J A C K S O N
THE V OL.51, ISSUE 2
P R E P A R A T O R Y
S C H O O L
S E N T RY
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE Paid Jackson, MS Permit #93
S E P TEMBE R 2 02 0
Stressful but successful start to the year by JohN heNRy aNdRess
editor As the summer progressed, Prep made several changes to the daily routine of students and faculty so that they could go to school while on campus, hopefully for the entire school year. The school does not want to have to repeat the remote learning process that occurred in the fourth term of last school year. This is why the school has put forth several safety measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. At the beginning of the year, students were told how to return to Prep’s campus safely. From wearing masks to using hand sanitizer, students are instructed on how to stay safe while attending school Also, Prep has allowed people to choose to attend school remotely if they would like to do so. Another precaution has been announcements from Head of School Mr. Lawrence Coco. He has spoken over the school intercom several times to encourage students and also tell them what areas they need to improve in, such as socially distancing while outside if the students are not wearing masks. He has sent out videos of himself as well, providing information and giving instructions, such as a reminder to stay safe before the Labor Day weekend. Additional precautions that Prep has taken involve football games and pep rallies. The student section of home games is limited to students who get admission passes, which are handed out through a lottery basis from the senior high office and to participants of the game, who can give their extra passes to friends or family. The first pep rally that occurred this year was in the gym and was limited to seniors. They were spread out across the stands, with the football team spread out on the visitors’ stands on the opposite side of the gym. The pep rally was live streamed for others to watch as well. It is very fortunate that Prep has been able to have sports events this far into the year. There have been two varsity football games cancelled due to COVID-related issues, one against Oak Forest and the other versus Lamar. Mr. Coco said that “We need to stay disciplined as we move forward with the azcampus. I am really proud of our entire Prep community, including students, faculty and staff, and parents, has acted with our new procedures,
The Jackson Prep varsity football team runs out of the tunnel for the season opener against Heritage. Photo by Lily Flowers
but we need to continue doing them vigilantly for the remainder of the semester.” He also said that if there was one place that Prep needs to be particularly disciplined, it is making sure that everyone is wearing a mask outside unless they are six feet apart, which was addressed in a new rule that was added into Prep’s COVID protocols. Prep has had one significant protocol change as the semester progressed, which is the addition of a rule stating that students have to wear a mask while they are outside if they are not socially distancing.
Mr. Coco also said that Prep is monitoring the CDC, Department of Health, and local medical professionals to make sure the COVID procedures are up to date, which is shown in that Prep has had to update its procedures several times throughout the semester. Mr. Coco also wants to emphasize that he is very appreciative of the Prep staff and coaches as they have worked extremely hard to ensure that school can continue on campus along with sports activities.
National Merit Semifinalists announced Prep released the list of National Merit Semifinalists, a prestigious group of seniors who did exceptionally well on the PSAT their junior year. This year’s award winners from Prep are John Henry Andress, Andrew Banks, Kimberly Blount, Liddy Hurst, Selby Ireland, Mason Nichols, Lauren Noe, Alex Roberson, Ty Usey, and Hunter Yelverton.
To be selected, students must have been in the top one percentile in Mississippi on the PSAT/NMSQT, or Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Each junior takes this test at Prep, and these ten students were the only ones to qualify. The reward for receiving this prestigious honor is national recognition that could lead to a scholarship. These ten students will be invited to apply to become a National Merit Finalist and then National Merit Scholars, where they will receive the envied Merit
Scholarship. The recipients each had something to say. John Henry Andress: “I am grateful for this opportunity and thankful for all my teachers who prepared me.” Andrew Banks: “I may have gotten Natty Merit, but I still can’t pass a Calculus test.” Kimberly Blount: “It’s an honor to be a national merit semifinalist. To be recognized on that level is amazing, especially since it’s been such an unusual year!” -Continued on page 4
News/Features
Entertainment
Around Town
by LiLLy NobLe Features editor & Cass RutLedge opinion editor
Sports
Opinion
Milkshake review
News/Features - 3
eNtertaiNmeNt - 7
arouNd towN - 9
sports - 10
opiNioN - 13
Who has been your most interesting teacher and why? “Kincaid. He’s a mysterious man who has unearthly music procedures but eventually they work out in the end and you play better than ever before.” - Nick Randall, 12th “Ms. Waits. She’s really loud and loves to sing. She even uses a microphone! I’ve never had a teacher do that!” -Chloe McDaniel, 7th “Mr. Gross. He’s carefree but responsible.” -Elizabeth Head, 10th “Dr. Horlock. She’s fun and she keeps the class controlled.” -Kate Cothren, 8th “Ms. Jackson, because she’s obsessed with flamingos.” -Emily Van Uden, 9th “Ms. Griffin. Half the time I can’t tell if she is joking or serious, but I always laugh.” -Hayden Mathis, 12th “Coach Stack is very interesting because she is chill.” -Lilly Luckett, 9th “Mr. Devine because you can never tell what he is thinking.” -Jake Mathews 10th “Mr. Younce, because he is the most intelligent and dynamic teacher.” -Megan Tomlinson, 10th
V I E W S & V O I C E S
What is one thing you would never do again? “Run a quarter mile carrying a telephone pole (9th grade retreat).” -Bradley Stafford, 12th
“Eat clams.” - Ms. Laurie Van Pelt
Features Editor Lilly Noble
“Ride the Ring of Fire at the fair.” -Ava Moak, 9th
Copy Editor Maggie Boswell
“Tell Coach Nix he’s bad at golf ” -Will Burnham, 11th “Get a spray tan.” -Mari Lampton Walker, 9th “Mushroom, sweet potatoes, chocolate, and cherry medicine” -Kayleigh Canoy 12th “Go to summer camp” -Chloe Reynolds, 10th “Be friends with Eliza Mazzaferro” -Jane Gray Barbour, 12th “Be friends with Jane Gray Barbour” -Eliza Mazzaferro, 12th
Pumpkin spice EVERYTHING -Anna Blaire Bryant
Pumpkin spice food and Halloween - Lilly Noble
Selby’s birthday -Cass Rutledge
Sports Editors Mason Nichols Charles Stephenson
Photography Editor Lily Flowers
Assistant Sports Editors Will Gibbs Gavin Mullins
Social Media Editors Eliza Maxwell Walker Poole Video Editor Aubrey Scott Moak Records Managers Anna Cate Hays Olivia Smith
Opinion Editors Selby Ireland Cass Rutledge Fun and Games Editors Sarah Cory Mayrant Gonwa
FOR ISSUE TWO Assistant Social Media Editor
Assistant Opinion Editor
Assistant Entertainment Editor
Assistant Fun and Games Editor
Assistant News Editor
Assistant Photography Editor
Assistant Graphics Editor
Assistant Around Town Editor
Riley Spivey
Anna Blaire Bryant Jake Mathews
Anna Cate Hays
Megan Tomlinson Olivia Smith
Mary Kathryn Mason Hannah Polk
In-Class Staff
Contributing Staff Kalyn Giesecke • David Jenkins III Trinity Scalia • Eli Venarske Advisor: Mr. Lain Hughes
MEMBER
-Eli Venarske
MISSISSIPPI SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION mississippischolasticpress.com
Raking the leaves and Halloween decorations -Lauren Anne Smith Free candy at Halloween -Megan Tomlinson
sentry@jacksonprep.net
Around Town Editors Lilly Grace Sites Julia Stradinger
Margaret Dye • Sarah Headley • Hart Maley Percy Oliver • Colby Ray • Livvy Robertson Ryleigh Wells
The weather, and Halloween -Mayrant Gonwa
The Sentry is a student publication updated throughout the year. As student writers, we try to reflect the thoughts of our most important readers-- the students of Jackson Prep. Because of this, we attempt to approach many issues, some more controversial than others. Nevertheless, the Sentry staff serves the school--her students, her faculty, her family, and her community. The staff hopes to inform, to educate, to entertain, and to question for the betterment of Prep and the lives of people in the Jackson community. The newspaper is produced by the Sentry staff, consisting of students both in and out of the senior high journalism classes.
Entertainment Editors Camp Carter Dax Murphy
Graphics Editor Alex Roberson
FOOTBALL -Aubrey Scott Moak
Boston
Halloween -Riley Spivey
EMAIL US
Managing Editor Jane Hurst News Editor Joseph Watts
The cold weather -Jane Hurst
Find us online at www.jpsentry.net
Editors John Henry Andress Tanner Gough, Senior Editor Lauren Anne Smith
“I would never run hurdles in track again.” -Mollie Mozingo, 9th
Autumn -Selby Ireland
Cooler weather -Charles Stephenson
Volume 51 • Issue 2 • September 2020
“Crash a golf cart.” -Luke Smith, 9th
Sentry PICKS: What’s your favorite thing about fall? Pumpkin muffins and longer nights - Camp Carter
The Sentry
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SOUTHERN INTERSCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION sipa.scu.edu
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NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION studentpress.org
EDITORIAL POLICY All opinion pieces are the views of the author(s), and the author(s) only, with the exception of staff editorials, which are unsigned and reflect the consensus view of the students in each individual Sentry class. Staff editorials are the only columns in the paper that express the majority view of either the Sentry I class or the Sentry II class. The staff editorial process is comprised of two main steps. First, each class talks about a topic and organizes a position on which all or most class members can agree. The editorial is then written, and run past the staff members for majority approval and editing. The Sentry accepts outside editorial pieces for publication. Not every piece will be published. To improve your chances of being chosen for publication, please avoid merely ranting in
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your piece. Specific proposals and solutions are preferable to generalities. You may request anonymity, but we do not accept unsigned editorials. The Sentry allows and encourages humorous opinion pieces. Publication will be at the discretion of the editors. To submit to The Sentry, simply type your opinion, doublespaced with a minimum of 250 words, and send, share, or submit it to sentry@jacksonprep.net. Letters to the editor may be emailed to sentry@jacksonprep. net, You may request anonymity for the print edition, but we do not accept unsigned letters. •Questions or comments? Our mailing address is P.O. Box 4940, Jackson, MS 39296. Let us hear from you!
