To the camera, and we’ll be facing a wall during class,” Jackson said.

Although students at HIES were given resources and infrastructure to work effectively, other schools could not provide those resources for their students. In 2016, The Atlantic reported on why most public schools don’t have resources while others may. Every state the inequity of wealthier and poorer communities exist. Education is paid for with the availability of money in a district, but that value is not equal to the money required to sufficiently teach those in need of education.

Learning virtually while the majority of a class can participate in-person presents steep challenges to teachers and students alike. Technology issues and activities like labs that are best suited to hands-on learning mean that students at home have to take different steps to understand the course material.

Although digital education certainly has its challenges, online learners are enjoying the extra time spent with their families – and do see advantages of being at home. “I get to sleep in more. And I don’t wake up so early and cook, whereas if I had to go to school, there’s no time for that,” Alexander said.

Now sitting alone with a just laptop screen, remote learners grapple with even greater distractions. News about the pandemic, social unrest, and the 2020 presidential election is an anxious disturbance for students and teachers .

Jackson also noted that “a pro about online learning is definitely you getting that training to deal with discipline and time management, learning how to focus.” According to the New York Times there are benefits to online learning such as better time management, fewer distractions and students working at their own learning pace.

- Ciara Alexander ‘24

New to the Upper School, Alexander found herself focusing more to master her courseload.

“I always have to pay more attention because Zoom kind of acts up sometimes,” Alexander said. “So you have to really lock in all the classes, make sure you understand everything. I just found this approach of asking more questions, clarification, because sometimes it’s difficult to hear the teachers.”

Another hurdle online learners face is adapting online classes to their own

With the ongoing pandemic, there is still significant uncertainty about the future. Looking forward to the future many people have made true life lessons about these troubling times. Other than washing your hands and staying socially distant, Whitehead has now incorporated another habit – an optimistic mindset about the future. “You gotta appreciate what’s happening. Taking everything day by day. I feel like the pandemic has taught me to appreciate and find more self growth.”

14 | FEATURE

The story of how a local Buckhead barbershop has persevered throughout the years while maintaining an environment that fosters healthy political dialogue.

Despite the ongoing challenges wrought by COVID-19, local shop owner Tommy maintains business as usual, cutting the hair of local middle school student. /ALEX NEWBERG, contributing photographer design, MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief

THE C&G | 15

Thomas Barbershop’s Tremendous Tale

T

ALEX NEWBERG, staff writer he room overflows with signed photographs, football helmets from local high schools, and political campaign apparel. The walls have stood firmly since 1959 but have a comfortable, dated look that feels appropriate. Upfront and genuine, the staff is quick to greet customers. A sweet smell of pomade and blow-dryers commands the space in a rather welcoming fashion.

This description may have conjured up a sense of discomfort or maybe even a feeling of great joy; however, either way, receiving a haircut from a barbershop is a quintessentially American experience that all should encounter. If this experience piques your interest, Thomas Barbershop is the epitome of familyowned, local barbershops and is deserving of patronage.

As soon as one enters Thomas Barbershop in the heart of Buckhead, it becomes apparent that the walls and counters illustrate a rich and vibrant history of Buckhead pride and productive, political dialogue.

Thomas Barbershop has long been a haven where one can seek political conversation–– and of course, a haircut. Though the elder Gilmer Thomas Sr. long donned as the business owner and lead barber, younger “Tommy” Thomas Jr. now proudly reigns as the executive. Despite his humble claims of riding his father’s coattails, two things about Thomas Jr. remain certain: he is an accomplished barber and has strong political opinions.

“

Though he overwhelmingly supports Republicans and right-wingers today, Tommy’s tremendous tolerance and acceptance of other viewpoints are commendable.

“We have people come in here – Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents… everybody can say what’s on their mind. We like to laugh and cut up about it. The good Democrats, good Republicans, good Libertarians, good Independents have got more common sense than the people far-left and farright,” Tommy said.

Tommy stressed the importance of conversation over debate and respect over ugliness. “You ought to be able to express your opinions… talk about it where you don’t get into an argument… but it’s not good to get ugly and brutal… [because] that’s not what our country was built on,” Tommy said.

We like to laugh and cut up about it. The good Democrats, good Republicans, good Libertarians, good Independents have got more common sense than the people farleft and far-right.

One quality Tommy seeks out in potential candidates is their accountability. Time and time again, Tommy highlighted his dissatisfaction with the status quo in the political landscape, where politicians can be called out as corrupt and walk away unscathed. “All politicians need to be accountable,” Tommy said with a particular frustration in his tone.

In the continued era of tribulation and economic uncertainty wrought by COVID-19, it is evident that humankind is surviving through unprecedented, trying “1959. September. Nothing out here but times. The global pandemic has slammed woods. This was a pasture. The guy that small businesses–and yes, this extends owned the property was a cabin boy… he to small, locally-owned barbershops. built the strip center in 1958 and he asked Thomas Barbershop lost nearly 40my daddy to open up a big barbershop,” 50 percent of their business, which is Tommy said. From there, the rest was certainly not an isolated incident. “I’ve got history. six employees and I am doing everything I - “Tommy” Thomas Jr. can to keep them making money,” Tommy As for younger Tommy’s involvement––after said. “There is a fear factor,” and this is to being fired from his first job, he was offered a position at his father’s barbershop what Tommy attributed much of the discrepancy from normalcy. because one of the employees was going on a two-week long vacation. He has now been sitting in his same old barber chair for over 50 years.