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News & Features
The Sentry
3
The Sentry’s 2020 presidential election guide
For the sake of brevity, many issues and stances could not be included in this story. We elected to put only the ones we thought were most important at the time of writing. For more in depth information, please go to the campaign websites of both candidates. The 2020 presidential battle is officially set: Democratic challenger Joe Biden and Republican incumbent Donald Trump. Now, as we get closer to November 3, it is time to get to know the two candidates, their vice presidential nominees, and their campaign platforms in order to make a wise decision at the ballot box. The future of our country for the next four years lies in the hands of this next election.
by Cass Rutledge
OpiniOn EditOr & Joseph Watts nEws EditOr
Vice President Joe Biden, 77, is the Democratic nominee. Having served in Washington since 1973 for a combined 47 years, Biden was a behind-the-scenes figure in the United States Senate for decades. In 2008, he accepted the vice presidential nomination from then political newcomer Barack Obama because of his experience and recognizability within the Democratic party. Biden is now in his third run for president, having run previously in 1988 and 2008, but is for the first time in his career, the Democratic nominee. Biden has weathered tough times throughout his career, losing his wife and daughter in a car crash just after becoming Senator-Elect and then losing his son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. Citing his late son’s work as Delaware Attorney General, Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris, one of the harshest critics of Biden in the 2020 primaries, worked closely with Beau while serving as
California Attorney General. Campaigning on his motto: “Battle for the soul of the nation”, Biden’s most ambitious goals are rebuilding the middle class, fixing campaign finance laws, expanding voting rights, and ending gerrymandering. Biden’s long public career on the national stage has opened him up for criticism on his past comments on race and China, and his rising age, which some say points to questionable mental fitness.
Issues: COVID-19
*Stances:
Criminal Justice and Gun Policy
For criminal justice, Biden plans to “strengthen America’s commitment to justice and reform our criminal justice system.” For guns, Biden calls gun violence “a public health epidemic.” - reduce the number of people incarcerated by creating a grant program to promote prevention rather than incarceration - root out racial, gender, and income-based disparities in criminal justice system - hold gun manufacturers accountable for their products by repealing protection - ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines - enact universal background check for purchasing guns
Economy
Biden believes in “an economy where every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead.” - make “buy American” a reality by promoting American companies and ending dependency of foreign countries’ goods - raise taxes by $3.8 trillion over the next decade by increasing the marginal tax rate on the highest income earners - repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Foreign Policy
Biden says that he will “restore dignified leadership at home and respected leadership on the world stage.” - revive the Iran Nuclear Deal - re-enter Paris Climate Accord - modernize America’s immigration system - convene a world summit on climate change - tackle root causes of migration from Central America
Healthcare
Biden “believes that every American has a right to the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access to affordable, quality health care.” - protect the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and expand it - give every American access to affordable health insurance - stand up to abuse of power by prescription drug corporations - make healthcare a right, not a privilege
Biden “believes we must spend whatever it takes, without delay, to meet public health needs and deal with the mounting economic consequences.” - make testing more widely available - eliminate all cost barriers to treatment for coronavirus - provide emergency paid leave for those affected by the coronavirus - provide aid for hard hit small businesses - is willing to shutdown the country again
*All quotes are from Biden’s website
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President Donald J. Trump, 74, is the Republican nominee. Before running for President, Trump was President and Founder of the Trump Organization. He first ran under the slogan of “Make America Great Again” in 2016 and beat Secretary Clinton in an electoral upset, winning swing states that President Obama won by a large margin in 2008 and 2012. Notable first term actions include moving the United States Embassy in Isra-
el to Jerusalem, creating a new branch of the military, the Space Force, replacing the North American trade deal NAFTA with the USMCA, building hundreds of miles of border wall between the United States and Mexico, and passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the First Step Act. Trump has also been impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. Trump chose Indiana Governor Mike Pence in 2016 as his running mate, and he will keep his spot on the 2020 GOP ticket. The most prominent responsibility of the Vice President has been serving as Chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. For his second term, Trump’s most ambitious goals are expanding school choice, banning sanctuary cities, and passing Congressional term limits. Trump has been criticized for his blunt personality, sporadic tweets, and unfiltered remarks, including the Access Hollywood Tape from 2005 which shows Trump making crude, inappropriate, and lewd statements about women.
Issues: COVID-19
*Stances:
Criminal Justice and Gun Policy
Trump says, “We will appoint prosecutors, judges, and justices who believe in enforcing the law, not enforcing their own political agenda...We will ensure equal justice for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. We will...defend your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.” - pass the Second Step Act to help formerly incarcerated people find jobs - fully fund and hire more police - end cashless bail - prosecute drive-by shootings as domestic terrorism - increase criminal penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers - defend gun rights
Economy
Trump says, “We want our businesses to come home. We will continue to reduce taxes and regulations at levels not seen before.” - create 10 million new jobs and 1 million new small businesses - eliminate payroll tax and lower taxes across the board - expand Opportunity Zones - bring back 1 million manufacturing jobs from China
Foreign Policy
Trump says, “We will have strong borders...strike down terrorists who threaten our people, and keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars.” - end reliance on China - pursue peace in the Middle East and bring troops home - finish building the wall on the southern border - wipe out global terrorists who threaten America - renegotiate trade deals to make allies pay their fair share
Healthcare
Trump says, “We will protect Medicare...We will end surprise medical billing, require price transparency, and further reduce the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums.” - repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), while protecting pre-existing conditions - cut prescription drug prices - protect social security and medicare
Trump promises that “[w]e will have a safe and effective vaccine this year and together we will crush the virus.” - continue Operation Warp Speed to create COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2020 - have all medical equipment for healthcare workers produced in the United States - end coronavirus restrictions to return life back to normal in 2021 - hold China accountable for allowing the coronavirus to spread with increased sanctions
*All quotes are from Trump’s speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention
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4
News & Features
September 2020
MAD Project leads to installation of new on-campus WiFi by John henry Andress
Editor Over a three weekend period, a large group of students led by Walker Headley, a junior, and Ms. Laura Bishop, Head of IT, has been installing new WiFi routers all over campus. This is a MAD project, or Make A Difference project, for Walker and these students, since they are helping Prep and other schools in the area. These new access points are tremendously helpful for Prep since the internet connection is necessary for students, faculty, and administration. The new system is set up with Wi-Fi 6 routers, and the old access points are being sold at a low price to local area schools so that they can improve their own WiFi systems. Wi-Fi 6, among other enhancements, is specifically targeted to improve high density environments.
The students did multiple tasks in the library to replace the access points. Photo courtesy of Laura Bishop
This replacement has been a goal for Prep for about the last two and a half years because Prep was in a lease purchase agreement of the previous Aerohive system. This new system will also allow students to remain connected throughout the Prep campus, as opposed to the previous system that would often disconnect the devices as they were moved around campus. Also, WiFi 6 will allow more devices to be connect-
ed to Prep’s WiFi. The upgrade of this system is comparable to replacing a phone bought in 2013 with a current phone. The targeted lifespan of the new WiFi 6 system is five to seven years. Another addition to the system is a new guest WiFi system for visitors on campus. The new JP-Guest Wifi will broadcast Monday-Friday from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm, and all day on Saturday and Sunday.
This is one of the installations of the new access points. Photo courtesy of Laura Bishop
This new installation will be valuable to the Prep community in the years to come, and it is a great update to the campus. This replacement is also helpful to the local area schools who will be
able to improve their WiFi system by using our old access points.