Tommy plans to keep his feet grounded firmly where the shop’s roots are and says he does not plan on moving any time in the foreseeable future. “If I can still In the political realm, from the time his father ran the barbershop, it has always cut a good haircut… I plan on being here,” Tommy said. been about “making sure we get the right politicians,” Tommy said. He clarified that his father “always wanted the best qualified person, man or woman, to be The HIES student body commends Tommy for his impact, political and personal, put in that position… it never was much about Republican or Democrat.” Tommy and as such, choose to support the store both financially and conversationally has always believed that it is important to have politicians who want to serve for – by dropping in for a fresh cut and a conversation with the big guy himself. the state’s betterment rather than their own gain.

Tommy certainly appreciates their support and patronage.

”

16 | FEATURE

A COVID C l ouded

A physical illness with mental consequences

I

t used to be a place where the HIES community gathered for fellowship and fulfillment. It used to be a place where the lively crowds of students and teachers gathered in a space of enjoyment and entertainment. That image of the STEM Dining Hall has become just a distant memory. Now, it is simply a place where small green dots characterize the mandatory separateness each student is condemned to observe.

Social distancing measures have profoundly impacted the emotional well-being of every student community. A survey conducted by the Journal of Medical Internet Research on college students from Texas A&M University showed that 71 percent of survey participants indicated their stress and anxiety increased due to the COVID-19.

Considering the new norm, how are HIES community members navigating the challenges?

Those observing the strictest standards of caution have almost certainly experienced the social anxieties with which COVID-19 has become synonymous.

HIES Facilities staff member and current parent to a HIES kindergartener, Chekol Worku, discussed being in public during the pandemic.

“Sometimes when I go off campus for school…like Home Depot or Lowes…some people…they refuse to have mask[s] to go shopping with us. [This] kind of thing stress[es] [me] out,” Worku said. While he talked about his unease, he also communicated his belief in the importance of not being too “stressed.” Over the phone or Zoom, he advises his friends and family to avoid excessive emotional stress.

It is indeed a widely accepted scientific norm that emotional stress affects the

body’s ability to effectively defend against attacks on immunity. According to the American Psychological Association, “body stress affects all systems of the body including muscles, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous and reproductive systems.”

Worku continued to emphasize the importance of not only taking care of ourselves, but also caring for one another. “We can help each other to do the right thing,” Worku said. “Let me do a good thing for you, too. That means we have to treat someone the way we want to [be] treat[ed].”

Worku’s practice of reaching out to friends and family aligns with HIES Upper School Counselor Katie Cruce’s advice on how to deal with some of the stressors created by COVID-19.

Cruce recommends “finding the things that are calming and bring some joy and building in time for those.” For example, effective stress relievers include taking a walk outside, drawing and coloring, participating in a sport, and talking to friends and family. Cruce also advises “getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating in a balanced way.”

Cruce also discussed the importance of breathing: “The first thing I do is be aware of your breathing. I think as much as we can get oxygen into our brains and throughout our bodies, that’s going to immediately bring down cortisol levels which heighten with stress.”

For a different perspective on balancing emotional well-being through behaviors that are consistent with COVID-19 management protocols, Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic School Counselor, Lauren Aragon, shared her suggestions for the younger age group here in Sandy Springs.

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MARINA QUINTERNO, staff writer

“The anxiety of not being with your peers, feeling like you’re missing out or that maybe we’re being forgotten or not really a part of the community, to make sure…you are being proactive with your friends at home as well as ones in the classroom.”

Aragon also offered some of the most effective strategies in alleviating anxiety among smaller children, the most notable of which was to “talk about how you feel.”

“An environment where younger children feel comfortable and safe to express their fears and anxieties truly helps them to learn about coping mechanisms and deep breathing. We don’t want kids to internalize. We don’t want them to try to figure things out on their own. We want them to know that there are adults that love and care about them, that are here to help guide them through this difficult time. And we’re all in this together. “ In discussions with the HIES student community, some divergent opinions were expressed; Ariel Abernathy ‘23 conveyed the struggles she faced with not being able to see friends in person as often as she would like.

“I got so bored being at home alone and I did not know what to do. I was Facetiming my friends a lot more…it was really hard being at home by myself.”

Abernathy also remarked that the intensified awareness of proper hygiene and sanitization was frequently on her mind.

“I’m really making sure I wash my hands...trying to stay far apart from people,” Abernathy said. “I think I’m definitely more conscious about where I’m going and who I’m going with.”

While the entire student body’s learning experience has been affected by the pandemic, the class of 2021 specifically must approach the college application process through a new lens.

Arin Francis ’21 offered insights on dealing with the college application process during quarantine. While navigating the pandemic itself is stressful for students, they must manage additional uncertainties surrounding their college admissions process. For Francis, juggling applications for 14 schools, including Yale, New York University, and Marymount Manhattan College has added another layer of complication to her digital responsibilities.

Despite the additional challenges, Francis refuses to allow the current crisis to slow her down. “I’m definitely excited because I feel like a big part of auditioning for theatre in college is that the programs really want to get to know you.”

Francis said. “I am excited to still try and show my personality as much as I can over Zoom.”

For some students who learn on campus, there is a constant fear of receiving a contact tracing email–forcing them to quarantine at home for two weeks.