Publication staffs First impressions from a 6th grader persist despite COVID-19 by AnnA blAire bryAnt
Staff WritEr
by JAne hurst
Managing Editor & John henry Andress Editor During the summer, Earthwinds, Prep’s award-winning literary magazine, was able to go to press with their newest edition. During the remote fourth term of the 2019-2020 school year, the staff finished their magazine, and they were able to send it off to the printer. The staff was unable to distribute last year’s edition through the traditional Earthwinds Coffeehouse, which is an event during the school day that includes music, the handing out of the magazine, and refreshments. It was supposed to occur at the end of last year. Also, they were set back on their work since they had to go remote and work from home, so they had to push their publication date. Ainsley Sinclair, part of the Class of 2020 and the editor-in-chief of the magazine, said that they “worked remotely for the last quarter, finishing the magazine from our personal computers.” After making the finishing touches on the magazine, Ainsley sent all of the files to Dr. Paul Smith, the sponsor of the magazine, who then forwarded them to the publisher. They were also able to visit the publisher during the summer and see where their magazine was being printed. There were only a few in-class members of the staff, and they were all given the opportunity to visit the publisher. This year, the publication hopes that they will be able to have their Coffeehouse towards the end of the year. This special event celebrates their work and is a great opportunity to distrib-
ute the magazine, but this will be dependent on the COVID restrictions at that time. This year, Dr. Smith has been able to distribute last year’s issue by giving it to students during their English class. He would love the opportunity to be able to distribute the edition this year through the Coffeehouse since it is the biggest event for Earthwinds. Dr. Smith said that “This was the first time in the eighteen years I have been the sponsor of Earthwinds that we haven’t had a coffeehouse.” A large part of last year’s staff were seniors, and all of last year’s staff already has their copy of the magazine. The Jackson Prep yearbook, Précis, has also had to adapt due to COVID-19. It usually gets passed out during August. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many pages could not be written, and the yearbook took longer to finish than in years past. Précis staff members attended class virtually via Zoom and worked on the yearbook layout from home. Over the summer, staff members came to the school in small groups to finish the yearbook. The staff creatively reworked some of the pages they were unable to complete. Some of the new ideas the Précis staff came up with include Zoom meetings, online school, and virtual prom. Staff member Havens Smith stated, “We are much more prepared for if we have to go online this year. We have back up plans in case we are unable to complete any of the pages this year.” At press time, the staff expected the yearbook to be delivered in time for distribution during the week of September 2115, according to Ms. Anna Griffin, the Précis sponsor.
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Caylin Simmons is a sixth grader at Jackson Prep. She loves sports, as well as the arts. This year she does Pep Squad and after school art, and plans to play basketball, soccer, and tennis in the future. During P.E., several of her friends play football and basketball. This is Caylin’s first year in an independent school, and she is really enjoying it. She said she has “made lots of new friends”. Simmons’s teachers are Dr. Helen Graham and Ms. Mari Farington. Sixth-graders switch between two classrooms, compared to the six which older students do. In addition to this, they have their own wing too. Before Caylin came to Prep, she went to Northshore Elementary School. She said the move was due to the fact that “the public schools didn’t have a plan for Covid, and Prep did.” Her parents’ number one priority was the Covid safety protocol. At Prep, students are given a lot more freedom, too, and she loves this aspect. Even during Covid, Caylin said, “We are given so many breaks during the day and plenty of opportunities to “breathe.” During these breaks,
Caylin Simmons plays basketball during P.E. Photo by Anna Blaire Bryant
the sixth-graders are allowed to disperse and spread out on campus. Caylin loves to talk to friends, play foursquare, or go to drama early and clean the desks and talk to Mr. Younce. The sixth-graders have all just finished a project on pollution.
Simmons has heard from upperclassmen that in 7th grade you get even more freedom than in sixth. She is most excited about “getting to use your phones during the day” and more opportunities for extracurricular activities next year.
National Merit Semifinalists announced, continued from page 1 Liddy Hurst: “I’m beyond thankful to Prep and my teachers for preparing me for opportunities for success with this honor and for my future.” Selby Ireland: “I’m thankful to all my teachers who have helped me along the way.” Mason Nichols: “I am so grateful that some of my hard work has paid off through receiving this award.”
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Lauren Noe: “I truly believe God was with me when I took the test! I’m so thankful to receive this honor and for the 7 peppermints my mom gave me on the day we took the PSAT. I think they really helped!” Alex Roberson: “I’m so thankful for this honor and especially for all the teachers who helped me along the way.” Ty Usey: “I know that the
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College Board is supposed to be slow and annoying, but ten months to tell us who made a test cutoff is a little long even for them.”’ Hunter Yelverton: “Thank you to the College Board for letting me wear a suit to school.”
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News & Features
The Sentry
5
A Day in the Life of police lieutenant Tony Willridge by Lauren anne Smith
Editor When entering a police station, a person can notice the odor of marijuana from the evidence locker, the heavy iron doors leading to the bullpen and offices, or the smiling faces of officers behind their face masks. At the Ridgeland police station, Lieutenant Tony Willridge is one of those smiling faces. He grew up as an “army brat,” born in Pirmasens, Germany, and moved around the world for fifteen years while his father was in the military. Once Willridge’s father retired from the service, his family settled down in his mother’s home state, Mississippi. Willridge followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military, but he always loved law enforcement even as a young boy. “I grew up watching a lot of police shows and always thought those jobs were cool. When I decided to join the military, my dad encouraged me not to make it a full-time career because you have to move around so much.” After leaving the army, he pursued his love of law enforcement by becoming a police officer. When he’s off duty, Lieutenant Willridge spends his free time with his family, fixing up old cars, and playing video games. Lieutenant Willridge has been a police officer for twenty-five years and has served as a lieutenant for five. He is currently the commander of the Patrol Division at the Ridgeland Police Station. Willridge’s job title comes with being in charge of all the uniformed officers in his division
and dealing with anything operational, such as training, hiring, scheduling, dealing with citizen complaints, and going through reports. “My favorite part of the job is interacting with the officers; I enjoy being able to talk to them and help navigate difficult calls.” His role at the station is an administrator, so he can be seen glued to his desk during the day or running back and forth from meetings.
“My favorite part of the job is interacting with the officers; I enjoy being able to talk to them and help navigate difficult calls.” Lieutenant Willridge’s day begins by waking up at 5:30 A.M. From there, he goes through emails, seeing what’s been going on in the city before heading off to work. If any of his sergeants call in about a high priority issue, Lieutenant Willridge stops what he’s doing no matter what time it is and addresses the situation. Throughout the day, he proofreads reports and goes over the narratives before sending them off to court. During his years in law enforcement, Lieutenant Willridge’s most crowning achievement was when he served as a sergeant and worked the case of the largest bank robberies in state history. “1.3 million dollars were stolen, and we had the first suspect identified and put in jail in 23 hours. The second suspect was identified under 36 hours and was in jail in 48 hours. Over 1.2 million was recovered, but 11,000 was never found.”
Lieutenant Willridge stands in front of the Ridgeland Police badge. Photo courtesy of Lieutenant Willridge
When asked about his input about the Black Lives Matter movement, Lieutenant Willdridge responded, “I am a police officer and an African American, so I have my friends ask me questions, voice their comments and concerns about it. What I tell them is black lives do matter, but all lives matter. There has been a spotlight shined nationwide on what’s been happening, and I believe the incidents are due to an issue of police training. I also think it’s an issue of knowing the people and the community that you police; if more community-oriented policing is practiced, a lot of these situations will subside.” He also explains that to do that, police officers have to get out of the car, engage with the community, know the individu-
als they’re policing, so they know how to handle them. Lieutenant Willridge ac-
“What I tell them is black lives do matter, but all lives matter. There has been a spotlight shined nationwide on what’s been happening, and I believe the incidents are due to an issue of police training. “ knowledges the disconnect between young people and law enforcement and wishes the two could communicate with each other better. “In order for anything to be solved, both parties must understand one another. Suppose we were able to commu-
nicate more, and people saw the legitimacy of what police officers do. In that case, we could mend the fences that have been torn down between the communities and the police officers that serve.” His advice to anyone wanting to join the police enforcement is having a heart for service. “I think a lot of people who get into this field don’t survive. They do it for the shiny badge, the nice car, the pretty uniform, and then the gun; that’s not what being a police officer is all about. What is not talked about is the non-glamorous work that has to be done, such as the three hours of paperwork after making an arrest. You must have a heart for humanity and a willingness to serve others if you want to make it as a police officer.”
Who’s your hero? for Garner, it’s his dog Archie
Graphic by Alex Roberson
by maggie boSweLL
Copy Editor Heroes don’t always wear capes or have superhuman powers. A hero is a person admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Everyone has a role model that could be compared to a hero. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from lifesaving physicians to political leaders to parents. Some heroes are not humans but rather pets. For junior Garner Watkins, his hero is his Goldendoodle, Archie. Archie works as a therapy dog primarily at the University of Mississippi Medical Center but he also attends retirement homes and schools. He brings comfort and smiles to people of all ages. Archie’s main purpose at hospitals is to lower stress and
anxiety levels in doctors and patients. In a report by the nonprofit organization committed to education of medicine, the Mayo Clinic, animal-assisted therapy has proven to “significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue”. A couple fun facts about Archie are that he has his own player card at UMMC and he is named after the football star Archie Manning. Garner concludes that Archie is his hero because “he’s always chill and it motivates me to be more like him.”
Archie’s UMMC player card. Photo courtesy of Garner Watkins
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Check out our profiles of the new Prep faculty and staff members online at jpsentry.net or scan the QR code!