“Sadness and stress. I don’t do well with online school and I knew it was going to be harder. I was just mostly stressed that my grades were gonna drop,” Mazi Welden ‘24, said. Welden was required to learn remotely as a result of possible exposure at HIES. It is quite apparent that for some students, in-person learning presents a vastly more advantageous opportunity that allows them to fully engage a topic, whether it is in math, history, science or any other.

Worku said, “wherever we live, who we are, we need to use our power. You can write, you can speak. Use your mask, use glove[s], [and] keep your distance.”

18 | FEATURE

C&G ELECTION SECTION ZAK KERR, managing editor design, MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief

I

n an effort to promote constructive political dialogue, foster political awareness, and poll the HIES community, the C&G organized a mock presidential election available to all Upper School community members, including faculty. The C&G mirrored the mock election as closely to the actual democratic process as possible. Students and faculty completed a voter registration form to participate in the mock election. Registered participants had the option to vote at mock polling stations, which opened on Nov. 2 and closed on Nov. 3.

Before handed a ballot and directed to a voting booth, participants checked in with C&G staff members stationed at the polling location. Because of COVID-19, students and faculty had the option of requesting digital “absentee” ballots––of the 196 voters, 20.4 percent voted digitally. Participants who requested an absentee ballot completed an identity verification process via DocuSign before granted access to their electronic ballot.

The ballot contents and design mirrored the actual Georgia voter ballot exactly (presidential candidates, senate candidates, state constitutional amendments, and a statewide referendum)–with the exception of district representatives.

In the week preceding registration for the mock election, the C&G conducted a student roundtable discussion. C&G staff members Alex Newberg ‘22 and Marina Quinterno ‘24 moderated Upper School students Rachel Patton ‘21, Isabelle Skid ‘21, James Watson ‘21, and Tyler Fuller ‘21 in a discussion regarding the current political climate.

The roundtable discussion instilled interest in the Upper School community about the mock election and real election, and instigated constructive political dialogue amongst Upper School community members.

THE C&G | 19

2020 Mock Election Results* President

Senate

Senate (Special Election)

Biden (51.5%)

Perdue (49%)

Warnock (31.6%)

Trump (40.3%)

Ossoff (42.9%)

Collins (18.4%)

Jorgensen (4.6%)

Hazel (5.1%)

Loeffler (13.8%)

Write-In (3.1%)

No Response (31.6%)

Jackson (9.7%)

No Response (0.5%)

7 40

Write-in votes for Kanye West

Absentee voters

Participation Breakdown**

74.0% 64.8% 71.9%

9th Grade (28.8%) 10th Grade (17.3%) 11th Grade (25.7%) 12th Grade (16.8%)

Other (26.5%)

voted to pass Amendment 1.

voted to pass Amendment 2. voted in favor of the Statewide Referendum.

The C&G reminds its eligible readers to vote in the Georgia Senate Runoff.

Early voting begins Dec. 14, 2020.

Runoff Election Day is Jan. 5, 2020.

Faculty (11.5%) *Featuring data from 196 HIES Upper School student and faculty voters **Excludes five voters with unknown grade

the conversation continues with student opinions

C&G ELECTION EDITION COVERAGE

SO, YOU WANT TO BE O

ver the past four years, the integrity of our democratic institutions has been thrown into question. This culminated on Nov. 3, 2020 in a way that challenged the very essence of our democratic process, our elections. Is it possible to salvage the process? If so, what characteristics will a candidate need to win the White House in a Post-Trump America?

The Best Real Estate in America

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. 16 bed, 35 bath Neoclassical house off the National Mall in the heart of DC. Prime real estate for the modest price of 270 electoral votes from the United States Electoral College.

Maybe that’s not so modest, but still not bad for America’s most coveted address.

All you have to do is get elected President of the United States. How hard can it be to win the White House? Just ask Al Gore, Michael Dukakis, or Hillary Clinton.

I’m sure they can tell you this is a process not for the faint of heart. You’re about to open yourself up to attack and rebuke from every corner of the country. So why do it? Do you really think you can represent the diverse beliefs of over 350 million people? Everything you say will be constantly scrutinized, misconstrued, and come back to haunt you. As President, you are more prone to depression than the average American, your life expectancy greatly decreases, and you’re bound to walk out of the office with more than a few grey hairs, according to BBC News.

All this to join the pantheon of the 45 other men who have occupied the office of President. You can’t really still be interested in this? It sounds like the worst job description of all time! But then again, over the past two centuries, thousands of people have spent their life savings and sometimes their lives in pursuit of it.

Since 1980 alone, 2,500 people have filed with the Federal Election Commission for candidacy in a presidential election. If they want to stand a chance at winning the presidency, they must have a clear understanding of why they are running.

Policy Doesn’t Win the Presidency, People Do 10 p.m. Central Standard Time Nov. 4, 2008, Chicago.

It’s late on a cold November night in Chicago’s Grant Park. 240 thousand people are packed together, staring up at a large screen as states continue to be called.

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PRESIDENT? ANDREW KELLER, contributing writer

HOW TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY IN A POST-TRUMP AMERICA Utah turns red, Colorado blue, then suddenly the crowd begins to cheer. Barack Obama is the projected winner of the 2008 Presidential election. Regardless of your political affiliation, it was a moment of incredible historical significance, a black man who 150 years before would not only be denied the right to vote but likely be enslaved, had just been elected President of the United States.

Just before midnight, Obama stepped out into the cold night, his wife and two young daughters by his side. The crowd erupted; a sea of American flags seemed to stretch for miles. During the next half hour, Obama would deliver one of the most important speeches of his career.

Obama’s speech that night dealt with the war in Iraq, the ongoing economic crisis, and other issues from his campaign, but only three words from that night remain etched in the American consciousness: “Yes we can.” Obama didn’t win in 2008 because of his policies; Obama won because he was able to capture the national consciousness of the American people. He won because, in three words, he was able to take all of America’s fear and anger and give them hope. Obama didn’t tell America what he was going to do as President; he told them why. Policy doesn’t win the presidency; people do.

Share Your Dream Before You Share Your Plan

People love to critique plans. Every voter somehow magically becomes a foreign policy expert, peer-reviewed scientist, and legal scholar every time campaign season rolls around. You have to give them something they’ll have a lot more trouble critiquing: a dream. When you boil down American politics to its core, you find that most Americans agree on fundamentally the same things: affordable education and healthcare, lower taxes, and a safe community. When we try to find solutions to those issues, we begin to split along party lines.

This is the first mistake candidates make when running for any office: they immediately isolate half of the population. I’m not saying you don’t need a plan, but don’t make your plan the first thing people hear. People are much more likely to agree with a dream than a plan. When Martin Luther King gave his famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he didn’t say, “I have a plan.” He said, “I have a dream.”

Understand Why People Vote

Just like it’s important to know why you want to run for President, it’s important to understand why Americans choose to vote. You’ll never appeal to all 350 million Americans, but a good first step is trying to understand what compels so many people to wait in long lines at the polls. America is a diverse melting pot of hundreds of different ethnicities and cultures. Americans speak dozens of different languages and dialects and practice a myriad of faiths. But don’t think of these groups as things you can win over. There is no such thing as the Black vote or the Latino vote; ethnic groups don’t vote entirely for one candidate and never will. Generalizing an entire ethnic group does not help your campaign strategy and come Election Day; this will quickly become apparent. Instead, focus on the fact that a person’s ethnicity helps dictate their values but does not define them. There are issues that appeal uniquely to Latino communities, Black communities, and Asian communities. Instead of making these issues that you use to pander to these communities, include them in your general platform.

The black vote does not exist, but issues important to Black Americans do.

In recent elections, young voter turnout has been critical in deciding the next President; this will continue to be the case in future elections. With a generation of newly voting-age Americans having the entire world at their fingertips, it has never been easier to reach young voters. In our current climate, young Americans are far more politically educated and active than their parents were.

Young Americans are eager to have their voices heard, listen, and you’ll be surprised how much valuable insight into our country’s future they have; they are the future, after all.

the conversation continues with student opinions

C&G ELECTION EDITION COVERAGE

SO, WE ARE I

f your family is even remotely similar to mine, your gatherings quickly spoil upon the discussion of politics. Whether a Thanksgiving meal, a conversation in the living room, or a visit to the grandparents’ house, political conversation has a way of quickly running awry to ruin a moment or even a day.

Today’s political landscape is anything but healthy. People exclude and belittle others on the sole basis of how they lean ideologically. So, we are divided, but not how or why you may think.

As the page turns from one chapter of our politically tumultuous times to another, we must introspect. Even if momentary, Americans must spend the necessary time to grapple with the foundational questions of why the current political landscape is so brutally disjointed, and perhaps, how we may seek to remedy such a divide.

This crude and dangerous disconnect has been artificially created. The mainstream media have spoon-fed messages of “us vs. them” to the populace in an attempt to split Americans, when, in reality, the conventional dichotomy between Republicans and Democrats is utterly absurd.

Both parties of the modern-day have abandoned reason and principle. At their core, they rest equally on baseless, philosophical grounds that run contrary to the central tenets of the United States. To the whim of the collective, politicians frequently bend their own maxims in the name of compromise and necessity.

Leaders of both sides have, time and time again, abandoned principle for the sake of practicality.

The words “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” have been forever ingrained in Americans’ minds as the quintessential rights that are inalienable and beyond question.

However, both the Republicans and the Democrats have failed to concretize and integrate this concept of rights. The Republicans abandon the right to liberty in the name of security. The Democrats forsake the right to liberty by striving to restrict the right to keep and bear arms.

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ALEX NEWBERG, staff writer

DIVIDED. BUT NOT HOW OR WHY YOU MAY THINK Although both political parties’ cruxes have been corrupted, skilled politicians understand that this is precisely how to win an election. If you give the public a reason to fear – an opportunity to scapegoat and develop an “us vs. them” mentality – they will gobble it up. It energizes the fanatics. It fuels the 24-hour news cycle that the general public craves like addicts. But most importantly, it perpetually stuffs the pockets of national political leaders.

This all then begs the question, how ought we seek to mend the division at hand?

Though difficult, the task is not unmanageable. Much of the partisan dissonance currently ringing throughout the country – in the form of riot, protest, and screaming – stems from a lack of factual objectivity.

There currently exists a lack of trust in the media. While it is societally beneficial to be skeptical of information, there is a certain degree to which this is advantageous. Today, it is practically unimaginable to invoke a recently-read article in a conversation without the other participant questioning the source of such information. Again, this desire to validate the credence of information is good, but only to the extent that it does not result in radical skepticism.

We must seek to restore responsibility in public media platforms. The media are tremendously impactful, so we must encourage them to do their jobs with sensitivity and caution.

Furthermore, it is vital to the continuation of our country that we strive to abandon the trap of the two-party system. It’s manufactured, not real. The current landscape unnecessarily divides without proper reason – a construct which is wholly nonsensical.