Just aim your phone’s camera at the QR code. Garner with his dog Archie. Photo courtesy of Garner Watkins
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News & Features
6
September 2020
Meet the Patriot Man: Worth Hewitt Meet the hype squad: the Male Cheerleaders by LiLLy nobLe Features editor
This school year has brought many new changes to Jackson Prep. One of these is a new Patriot Man, junior, Worth Hewitt. Worth applied for the job last spring as Ben Johnson approached his graduation. Worth shared that, “Ben left some big shoes to fill, but I’m going to do my best to live up to his legacy.” Worth isn’t just the mascot at Jackson Prep; he is involved in many things! He is a player on the golf and tennis teams. He is in the Mu Alpha Theta math honors society and is the junior Vice President of the National Honor Society. He is the student council Vice President of the Junior Class and has been on student council since the 8th grade. He has been in the Jackson Prep fall musicals since 7th grade. He is an active member of Ducks Unlimited, Spanish club, and service club. He has two younger siblings at prep, 7th grader, Anne Melton, and 9th grader,
by Sarah Cory Fun and Games editor & Lauren anne Smith editor
At football games, the male cheerleaders have been getting the student section hyped up to cheer on the team. Get to know these rowdy kids by reading quotes from them down below. Worth Hewitt, the Patriot Man, waves the Jackson Prep flag. Photo courtesy of Worth Hewitt
Banks. In his free time, he can be found hanging out with friends or eating El Sombrero. As a junior, Worth will be the patriot man for the next two years. “This year has presented many challenges for the Jackson Prep student body. I want to do a good job as patriot man despite changes made due to COVID-19, and I am looking forward to the rest of the season and next year!” If you look around the
field, it is apparent that football games are extremely different this year. Students are wearing masks, yellow caution tape lies on every other row, and junior high students are not gathered in clumps behind the endzone. However, if you look on the track, you can still find our patriot man in his coat and hat waving the big red flag back and forth, cheering the team on, and encouraging school spirit in the stands.
“Cactus Jack sent me.” - Ethan Aldridge “I’ve been in the Oval Office before.” - John Henry Andress “I have a private story dedicated to frogs.” - Camp Carter “I can probably beat you in Mario Kart.” - Michael Causey “I ate dog food when I was 5 because I thought it was real food.” - John Garraway
“Last year I was so hot that I shaved my head to cool down.” Owen Lundburg “People scare me.” - Mitchell Martin “I saw Big Time Rush in concert when I was younger.” - Dax Murphy “I have sat in the cockpit of Air Force One.” - Cass Rutledge “Never ever ever ever give up.” Luke Runnels “Yes, I’m a resource graduate.” Denton Smith “I used to be 5’1.” - Barnabas Spivey “In 9th grade, I was exactly 5 feet.” - Brady Winscott
Students meet with college representatives, but virtually by LiLy FLowerS
Photo editor Since the pandemic, there has been restricted travel around the country for college representatives. With the restrictions from Prep, Ms. Malika Lindsay and Mr. Hunter Upchurch, directors of the school’s college counseling office, have looked towards virtual meetings with colleges. Many colleges have decid-
ed to connect with juniors and seniors by virtually visiting through Zoom. Each meeting lasts about fifteen to twenty minutes where students have the chance to hear a little about the college. At Prep, there are several college visits per week. In the last month, colleges such as Vanderbilt, Belmont, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tulane, and Hamilton College have visited. The one positive outcome since the pandemic is schools that have never
come to campus now have the opportunity virtually. Some new schools that virtually visited Prep were Elon University, High Point University, and Washington University. There is another option called the evening programs that hones into six popular colleges within the region. This was a specific Prep program so students do not feel disconnected and can have direct access to the colleges. Mr. Upchurch said this program
State to vote on a new state flag by maggie boSweLL
was created to “provide a clear time and place to connect directly with schools that are most popular in the community.” These colleges include Mississippi College, the University of Alabama, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Millsaps. If you are interested in visiting a college virtually at school, it will be in the daily announcements, the screens on campus, or naviance student. The more col-
leges you add to naviance student, the more emails and notifications you will receive about that specific school. Mr. Upchurch and Ms. Lindsay encourage students other than seniors to attend. The visits are welcome to any interested juniors and sophomores. If you have any questions, you can contact Ms. Lindsay at lindsayma@jacksonprep.net. and Mr. Upchurch at upchurchhu@ jacksonprep.net.
Voting by mail debate by SeLby ireLand
CoPy editor & waLker PooLe soCial media editor
oPinion editor
On June 30, 2020, the state of Mississippi retired its flag after 126 years. The flag contained a Confederate emblem that has drawn controversy for years. Although Mississippi currently does not have a state flag, a new design featuring a magnolia flower will be up for a vote this November 3 on Election Day. The opportunity of designing the new Mississippi flag was given to the public and nearly 3,000 designs were submitted. The new flag was required to contain the motto, “In God We Trust.” A nine-member committee was chosen to choose a design out of the ones submitted. After a lengthy process, the committee narrowed the choices to five, then to two. The runner up flag, the “Great River Flag” had 49% of the votes with 51,635 votes, while the winner, “New Magnolia Flag” received 51% of the votes with 51,674 by citizens voting online to influence the commission. On September 2, the legislature voted to send the New Magnolia Flag to the people for their approval. The flag has red borders with a center of blue with gold
An accurate representation of voters choosing a new flag. Graphic by Kalyn Giesecke
The New Magnolia Flag which will be put on the ballot in November.
lines separating the colors. In the center, there is a magnolia flower surrounded by the words “In God We Trust.” The flag also contains a yellow star to represent Mississippi’s Native American culture and history.
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The final decision on the chosen state flag will be made by the voters at the ballot box in November, and the flag will be either accepted or rejected.
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After the many problems with long wait times and a lack of social distancing that arose during the primary elections earlier this year, many Americans are worried about the safety of in-person voting on November 3. In order to ensure that everyone will still be able to vote, many politicians, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are suggesting that ballots be mailed to and from American homes remotely through the United States Postal Service. An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to vote directly at a polling station on election day. Absentee ballots are usually sent before the election day, but are counted if post marked as late as the day of the election itself. This system of sending ballots to all voters, not just to those who request an absentee ballot, has been termed “mail-in voting.” Speaker Pelosi: “[M]ail-in voting in the upcoming election will be an essential option for Americans’ safety and well-being.” While an increase in the number of absentee ballots is sure to be expected, several other politicians, including President Trump, have expressed concerns that a mail-in voting system
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A mail-in ballot is delivered. Drawing by Anna Cate Hays
would lead to greater voter fraud. President Trump: “Mail ballots are very dangerous for this country because of cheaters. They go collect them. They are fraudulent in many cases. They have to vote. They should have voter ID, by the way.” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has said that he thinks the US Postal Service will be able to handle any increase caused by the election, though he admits that there might be some delay or slowdown. To account for this slowdown, a few states, including Pennsylvania, plan to extend the due date for ballots until November 6. Mississippi has no plans to adjust the postal service within the state or extend the date vote can be received, but absentee ballots are available for those who need one.
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Entertainment
The Sentry
Fortnite and Apple face off over payment policy by Julia Stradinger around town Editor
Recently, the developer of Fortnite (Epic Games’ battle royale game) refused to pay Apple’s regular app fee of 30 percent. This seemingly small issue quickly escalated, with Apple completely removing them from the app store. Epic’s response wasn’t exactly a happy one. They released a video on YouTube, mocking an older Apple ad and included players from their game. At the end of the video, Epic said that in retaliation to their actions, “Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming “1984”.” They continued to file a lawsuit against Apple, which prompted Apple to threaten that they would block Epic from selling their games in the app store until they agreed to pay the standard 30 percent commission. Apple expressed that they want to repair the damage between themselves and Epic - but they also said that Epic is “putting the entire App Store model at risk.” After all, Epic did have a contract with Apple, which they deliberately chose to bypass. A few weeks ago Apple attempted to block the restraining request by Epic that would allow their
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Talking Tunes: Landon Miller and Foster the People
game to return to the app store. They argue that Epic has no legal right to force their game back into the Store. Apple continues to fight back and deny any negative claims Epic has against them. Epic has benefited from the Apple store for many years in the past, so without their services, they will be hurt. Microsoft voiced their support for Epic Games, agreeing that Apple’s actions would greatly hurt Epic and other game creators. Also helping matters, Sony currently has a $250 million share in Epic that they took last month. Tim Sweeney, founder and owner of Fortnite, continues to fight back, saying that Apple has no right to “dictate the terms and of our lives and businesses.” Currently, you can’t purchase Fornite from the App store, and any updates to the game aren’t available on any iOS device. Many Fortnite players have differing opinions on this issue. Mayrant Gonwa, junior at Prep, says “I don’t think it matters that Apple took Fortnite off the App store because you would have already had the app if you played Fortnite.” In contrast, another Prep junior, Haddon Mcleod said “Fortnite is a great game and it’d be a shame if it never comes back on the app store.”
Nineteen Eighty Fortnite, Epic Game’s spoof of Apple’s famous 1984 advertisement, whcih prompted viewers to resist an overbearing governing body
by Jane HurSt managing Editor
Every student at Jackson Prep is unique. Every student has an interest or a hobby. Some people devote themself to one singer or band and want to share their love of their music with other people. Talking Tunes is an opportunity for students to voice their passion for their favorite music. This month, Talking
Tunes highlights Landon Miller and one of his favorite bands, Foster the People. Foster the People is an indie-pop band that consists of lead singer Mark Foster, guitarist Sean Cimino, drummer Mark Pontius, and keyboardist Isom Innis. Founded in Los Angeles in 2009, the band is most wellknown for their 2011 hit “Pumped up Kicks” from their first album Torches. The controversial song covers a difficult subject of school shootings. When speaking about “Pumped up Kicks,” Mark Foster stated the band “wrote the song to bring awareness to the issue.” Recently, the band considered retiring the song from their future concert sets. Since their first album, they released Supermodel
in 2014 and Sacred Hearts Club in 2017. Landon first heard of Foster the People through their song “Pumped up Kicks,” but this was not when he became a fan of their other music. He became a fan of the band when he heard their second album, Supermodel. He likes the band’s writing and how their music is replayable. Landon’s favorite songs by them include: “SHC,” “Goats in Trees,” “Life on the Nickel,” and “Pay the Man.” Landon described the band’s sound as “Pretty, bright, and colorful. Even their slower songs carry the same kind of emotions just toned down.” Landon recommends the bands Grouplove and Saint Motel to fans of Foster the People.
New concert experiences during Covid-19 by Camp Carter EntErtainmEnt Editor
The entertainment industry has been hit hard by the Covid-19 virus and subsequent government mandates in an attempt to limit exposure. Due to the nature of the entertainment industry, where many people are often close together and consuming food and drink in places like theatres, clubs, and bars, those locations were some of the first to be shut down amid attempts to limit the spread of the virus. Concerts are usually large outdoor music events that draw in crowds numbering in the thousands, but attempts have been made to make them available for the pub-
lic to enjoy in a limited format. Several thousand volunteers participated in a study organized by German university Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, to test the risk of infection at such events. The concert took place indoors, in order to have a more controllable environment that excluded outside factors like wind and weather. Several tests were conducted, with the first one simulating a pre-pandemic concert, the second introduced more social distancing and more entry spaces, and the third concert had a smaller crowd and enforced social distancing of at least 5 feet between each attendee. Contact tracking devices, fluorescent hand sanitizer, and smoke machines were
technology used to demonstrate how contaminates spread either through air or through touch. Back in the states, history repeats itself with the return of drive in theaters in places like Minnesota, Wisconsin and Virginia. The drive-in movie theaters are a good way to both have fun and stay safe, as the social distancing requirements are easier to follow due to the large size of most vehicles, and being outdoors helps with air circulation. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay inside many artists such as Billie Eilish and Tame Impala performing virtual concerts, which you can enjoy from the comfort and safety of your own home.
Theaters and streaming services reach unprecedented deal by dax murpHy
EntErtainmEnt Editor During a summer where a global pandemic turned the movie industry upside down with wide scale theater shut down while simultaneously infecting the global filmmaking and distributing network with mass job losses, AMC and Universal have agreed to bring a solution to this detrimental problem. AMC, America’s largest theater chain and one of Hollywood’s five major studios, has agreed to set aside their differences to strike a historic deal permitting Universal’s movie releases to be placed on paid streaming services a mere 17 days after debuting in theaters. Under this deal, AMC will share the revenue from the studio’s paid video-on-demand rentals even though specific details have yet to be announced. On top of shattering any
and all precedents at a time in Hollywood that could only be described as chaos, Mega budgets movies such as Tenet and Mulan have been frequently pushed back. The agreement as a whole has had wide implications for the film industry and holds the potential to fundamentally change when or where moviegoers see future titles. The deal establishes a new profit-sharing model that opposes the usual agenda of putting streaming services against theaters. It is intended to bolster the exhibition community at a point in our culture when theaters are facing tribulations from the so-called “streaming wars.” Under this deal’s multiyear, U.S. only terms, when a blockbuster like Minions: The Rise of Gru arrives in wide release on July 2, 2021, viewers will have the option of watching the animated film in theaters or waiting about three weeks time to either rent or buy it. Prior to the announcement
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of this deal, such a theatrical release and video-on-demand drop could not peacefully coexist. Actually, back in 2011, Universal experimented with offering its comedy-thriller Tower Heist on video-on-demand three weeks after its theatrical debut. Unfortunately, in Universal’s case, several of America’s largest movie theater chains announced they would ban booking the film in retaliation to Universal’s experimentation. Thankfully, it’s different this time, and exhibitors will share the wealth whether fans choose to buy tickets or watch the film on the streaming service of their choice. As cinemas nationwide have struggled to reopen, Universal has created an opportunity for all to benefit from. In the future, we can only hope that it stays this way and that this unprecedented deal Universal has created changes the film industry for the better.
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Entertainment
8
Speedrunning: gameplay gurus and digital domination
by Camp Carter EntErtainmEnt Editor
When most people buy a video game, they intend to spend several hours immersed in a single player campaign or several weeks playing multiplayer with a couple of buddies. However, a select group of gamers have taken it upon themselves to beat their favorite games as fast as possible. These people call themselves speedrunners, and they dedicate much time and mental energy into maximizing their skills for the sake of competition. Speedrunners can lower their times through discovery of glitches that aid in gameplay, optimization of gameplay, and thorough planning before attempting a record breaking run. Speedrunning is divided into different categories based on use of glitches, difficulty of gamemode, version of the game, or whether a stage/level is run as opposed to the game as a whole. Glitches can vastly improve the speedrunners time by breaking the game, and examples include clipping through walls or under floors in order to bypass certain areas of a game. The difference between difficulty in game modes can be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful run. Enemies become harder to beat/ more numerous, and the player may be restricted in armaments and abilities forcing them to improvise on the fly. Nintendo’s Mario franchise is popular with casual fans, but dedicated speedrunning communities exist for platforming games like Super Mario 64 and racing games like Mario Kart Wii. Platforming games require near perfect movement to speedrun at the highest level, with a complex series of sprints, jumps, dashes, and slides. Super Mario 64 and Su-
per Mario Odyssey are 3D games as opposed to classic side scrolling Mario games, literally adding a whole level of depth and greatly increasing the complexity of movement. Racing times Mario Kart games are dependent on knowledge of course and possible shortcuts, and efficiency when turning and accelerating. Usage of items such as mushrooms to gain speed boosts, and character and cart selection also reward further time improvements. Senior Jack Baker says he once held a Mario Kart world record when he was eight years old Goldeneye 007 and Perfect Dark are examples of shooting games that are popular amongst speedrunners, because of the dual challenge of having to have near perfect aim and movement. Tech used by speedrunners range from using explosion knockback to boost movement to even the paradoxically simple technique of looking down while running. These speedrunning communities have existed for over a decade, and records are still being broken due to sustained efforts of gamers and community creators like Youtuber Karl Jobst. Wikipedia speedruns also exist, with the goal of reaching of a certain page as fast as possible, i.e. Peter Griffin or a political figure. The run begins on a random article, and the runner must reach their goal using the blue hyperlinks scattered throughout various articles. Dream is one of, if not the, most popular Minecraft speedrunner and is known for both his extensive knowledge of the game and his banter with his friends during his popular manhunt series. The manhunt series is popular because of its high intensity moments, caused in part by the fact that Dream is simultaneously beating the game while facing off against one, two, three, and even four other players. Minecraft speedruns are nuanced because the runner not only has to have extensive game knowledge and great movement, but the random seed feature removes any preparation and forces players to rely on training and instinct. If you ever feel the need to challenge yourself and compete in a virtual setting then speedrunning might be for you. If you’re willing to devote to learn and practice, it is amazing what you can accomplish.
It’s a Ten-et out of ten! by Dax
murphy
EntErtainmEnt Editor
Going into Tenet, I really didn’t know what to expect. Coming from Christopher Nolan, famous for his often nonlinear storytelling (Interstellar, 1914, and The Dark Knight series), I went into it with barely any expectations. I saw the trailer multiple times before the night of the showing, so that’s what piqued my curiosity. But what exactly intrigued me, I wasn’t sure of yet. Was it the action and intensity in the trailer? Or could it be the brief look at whatever this mysterious futuristic technology, “inversion”, was? If anything I’d have to guess it was a combination of both, my curiosity guiding me blindly into the theater. Because, without spoiling any important details, it’s best to go into this movie knowing nothing, except for maybe watching the trailer once or twice. What is it about, though? That’s tough to answer honestly. I went into it thinking it would be a crazy action-thriller about saving the world, and I’d say, after watching it one time through, I only got
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the “saving the world” part right. The other half I got wrong I’d classify as a spy movie. As other movie critics I’ve seen have said, this is Nolan’s take on James Bond--and it doesn’t disappoint. Giving a brief overview of the film, the plot centers on a mission handed down to The Protagonist, a secret agent tasked with hunting down Russian oligarch Andrei Sator, whose shady dealings form the conflict of the film’s premise: the Protagonist, aided by Robert Pattinson’s character--English spy Neil-- must travel through and invert time to stop Sator, who is effectively working to start World War III and initiate Armageddon. If that doesn’t sound intriguing, at least in the slightest, I don’t know what does. As a director, like Tarantino, Speilberg, and others, Nolan has quite a loyal fanbase. So when news that Nolan was working on a new sci-fi film emerged, expectation and excitement arose pretty quickly. Many would say that Nolan is the type of director that could draw people out of their homes who are eagerly looking forward to an authentic
first experience in the theater. Moreso, while theaters are nearly on the brink of extinction during a time like this, if a theater is open and you’re following the theater’s safety guidelines, I think everyone should get out there and see this movie. It is a film that will have you still thinking about it walking out of the theater, driving back home, and trying to go to sleep, finally piecing the puzzle pieces together way after your viewing. It is a film that keeps on giving and truly rewards you if you’re paying attention. More often than not, we go into movies to turn off our brains and just enjoy an hour-and-a-half or two-hours of escape. What happens when a movie actually makes you think though? Does that immediately make a film bad? Looking back on Nolan’s Interstellar as an example, I’d argue of course not, that you can have a film be just as enjoyable as it is cultured. So, personally, I really enjoyed the film and am eager to see it again to see everything I missed. If you go see the movie, find me around school and come let me know what you thought!