Finally, we must recognize that difference of opinion is natural and conducive to progress. Nothing wrong exists within having a wide array of different approaches to national and state-wide issues in the political realm.

The problem lies within the current “Cancel Culture.” People with less than popular opinions are slandered and have their reputations dragged through the mud simply over an unorthodox approach to a certain issue.

This, in essence, is the manifestation of the “us vs. them” mentality. When divided, we as humans, often become brutal, vicious, and nasty. It is ridiculous to ostracize individuals solely on the basis that they politically differ. Therefore, the culture we have fostered whereby we engage in cancellation of others must cease to exist. In many instances, our lives depend upon it.

This coordinated effort to restore social cohesion must synthesize in the form of a) a renewal of media credibility, b) an abandonment of the 2-party system, and c) a fundamental rebuke of “cancel culture.”

And so, as we approach a pivotal epoch in American history, these critical concepts must remain at the forefront of our minds. Not only can we do this together, but we must.

24 | FEATURE

Change the Culture Change the Game unbox Atlanta’s online black-owned superstore MADDIE POCH, co-editor-in-chief id-90s Dacula, Georgia offered little diversity for fourth grade student Ashleigh Thomas. Her racially homogeneous community alerted her to problems with America’s educational system early in her childhood. In her history class, her teacher asked if she should step out of the room when the course shifted to the discussion of slavery.

M

“Growing up in the same school system and graduating from the same school system, I can tell you that I did not learn a lot of the black history that I now know today,” Thomas said.

Thomas now encourages a change in American education as a means of bringing about racial equality. The traffic light, ironing board, and hair comb were introduced to society first by black inventors. Though these products are found in many households and often used on a daily basis, credit often does not reach the black community for these creations.

“All these things aren’t told openly in the classroom setting nor posteducation,” Thomas said. “So it is very skewed at the very beginning as far as the significance of black people.”

States. Thomas’ start-up aims to better utilize this purchasing power and bridge the gap between consumers and black-owned businesses.

“The problem that I found in my community is how do I support other black business without having to go through excruciating headaches, trying to figure out who’s black-owned, who is not, where the products are located, where they’re not,” Thomas said. “I developed the idea to put all of those products into one place that is simple and easy to access.”

The goal is to be the missing link between culture, culture people, people and business. business

In addition to this skew, Thomas recognized the disparity between the spending power and the amount of money that circulates in the black community. By increasing the amount of money within the black community, Thomas predicts that African-American communities can “empower schools to say this is what our actual educational model will be, it will include more diversity so that way everyone will understand that black people actually have a worth as well.”

- Ashleigh Thomas

According to the University of Georgia’s 2018 Multicultural Economy Report, African-Americans have a combined buying power of $1.3 trillion in the United

On Feb. 20, 2020, Thomas ended her 11 year career at a Fortune 500 telecommunications company to serve as the founder and CEO of 4thecultr.com, an online superstore featuring black-owned products.

From her Atlanta-based warehouse, Thomas packages and ships all of her company’s orders as her company’s sole employee.

Despite the challenges COVID-19 presents, Thomas still manages to fulfill orders in a timely fashion. Just one month after she opened her business, quarantine began and most businesses had to learn to adapt to social-distancing protocols to remain functional. As the sole packager and shipper of products in her warehouse, the changes Thomas had to make were relatively minimal.

“When it first started, I would actually wipe down boxes to ensure that there was nothing that transferred from me to them [the customers,” Thomas said. “I would come in wearing my mask.”

With or without a global pandemic, Thomas has managed to ship the majority of her orders within 24 to 48 hours. The exceptions to this timeframe are largely due to disruptions in the supply chain that have resulted from COVID-19.

Cosmology, for example, was one of the first companies Thomas contacted

THE C&G | 25

when she created 4thecultr.com. Because their products are mainly made of plastic, they are more difficult to supply because of the high quantity of plastic diverted to producing personal protective equipment.

“At the end of the day, all you can do is communicate and make sure everyone understands what’s happening,” Thomas said on how she explains to her customers why their orders may not arrive as quickly as expected. Many reviews on Thomas’ site attest to the CEO’s strong communication skills. Handwritten notes and samples are staples of Thomas’ customer service, and the positive experience she provides is a significant aspect of her brand.

In addition to managing the demands of her customers, Thomas balances the responsibilities of being a parent. While her son Nate attends a Montessori school, Thomas utilizes the school day to operate her business. Every minute is carefully planned out.

“The key to living life is to have purpose and to operate in purpose and intention,” Thomas said. “I shape my day around what I know needs to be done.”

Thomas describes herself as a wearer of four hats: she must think as her company’s CEO, her company’s employee, her company’s customers, and a mother. She shifts her perspective from role to role in order to make sure a variety of needs are met.

Though her schedule is demanding, Thomas remains committed to her business and the cultural shift it can bring about. Her long-term vision for 4thecultr.com is one of unity and increased opportunities.

“The goal is to be the missing link between culture, people, and business and pretty much bring us all together to create a vast network and a thriving empire amongst us,” Thomas said.

Another key part of Thomas’ long-term vision is her business’ community outreach initiatives. Her in-depth events discuss mental, financial, and sexual health to holistically foster wellbeing.

“Anything that has to do with mind, body, and soul is what we want to cater toward because that is what gives you the footing that you need to live a sound life,” Thomas said. “That is what 4thecultr exists to do: make sure that blacks have an equal chance at having a fair life and a balanced one.”