New movie theater experience by Dax
murphy EntErtainmEnt Editor On Sunday, September 8th, I experienced a new way of seeing movies. This was my first time in a theater, seeing a movie in person, since the beginning of the pandemic about three or so months ago. Before I walked in, I saw new guidelines and procedures plastered all over the doorway requiring masks to be worn inside. As I walked inside, I looked around and
barely saw anyone inside the theater. For some reason, we weren’t able to buy our tickets ahead of time (since the Renaissance Malco Theater is part of the only two in the area that house reservable recliner seats with the other being Pearl), so we went straight to the ticket desk when we went in. As my dad and I chose our seats on the screen, another feeling of emptiness swept over me: most of the seats on the screen were available for purchase. Afterwards we head
to the snack counter where the workers don’t allow us to butter our own popcorn. Instead, they held the button down while we moved the bag/bucket around. On top of this, they had to make our drinks for us as well. Besides all of this, though, the in-theater experience was almost completely normal. Once we sat down, we could remove our masks since the room was pretty empty. After we were able to kick back and fully recline, watching a movie in the theater felt just like normal.
What’s the hype with Morgan Wallen? by Charles stephenson
SportS Editor
Camp in the middle of a speedrun of his current favorite game, Downwell
September 2020
Arguably the biggest star in the country music industry as of 2020, Morgan Wallen released his highly anticipated single “7 Summers” on August 14th. After signing a record deal with Big Loud Records in 2016, the Tennessee native released his debut album If I Know Me in 2018 including the alreadyhit-songs “Whiskey Glasses” and “Chasin’ You”. Wallen currently holds three songs on Billboard’s Hot 100: “Chasin’ You”, “7 Summers”, and his single previously released during 2020’s quarantine period “More Than My Home-
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town”. While being at Big Loud Records along with other prominent country artists Chris Lane and Jake Owen, Wallen has been awarded with Billboard’s #1 song of 2019 (“Whiskey Glasses”) on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts as well as his first-ever nominations at both the Country Music Awards (2019 New Artist of the Year) and Academy of Country Music Awards (2020 New Male Artist of the Year). Morgan Wallen’s style also catches the public eye. Performing shows in his flannel button-downs with the sleeves aggressively ripped off, slim-fitting jeans, pointed toe cowboy boots, and his mullet, Wallen sure will
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catch your attention whenever he is out... Want to read the rest? Scan the QR code below to hear more of your favorite country-nusic enthusiast (besides Aubrey Scott) talk about the hottest new sound in country music!
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Around Town
The Sentry
The Yard brings sweetness to Flowood by Lauren anne Smith
Editor
In May 2017, Logan and Chelsa Green opened the first of many The Yard Milkshake Bars in their hometown of Gulf Shores Alabama; the insane desserts were such a big hit that they’ve opened ten franchises since then. The newest location is in Flowood, Mississippi. The Yard has a hefty menu selections: ice cream, floats, sundaes, and edible
cookie dough, but the most popular are the milkshakes. The crazy milkshakes are made with “Premium Ice Cream,” and customers can pick a specialty milkshake or create their own with the variety of 28 ice cream flavors and 56 toppings. If you’re feeling indecisive then we recommend ordering a specialty milkshake; every Yard Milkshake Bar has a secret menu based on their location, so make sure to look up the Flowood one beforehand. The specialty milk-
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shakes are pretty steep at $14, so this might be a sweet spot to splurge on for special occasions. Even with the milkshakes being a delicious treat, waiting in line for 2 hours does not make it worth it. It depends on what time you go, so I recommend staying away from the afternoons and evenings on the weekend. Hopefully the crowds will die down after The Yard has been here for a few months.
Picasso spotted in Jackson Nursery Rhymes Photo by Lauren Anne Smith
by meGan tomLinSon
& riLey Spivey stAff writErs
Currently, in downtown Jackson, art is on display for the public, some created by local Mississippi artists and others created by renowned artists. Almost a hundred pieces by Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Picasso, and many other artists are on display until January 10th, 2021, at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The showing is from the 17th Presentation in the Annie Laurie Swaim Memorial Exhibition Series. The exhibit showcases the French art collection of the Mellon family. The collec
tion of 74 works usually is housed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.This exhibition focuses on French sculptures and impressionist paintings. Impressionistic art emphasizes light, accurate depictions, and small, thin, brush strokes on paintings. One thing that surprised some of the visitors is the number of remarkable paintings and the proportions of the artwork. In particular, there is a work of art called Tropical Landscape, which we researched before our visit. The scale of the painting is much larger compared to the photo shown on the website. Some people may be truly surprised to see such renowned, prominent art-
ists in Jackson. This is not only an inspiration but an important opportunity for people to see works of art by artists that they might never have the chance to see again. Jackson residents interested in impressionist art should visit the Mississippi Museum of Art to see its true beauty.
Photos by Megan Tomlinson and Riley Spivey
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by LiLLy Grace SiteS
& JuLia StradinGer Around town Editors
This week’s small business spotlight is Nursery Rhymes, located in the District of Eastover. They are a children’s retail store that also provides baby registries for expecting mothers, and their goal is to dress children from newborn to 6 years old. Co-owner Mary Jordan Lamar says, “Nursery Rhymes opened about 15 years ago, but my business partner, Janice Fulton, and I bought it 2 years ago.” When we asked her what inspired her to start her business she said that her business partner, Janice, owned another business called Hands In Clay, which required her to travel to make molds of children’s hands and feet. During the process of visiting different shops, she met the previous owners of Nursery Rhymes, who asked her if she would be interested in buying their store and the rest is history. Mary Jordan Lamar jacksonprepsentry
says one of the most important factors that sets them apart from other businesses is that they “want to offer a special experience to mothers who need help in putting their registry items together. It is most of these mothers’ first time when they are registering, therefore, we want to tailor their wants and needs to their preference.” They also offer a variety of items and price points for those who come in to buy gifts. They strive to make every experience a positive one and establish relationships with people, which sets them apart from other chain stores and businesses. Lamar says one of the most rewarding parts of her business is “seeing a store full of happy and satisfied customers who love the merchandise just as much as we do.” They are currently open from 10am-6pm and are requiring customers and employees to wear masks in the store at all times due to the recent outbreak. This store is perfect for any expecting mother, and if you know of any soon to be mothers, I would highly suggest referring them to Nursery Rhymes, for their caring and nurturing environment sets them apart from large companies.
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Sports
10
September 2020
Distancing and defense: Patriots win first three by maSoN NichoLS
sports editor The Jackson Prep football team is off to a blazing 3-0 start. With a student section hampered by social distancing guidelines and stands filled to a limited capacity, Friday nights have certainly looked different with the new set of COVID-related rules. However, the product on the field is as consistent as ever, with the Patriots boasting run-away victories at the end of each game. The season has not been without its challenges, though. Two games have already been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns. The first of these games came in the second week of the season against Oak Forest Academy. The state of Louisiana did
not clear its high school football teams to play until the Thursday before the game was scheduled. Such a quick turnaround could not be managed by the Yellowjackets, resulting in an empty Friday night in Flowood. The game went onto Prep’s record as a 18-0 win after Oak Forest was forced to forfeit. The second cancellation came from last week’s scheduled game against the Raiders of Lamar School. Lamar had a large outbreak among its students in the weeks leading up to the matchup, forcing them to resort to remote learning. However, their football team continued to practice while the rest of the school was at home. After Prep asked Lamar to test some of their players and Lamar refused, the administration decided it was in the best
Matt Jones hustles off the field after a touchdown. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden.
interest of the school to not play against the Raiders. At the time of this paper’s publishing, it had yet to have been determined whether the contest will be accepted as a mutual cancellation or a forfeit from Prep. If the game is ruled a forfeit, it will technically mark a 0-18 loss on the Patriots’ now perfect record. Considering Prep was not responsible for Lamar’s outstanding ability to spread the coronavirus, the outcome of the a potentially forfeited game is incredibly twisted and confusing. But, the three games that the Patriots have actually played have been quite the opposite, each of them decisive, unquestionable victories. The first true matchup of the season came against Columbus’ Heritage Academy. Heritage traveled to Flowood with a drastically different-looking team than the one that upset Prep in the season opener last year. The home-standing Patriots were able to contain Heritage’s deep passing attack because of stellar play from the secondary, particularly Jeffery Ince, Luke Williams, and Thaxton Berch. As usual, Matt Jones and Riley Maddox ran the ball well, doing most of the legwork in Prep’s 41-13 win. Week three’s game against Simpson Academy followed a very similar pattern to Prep’s week one victory. The Patriot defense proved they were just as good at scoring points as they were at preventing them. Thaxton Berch and William Deas each returned an interception for a touchdown
Young Athletes to Watch: Griffin and Moak by LiLLy NobLe
Features editor
Konnor Griffin Konnor Griffin, an 8th grade baseball player at Jackson Prep, recently attended the Perfect Game Select Fest event September 4-6. This event is exclusive to only the top 13 and 14 year old baseball players in the nation. At the event, he won the home run derby, hitting several homeruns out of a professional sized baseball field. Not only is he an exceptional hitter, but he is also an excellent pitcher, as he has a fastball that has already been clocked at
Ava Moak Ava Moak is a volleyball player on the Jackson Prep varsity team. What separates Ava from the rest of her peers is that she is only in ninth grade, making her one of the youngest players on Coach Mays’ varsity squad. She started playing volleyball when she came to Prep in the 7th grade. This year will be her third year playing competitive club volleyball outside of school at the Infinity Volleyball Academy. On this team she has competed in a number of out-of-state venues,
86 miles per hour. This feat is extremely impressive, especially for a fourteen year old. Due to his success on both the mound and at the plate, Griffin was named the national twoway player of the year for his age group by Perfect Game. Talking about the event, Griffin said, “It was awesome to get the opportunity to go and face the elite players in my age group.” Although he is a stand out player in baseball, Konnor is not a one-sport only athlete. He also plays wide receiver and safety for the junior high football and has scored in two out of the three games of the season so far. Based on his recent success, his future in sports is bound to be bright.
including St. Louis, Dallas, Birmingham and Memphis. She has switched around in many positions on both teams, but this year she is focusing on playing middle. Ava is extremely versatile becuase of her height and jumping ability, which allow her to accumulate blocks and blocks. Senior Rebecca Burrow shared that, “Ava has always stepped up to the plate when her teammates need her most especially when I injured my knee.” On both teams, Ava is a key player, and her teammates are thankful for her competitive drive and positive attitude on and off the court.
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Thaxton Berch runs towards the endzone after hauling in a deep pass from Riley Maddox. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden.
in the first half. This game saw a slight uptick in the offense’s passing success after more emphasis was shifted to finding success not only on the ground, but through the air. The Patriots left Mendenhall with a 3-0 record and a 49-21 victory. The last time Prep was in action was two weeks ago against Adams County Christian School in Natchez. ACCS’ scheme was the polar opposite of Prep’s two previous opponents, only passing in extremely desperate third down situations. These hopeful third down heaves did not work in favor of the home team but did help Jeffery Ince’s stat sheet. The senior safety finished with two interceptions in the game. Prep suffered from a number of dropped snaps and quarterbacking woes in Natchez. However, the running game was very consistent, with Matt Jones and Chris Peals each finding the endzone on inside runs.
Coach’s Corner: Coach Butts
by LaureN aNNe Smith
editor
Konnor Griffin at a Perfect Game event. Photo courtesy of Konnor Griffin
Ava Moak spikes the ball in a match. Photo courtesy of Ava Moak
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After technicalities and forfeits are factored in, the Patriots stand with four certain wins on their resume. The team will need to preserve any momentum that they have for the tough remaining schedule. The gauntlet begins this week with a marquee matchup against Taylorsville. The Tartars and their highly-touted quarterback Ty Keyes will look to prove a statement on their home field after Prep’s “upset” last season. In simpler times, one might have said that if God was willing and the creek didn’t rise, there would be Jackson Prep football on Fridays in the fall. Now, the creek rising seems like much less of a threat than a potential rise in coronavirus cases. If the Patriots want to continue their success, staying healthy will entail more than just taping up ankles and wrists.
Prep’s football team has had a successful season so far, with help on the sidelines from Coach Matt Butts. A Texan at heart, he grew up playing baseball, track, and basketball in high school, but football was his favorite. Coach Butts’ coaching career started when he was the head football coach at East Rankin high school for seven years, moving to Mississippi College for a year after he left Pelahatchie. He then traveled to University of West Alabama, working as an assistant coach at East Rankin for three years before finally coming to Jackson Prep. He’s been at Prep for four years, and is currently the wide receiver coach. Butts’ passion for football began with his experiences as a kid. “When I was growing up and playing football, I had a bunch of coaches that were like second dads to me during the course of the day. I believe a lot of the things that have made me successful in life I learned from playing foot-
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ball as a kid. My goal is to mentor some of these kids and teach them hard work and dedication.” Coach Butts’s favorite part about being a coach is winning and “the satisfaction of putting hard work into the practice then executing it on the field.” A memorable moment for him was the 2018 season, when “MRA beat Prep in the regular season, and then we won the state championship game against them.” When asked what it means to be a part of the Jackson Prep family, Butts responded with “Prep stands for excellence and states it in their mission statement, and I think that’s one of the things that separates Jackson Prep from other schools. I believe that is important for athletics, academics, and arts, so I’m really proud to be with such an amazing school.”
Coach Butts prepares an offensive gameplan before the Patriots take the field. Photo courtesy of Beverly Oden
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Sports
The Sentry
11
Softball nears playoffs with winning record by John henry andress
Editor Prep’s Softball team is almost through with their regular season, with a record of 14-12-1 as of September 15. The team also participated in the Brookhaven Tournament this year, and they left with a record of 2-1. There have been some new procedures that have been implemented for this season in regards to the Coronavirus. The girls have to wear masks in between innings and while they are in the dugout. Also, high fives and handshakes are no longer allowed before and after the games. The coaches must wear a face covering or
mask while talking to the players in a meeting or huddle. On September 14, Prep played against Canton, which also served as the team’s senior night. This was an opportunity to support and celebrate the seniors on the team by recognizing them during the game. The Student Council handed out free smoothies to the students at the game to celebrate. The varsity team was able to win this game. This year’s team is led by three seniors, who are Oliva Sasser, Sydney Ray, and Kayleigh Canoy. The pitchers on the team are very young, with a 9th, 8th, and two 7th grade pitchers on the varsity team. The varsity team is young overall, with only
five members being in the high school. Olivia Sasser said, “I love being part of a team like this because it forms new friendships and creates a lot of memories.” Kayleigh Canoy said “We’ve improved so much over the season. I think this is one of the best teams chemistry-wise I’ve ever played on, and we’re going to finish our season strong!” The state tournament will be held Saturday the 26th of September. It will then advance to a series where you must win two of three games to win the championship, which will conclude the softball season.
The 2020 Lady Patriots pose for a team picture. Photo courtesy of Coach Cory Caton
XC sprints into undefeated record All Duncan does is win by alex roberson
GraphicS Editor The Cross Country team has started the season off strong for the Varsity boys and girls team. The first meet kicked off in Natchez, MS at Cathedral, gaining a solid win for the season with the varsity boys and girls as well as the junior varsity boys and girls all claiming the gold. The second race was a home meet hosted on the trails
at Jackson Prep. Preston Speed, a Senior from Prep took first place in the varsity boys race, and Julia Stradinger, a Prep Junior won first place for the girls Varsity. The team also bused to a course near Hattiesburg for the PCS invitational, where both varsity teams took first place. Despite the winning record, it has not been an easy season. The team has had to cope with cancelled races and masked bus rides, as well as Mississippi College’s ban on outside runners from racing on their main course,
Choctaw Trails. “We’ve had to be flexible,” says head coach Daniel Burnett, a former track and cross country runner for Mississippi College. “Meets get cancelled, and we run with what we have. We’ve had more summer training this year than ever before. The atmosphere’s different too; you can feel the competition in this group, they want to perform.” With a few new runners joining the team, the boys varsity squad has more depth than ever before. 8th grader Evans Reynolds and Sophomore Nathan Wyrne have shown noticeable talent and have been valuable additions to the team, as well as juniors Barnes Lowry and Drew Haregill. Preston Speed and junior Charlie Hight head up the group, while the girls’ squad has a strong returning lineup led by Julia Stradinger and sophomore Gracie Atkinson. Returners include senior Lauren Anne Smith, juniors Havens Smith and Sara Beth Usey, and sophomores Kimmons Shepard and Olivia Smith. The whole team has been training hard from long runs at 6 a.m. to after school practices. They hope to be able to be able to compete in one of the larger regional meets out of town if COVID restrictions permit.
Senior Preston Speed hits his stride at Choctaw Trails in Clinton. Photo courtesy of Preston Speed
by Mason nichols
SportS Editor Jackson Prep soccer coach Jon Marcus Duncan recently reached a huge career milestone: his 700th win. After years of success leading both the girls’ and boys’ soccer programs, his win total eclipsed the 700 mark on September 10 against Jackson Academy. Aside from Coach Duncan’s monumental win, the night game was special because it
served as the senior night for the Lady Patriots’ 2021 senior class. This season, the girls’ team has experienced plenty of success. The squad has won every game but one: an away game against MRA. The Lady Patriots will look to win their second state championsip in a row this fall, with their main competition looking to be MRA. Already boasting a win against MRA and JA, who are the Lady Patriots’ primary rivals, Coach Duncan and his team are in a great position to make another run at the trophy.
Graphic by Alex Roberson
SENTRY’S SATURDAY PICK ‘EM ($10 Reward) All students at Jackson Prep are eligible to participate in the Sentry’s College Football selection contest. This contest was made in order to give each student the opportunity to show off their ability to predict the outcomes of College Football games. The games being predicted will be for the week following the paper being released, so each participant will have until 3:10 on the Friday after the paper is passed out to submit their entries.