Scan to access 4thecultr.com

26 | PEOPLE

BACKSTAGE AT The people behind the Plexiglas who make lunch happen, even during a pandemic GRAYSON COLLIER, staff writer

CHEF MIKE CARELLO

H

undreds of HIES Upper School students walk into the cafeteria each day, but how many of those students stop to think about the person standing being the glass divider that just ladled a dollop of mashed potatoes on their plate?

On Thursday, Mar. 14, 2020 with knowledge of COVID-19 in the air, students were sent home with the excitement of a four-day weekend that awaited. However, nobody knew that Thursday would be the last school day on campus for the next six months. Upon returning to HIES, students experienced education in ways they never had before–including lunch.

Rather than wandering through the cafeteria, crowded with people, to select what to eat, students now stand in long, distanced lines, waiting to be served by one of the lunch staff. Green dots mark where to sit, and lunch is split into two different periods to allow for maximum social distancing. Beyond these highly visible differences, the SAGE dining service staff faces obstacles as well due to COVID-19.

From the age of 10, charismatic SAGE Food Services Director Michael Carello knew he wanted to be a chef.

“After high school, I joined the U.S. Navy and got to cook in some really cool places including the Whitehouse for a few days, on ships, and overseas,” Carello said. After seven years onboard, he took the G.I. Bill exam and attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

“I got my education there and then went to working mainly in restaurants and high-end catering halls, until four years ago when I moved to Georgia. Then I hooked up with SAGE and did research for their cafeteria. It wasn’t like a traditional school cafeteria,” Carello said.

Disruptions due to COVID-19 impacted the entirety of the 805 Mount Vernon Highway community–including the cafeteria staff.

“The first few weeks we were just kind of stuck,” Carello continued. “I was at home with my wife and son. My son was doing virtual learning just like the

THE C&G | 27

T SAGE

DOWNLOAD THE SAGE APP

RASHEED BISHOP

students at HIES.” By collecting cookbooks as a hobby, Carello found a way to connect with his family during this time. After the break at home, “we all went into planning mode,” he said.

Rasheed Bishop is one of the many hard working members of the HIES cafeteria staff working under Chef Carello. The northern New Jersey native moved to Atlanta around four years ago and has been working with SAGE ever since.

When deciding whether or not to come back, Carello said that it was not really an option. “I love my job here, and I had full confidence in Holy Innocents’ and in SAGE that we would have the right protocols to keep everyone safe.”

When news of COVID-19 began to spread, Bishop, like most of us, was skeptical and scared. “I didn’t know what was going on and where we were going or how to keep my family safe,” he said.

The HIES Dining Hall has implemented new safety measures due to COVID-19.

According to the SAGE Dining Services website, they have “added recipes to expand our collection, streamlined menus to focus on community favorites, and coordinated with suppliers to ensure product availability.” Furthermore, they have “recruited new Team Members to make sure each venue would be at full strength, and we trained all Team Members in additional safety and cleaning protocols to protect them and their entire community.”

When the HIES community transitioned to remote learning in March 2020, Bishop explained that he had more time on his hands. “It was different, I went from working a 40-hour week to being home.”

“One of the biggest challenges was turning Parish Hall into a functioning dining hall for our lower and middle schoolers. The Stem Dining Hall can hold 500 people, but for social distancing purposes, lunch is now split into two different groups. We also changed our self-service bar so the students are now served by our staff,” Carello said.

Sage experienced challenges outside of the cafeteria as well. Carello explained that “the biggest challenge that our staff has faced was food supply because a lot of manufacturers took time off when the virus first hit.” Items that are necessary to keep a clean and safe environment in the cafeteria such as plastic containers, gloves, and masks are in higher demand, making them difficult to obtain. Despite these challenges, Carello remains committed to keeping the Dining Hall a safe environment for the HIES community.

With his extra time, Bishop could expand his family-owned business called Memi’s Italian Ice. “It’s something we started last summer,” Bishop said, with animation in his eyes. “We used to have a cart that we would push around neighborhoods, but now it’s inside of a truck.”

In deciding to come back to school, Bishop made safety his top priority. “Just like I was trying to keep my family safe, I figured I had to do my part in charity to help keep the kids safe,” he said. “Upon returning, we went over all of the new guidelines, and I thought that they put a lot of preventative measures in, so I felt safe.”

Because the staff regularly works under so many precautions, the new protocols were not so unfamiliar. To keep students and faculty safe, normal regulations simply became more extensive.

The dedication that the HIES cafeteria staff has to the students and faculty deserves to be recognized. Beyond serving food, the staff makes a positive impact on students’ daily lives and educational experience.

trapped

28 | PEOPLE

in a Two-Sided War AARON JORDAN, staff writer

U.S. Military personnel fight battles with their mental health due to COVID-19.

Specialist Sean Gardner shakes a hand.

SEAN GARDNER/contributing photographer

h

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F

or those living and serving in the U.S. Military branches, the worry over the COVID-19 pandemic is compounded by the harsh reality of not being able to come home and see loved ones. According to the Department of Defense, as of Dec. 7th, there have been 86,007 COVID-19 cases in the military with 837 hospitalized, 52,425 recovered, and 10 deaths. Combined with social distancing protocols and military concerns, it can be inferred that a decrease in mental health would result as the virus spreads.

“There are more opportunities than ever for soldiers to both experience and survive traumatic events during their careers,” Jeremy Vigna, captain in the Army Signal Corps with 20 years of experience, said.

Trauma is a significant problem associated with the military. It can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which can produce anger, disrupt one’s whole life, and ruin relationships, memories, and experiences.

According to a panel of three Military Health System mental health subject matter experts in June 2020, “the COVID-19 pandemic may be particularly challenging for people with PTSD,” continuing, “patients may be feeling an increased sense of isolation, greater irritability, and more conflict with loved ones.”

Additionally, David Riggs, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Deployment Psychology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland said “During the past few months, Department of Defense clinics have seen a decrease in demand for PTSD treatment. This aligns with an overall decreased access to health care during the pandemic.” Continuing, “When you delay care, you increase your risk.”

“For those that have lost loved ones, this pandemic took an incredibly painful and heartbreaking toll,” Vigna said.

Richard Abelkis, an HIES parent and a communications officer who has worked at the Pentagon and in the military for 31 years, has been accustomed to working mainly onsite, and said, “before we would get in a room, sit down, have a meeting. Now we get on Microsoft Teams, and we sit and all have it. In fact, I spent pretty much my whole day on Friday having meetings with each of the different sections.”

Even with the adjustments, there is still a risk of contracting COVID-19. Many outbreaks have occurred due to crowded rooms without enough social distancing.

“When you’ve got 20 people in the room, it’s hard to get six feet of spacing because the rooms aren’t that big in the Pentagon. Even though the Pentagon is a very large space, it’s still the rooms. You could probably get four or five people at them and maintain a six foot separation in some instances,” Abelkis said.

This is the case for many military personnel not working at home, attending meetings that do not allow much social distancing.

In response to this, the military has adopted strict contact tracing policies in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“For those that have lost loved ones, this pandemic took an incredibly painful and heartbreaking toll.”

- Jeremy Vigna

Sean Gardner, who has served as an Army Specialist for the last two years, recalls that he used to be able to ride the train or take a lift to base, but he is unable to do so due to COVID-19. Furthermore, he has witnessed those close to him on base contract COVID-19.

Military personnel have found a way to counteract the spread of this virus by implementing quarantine programs on and off base for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. According to Gardner, “if you get COVID-19, you have to report to a supervisor and get tested. If it is positive, you stay in a hotel room for 14 days.” He explains the high level of preparedness and detail that the Army has in place for their soldiers. Their program provides a way for the soldiers to quarantine alone in good living conditions.

Whenever an individual contracts COVID-19 and brings it into the Pentagon, “they basically send a broadcast saying which people have been identified, and then they have contact personnel who go out and actually reach out to people that you’ve been in contact with,” Abelkis said.

The challenge of having to deal with not seeing family members is known widely throughout the military ranks, but it is not uncommon to be able to reach out to a family member even in these difficult times.

“We remained flexible to allow people time and space to deal with these challenges at work and at home with their families,” Vigna said.

The army has developed ways to handle different types of challenges through the military lines, and the mental impacts of COVID-19 is no exception. According to the June 2020 panel of three Military Health System mental health subject matter experts, the Department of Defense is preparing for a possible increase of military personnel seeking PTSD treatment. In order to meet the logistical challenges placed by physical distancing measures and an increased demand due to COVID-19, they are managing resources for telemedicine and in-personal appointments.

According to the Department of Defense, “the non-medical counseling provided through Military OneSource can be provided face-to-face, but more often it’s provided via telephone or video.”

“You are allowed to see them, but you can’t be in the same room as them,” Gardner said.

Despite the unprecedented challenges of this new viral enemy, the U.S. Military has a history of perseverance.

Even in the most secure places on earth, such as the Pentagon, COVID-19 has managed to make an impact. Fifty to 60 percent of the personnel stationed there have had to work remote due to outbreaks and exposure to the virus.

Whether military personnel goes into work, or works for home – significant changes have been made.

“Soldiers are a resilient bunch, and the Army produces great leaders who are trained to succeed, overcome challenges, and take care of their soldiers in times of uncertainty and chaos,” Vigna said.

30 | OPINION

What About Fairness? my Open Letter to Mr. Fair Bryant ZAK KERR, managing editor

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n 1997, Fair Bryant was convicted of attempted burglary for stealing hedge clippers from a carport. Using a Louisiana habitual offender statute, the state condemned Bryant to life in prison for the theft of the $20 hedge clippers -- no, that is not a typo.

Prior to his conviction for the simple burglary of hedge clippers, Bryant was convicted of attempted armed robbery in 1997 (his only conviction for a violent crime), the illegal possession of stolen goods, the forgery of a $150 check, and burglary.

THE INSPIRATION

While one may accurately characterize Bryant’s criminal record as lengthy, it does not express the record of a violent individual who poses a danger to society. Conversely, Bryant’s record reflects the story of an already disadvantaged individual restrained by a system that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation.

The pattern is clear: Bryant committed a crime, was adjudicated for that crime, served his time, and was cast back out into the environment from which he came without any form of guidance. Devoid of support and direction, Bryant became, yet again, engulfed by a perpetual cycle that led him back to crime and, ultimately, re-confined him to a cell.

After appealing the excessive ruling in 2000, the state appeals court used Bryant’s long standing record to justify his punishment. In other words, the state essentially deduced that, because Bryant had spent minimal time in society, he might as well be confined to prison for life. Therein lies the problem: the logic adopted by the prosecutors who initially invoked the habitual offender law and to which the appeals court subscribed fuels a sentiment of punishment over rehabilitation -- a central problem of our penal system.

A root cause of Bryant’s ascription to crime

was his drug problem. With the principal aid and guidance of a support group, through means of rehabilitation-oriented corrections, Bryant may have had a drastically different life. Instead, he was dealt a sentence disproportionate to the crime he committed and, as a result, was stripped of any opportunity to attain reformation.

Under the terms of the habitual offender law invoked by the prosecution, Bryant was not immediately eligible for parole – he was scheduled to be abandoned in prison for the rest of his life. However, by 2015 the tides began to shift in Bryant’s favor when he was allowed to be considered for parole. He applied for parole in 2015, 2018, and 2019 but was denied with haste each time.

Then, in July of 2020, the Supreme Court of Louisiana declined to review Bryant’s case.

Despite the legal losses for Bryant, the decision of the court garnered significant media attention, which indirectly resulted in Bryant being granted another parole hearing that occurred in mid-October of 2020.

After 23 years behind bars, years of legal challenges, and over $1 million spent on his incarceration, 63-year-old Bryant was finally granted parole and began reentry into society that has been, thus far, successful. All this money and wasted time over a $23 pair of hedge clippers.

Our prisons are overcrowded, our courts are inundated with cases, and our budgets have been stretched thin. Habitual offender laws only perpetuate these problems and further lead to the detriment of nonviolent defendants by promoting merely a punitive system rather than a system of rehabilitation and reformation.

While context is essential to courts so that they may holistically reach a just sentence, defendants should be sentenced for their

crimes as they occur – they should not be re-sentenced for crimes committed prior for which they have already served their time.

Habitual offender laws promote this. Resentencing for a crime already committed defies logic and violates foundational judicial standards of fairness, equity, and impartiality.

Furthermore, in keeping with the 8th Amendment of our Constitution, cruel and unusual punishments shall not be inflicted.

No individual, especially a citizen of the union, protected by the Constitution, should ever be stripped of their freedom for life for stealing a $23 yard tool. Habitual offender laws were created with good intention. But the disproportionate sentencing of nonviolent defendants, such as Bryant, are a significant consequence of these laws.

While we should certainly punish violent and sex crimes more harshly, we should extend rehabilitation to individuals such as Bryant.

Since Bryant’s first day at Angola, 23 years ago, certain state legislatures have rightfully amended their habitual offender laws, thereby making them more narrowed and, thus, protecting nonviolent defendants, such as Bryant, who have comparatively less significant records from disproportionate sentences. However, despite the controversy surrounding these laws, many states still employ habitual offender laws that lead to unethical punishments for many. These laws waste time, money, and life.

As we embark on this new decade, our legislatures should reflect on Bryant’s journey as inspiration for the reviewal of existing habitual offender laws and future laws.

Narrowing habitual offender laws may be the first step to attaining a system of corrective rehabilitation and, eventually, a long-overdue justice overhaul in the United States.

THE C&G | 31

Mr. Fair W. Bryant Baton Rouge, LA 70821 25 October 2020 Dear Mr. Bryant, My name is Zak and I am a high school senior based out of Atlanta, Georgia. I have been following your journey over the course of this year.

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on your recent release. I cannot relay to you the overwhelming sense of joy I felt as I watched the parole board grant you your long-overdue freedom.

This summer, I came across an article about your incarceration – at the time, your counsel was preparing an appeal to the Supreme Court of Louisiana. The facts of your case, as presented by the article, left me completely astonished. I could not fathom the idea that you, a man of the 21st century; a citizen of our Union; a citizen who was supposed to be protected by the 8th Amendment and the Constitution as a whole, could be sentenced to life in prison for the theft of something as insignificant as hedge clippers. My heart broke for you.

I assumed that there surely had to be more to your case to justify such an extreme sentence. So, I located all publicly available filings and began to read. But, despite my prior assumptions, there was no evident justification. Lady Justice truly had lost her blindfold.

While I am certainly not a legal professional (although I aspire to be such) and cannot speak to the technicalities of the precedent that allowed the affirmation of your sentence, I can say, as a fellow man and as a fellow citizen, without regret, without insecurity, and without hesitation, that your sentence was unjust and immoral. You did not deserve the punishment handed to you. What you deserved and needed was a community of support.

I am aware that, while at Angola, you used the time to face your struggles with addiction and that you even found God. You accomplished those feats despite having been dealt an inordinate injustice – you truly did seize the day.

So, where am I going with all this? Mr. Bryant, I want you to know that you have been an inspiration to me. And should you continue down your current path, you will be an inspiration to many others.

Your tribulation has not only made me a fierce advocate for the reformation of habitual offender laws, but your story has also inspired a change of heart within me. My priorities have shifted, and I now seek ways to channel my passions towards becoming a more vocal advocate.

I am pleased to learn that Louisiana and other states are making strides with respect to the habitual offender law. But that is only one small part of a larger movement. We must look more towards rehabilitation over punishment (where applicable); we must logically adjust policy and sentencing guidelines; and we must fight for equity.

I wish you the absolute best as you embark on this new and, I foresee, prosperous chapter of your life. Let this letter stand as a reminder that there are thousands of people, who you may never meet, that are rooting for you. I hope that you continue to seize the day.

In closing, here are some words from Curtis Mayfield that I hope will help guide you as they have guided me: “Move on up, toward your destination / Move on up, and keep on wishing / Just move on up, to a greater day / Just move on up.”

Written Most Sincerely,

THE ACTION

To:

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WEAR A MASK. WASH YOUR HANDS. SOCIAL DISTANCE. VOTE.