How to play: - Fill out your predictions (choose winner) for the games below and email them in some form to nicholsma@jacksonprep.net
Prize: - The winner of the contest will be recognized next week on the Sentry’s social media platforms and will recieve a reward of $10 Florida (Away) Ole Miss (Home)
MS State (Away) LSU (Home)
Texas (Away) Texas Tech (Home)
W. Virginia (Away) Oklahoma St. (Home)
Kentucky (Away) Auburn (Home)
Army (Away) Cincinnati (Home) Tiebreaker (score): Tennessee (Away) South Carolina (Home)
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Sports
September 2020
Nothing’s safe: Politics infiltrate College Football by Mason nichols
sports Editor College football plays a large role in the lives of countless Americans. Since the late 1800s, collegiate football has been a quintessential part of Saturdays across the country. With that being said, the sport means something different to each and every fan. While some may say that a Saturday is best spent sweating among Tuscaloosa’s tailgaters, piling on layers for a windy winter weekend in Eugene, Oregon, or enduring way too much eye strain from Boise State’s Smurf Turf, very few things bring Americans together like watching young men barreling into each other. So, in a time where Americans are divided on a myriad of issues, would it not be a good idea to keep a grasp on the things that bring us together? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is as complicated as the situation that surrounds it. The reality is that on our hallowed fields there is a new battle raging: one that includes more tweets than touchdowns, more politicking than pigskins. Political firefights have despicably wriggled their way into our
Saturdays, and they are here to stay. The bickering began with the onset of COVID-19, the acellular adversary that has drastically changed the day to day lives of people across the world. The handling of the virus is set to be an enormous topic in November’s presidential election, with every bit of progression or regression being closely monitored by the public and strongly wielded by news outlets on both sides of the political spectrum. Both President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have taken a strong stances on the activities of professional and collegiate sports. Quite interestingly, a map of involvement in this year’s college football season is eerily divided on political lines. The ACC, SEC, and Big-12 are the only members of the socalled “Power Five” conferences that currently plan to play this year. These three conferences overwhelmingly herald teams from states that blinked red in the 2016 election. In fact, all eleven of the SEC’s represented states voted for Trump. However, much like the consistently Democratic-voting West Coast, this right-leaning region is of little concern to either candidate. Both of these regions
have shown that they value football in relation to coronavirus management very differently. For this reason, the Midwest and the Big Ten conference is the epicenter of this debate. President Trump has communicated extensively with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren about his wishes to these Midwestern universities play football. But, if college football is only a game, why does it matter to the most powerful man in the world? The answer to this question is simple: the presence of
Big Ten college football could be critical in the 2020 election. First of all, states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin are among 2020’s most important “swing states.” Penn State and the University of Michigan have extremely large and dedicated fanbases. The revenue these teams produce is essential to the college towns that they support, with the surrounding area of each school projected to lose over a billion dollars if the season is not played. Also, the angst, anger, and economic frustration that could
stem from such a situation would be a blow to Trump’s reelection campaign. College game viewers are so important to candidates that the Democratic Party spent $4.1million and the Republican party spent $6.5 million on sport ads during the 2018 midterms. Most importantly, the college football-watching demographic is filled with Republicans that the president wishes to mobilize and voters that could be swung to either side of the aisle if they lose their treasured pastime.
America’s biggest football venue, Michican’s “Big house” sits empty on the first week of the college football season. Photo courtesy of The Detroit News
The Best of the Bubble: NBA Playoffs MLB action in full swing by Gavin Mullins
AssistAnt sports Editor The NBA season has officially returned to the sports world, and, even though fans cannot be in attendance, the atmosphere of the game has not lost a beat. Due to COVID-19, players are under strict rules and guidelines on what they can and can’t do. If players leave the Orlando “bubble” for whatever reason, they have to stay in quarantine for ten days. Los Angeles Clippers sixth man, Lou Williams, left the bubble and went to a gentlemen’s club in Atlanta.The media was extremely hard on Lou, but there were no consequences besides a ten day sit out. Lou admitted later that, “It wasn’t the best quality decision.” Before the playoffs began, there were eight seeding games to determine who would get in the playoffs. Most of the teams had already earned their spot, but a few teams were fighting hard to get in. Despite going 8-0 in the seeding games, the Phoenix Suns were still unable to get in the playoffs because of their lackluster record before entering the bubble. It is safe to say that the future could be very bright for Devin Booker and the Suns in Phoenix for years to come. The league decided to give out awards for the eight seeding games. Damian Lillard, the Portland Trailblazers’ superstar, took home the honor of Bubble MVP. Lillard averaged 51 points per game in Portland’s last three seeding games. His performance helped his team clinch the eighth
seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers locked up the Western Conference’s first seed well before the Bubble started. They faced the scorching hot Trailblazers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Trailblazers won game one of the series, but the mighty Lakers, led by cultural icon LeBron James, won the next four games to end Damian Lillard’s monster season. The Lakers faced the Houston Rockets in round two. Once again, the Lakers went down 0-1, but finished strong, winning four straight games to eliminate the Rockets and punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers, the number two seed in the Western Conference, were expected to blow past everyone and face off against the Lakers in the conference finals. However, the Denver Nuggets had other plans. Denver went down 3-1, and it seemed as if they were going to let LA steamroll past them. The Nuggets won the next two games, taking the series to a game seven. Denver prevailed 104-89, and Jamal Murray asserted his dominance, scoring 40 points. The Clippers’ superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George got shut down by the relentless
Denver defense, scoring a combined zero points in the fourth quarter. Shifting gears to the Eastern Conference, the number one seeded Milwaukee Bucks, led by league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, were shockingly eliminated by the fifth seed Miami Heat. The Heat fought hard and came together as a team. The Heat will look to continue their hot streak in the upcoming series against the young Boston Celtics. The Celtics, featuring their new big three, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown, defeated the Toronto Raptors in a seven game series to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. After a very long and grueling series for the Celtics, it will be interesting to see if fatigue plays a factor in their next series. With only four teams remaining, the 2020 NBA Champion is weeks away from being crowned. Will King James win his first title with the Lakers and reclaim his throne once again? Will the Celtics add another championship banner to their rafters? Will the Heat or the Nuggets shock the world by hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy? No matter who wins, the upcoming games will be flat out fun to watch.
Damian Lillard shoots over a Mavericks defender. Photo courtesy of Reuters.com
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by Will Gibbs
AssistAnt sports Editor The 2020 MLB season has been one like no other. With no fans in the stadium, players have become accustomed to playing games in an empty stadium. Although different measures have been taken in order to prevent COVID-19, games have been played since late July with very few cancellations or postponements. To this point in the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the clear-cut best team in baseball. Led by superstars Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers have established their position at the top of the National League and are the favorites to win the World Series. The top team in the American League is the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have relied on a dominant pitching staff as well as one of the top offenses in the league to take the Yankees spot at the top of the AL East division. Some teams who have played at an unexpected high level include the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and the San Diego Padres. Both the White Sox and the Athletics are at the top of their respective divisions. The San Diego Padres have burst onto the scene with the emergence of their superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who has been the most exciting player in baseball to this point. His style of play and success on the field has brought a new level of excitement to San Diego and has helped him emerge as baseball’s next big superstar.
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Many pitchers have stood out this season, possibly due to hitters having limited time to get accustomed to facing live pitching. The current American League Cy Young Award favorite is Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians. Bieber has been dominant in every facet of the game so far, as he currently leads the league in strikeouts, earned run average, and wins. In the National League, Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish is the current favorite for the NL Cy Young Award. Darvish is second in the MLB with seven wins, while also being third in earned run average and strikeouts. This season has had its fair share of ups and downs. While there are many things people would wish to change about the current state of the MLB, I think most all baseball fans can agree that they are glad to see the sport back and are looking forward to what should be an exciting finish to the season.
Fernando Tatis Jr.’s future is so Fernando Tatis Jr. Photo by Photo bright he needs sunglasses. beyondtheboxscore.com courtesy of SB Nation
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Opinion
13 Let’s adopt Mississippi’s new flag Rittenhouse is a murderer C C Words of Wisdom E E The Sentry
from Grandpa Sel
by Selby Ireland
OpiniOn EditOr This time last year, I wrote an editorial for The Sentry about all of Mississippi’s state flags and why I thought the confederate battle emblem should be permanently retired from our state flag. At the time of writing, it seemed like an impossibility. However, following the tragic death of George Floyd and peaceful protests held all across our state, support for a change in the flag began to swell. When the legislature reconvened in early June, House Speaker Philip Gunn took a bold step in the legislative process by meeting with and encouraging a bipartisan group of legislators to draft a resolution to change the flag. Almost overnight, a coalition formed to push for this change, including Lt. Governor Delbert
Hosemann and other statewide officials. While countless individuals spoke out in support of removing the flag, from Nissan and C Spire, to the state’s university presidents, to local communities and community leaders all across the state, Speaker Gunn deserves special recognition. He has been an open advocate for changing the state flag for several years. In 2015, Gunn was the first high ranking state official to call for the flag’s removal, a stance for which he was heavily criticized at the time. Some Mississippians even called for his removal as Speaker. However, Gunn remained firm and continued to support legislative actions to remove the flag. Legislators came together, compromised, and hashed out a bill that could attract enough votes to pass. All sides had to give a little, and no group got exactly what they wanted. In the end, HB 1796 passed and was promptly signed by Governor Tate Reeves. It removed the confederate battle emblem from the state flag, added the words “In God We Trust”
(The State Motto), and formed the Flag Commission to select a design for voters to approve in the November general election. The Flag Commission considered nearly 3,000 submissions and voted for what they have named the “In God We Trust Flag” to appear on the November ballot. For more information about the new flag, please read Maggie Boswell and Walker Poole’s story on page 6 in the News section, or online at www.jpsentry.net. Here we are a year later, and I want to encourage you to support the new flag. The 1894 flag was a divisive reminder of Mississippi’s painful past and it was holding our state back. Our state’s leaders stepped forward and did the right thing. Now, we have the opportunity to move away and distance ourselves from the controversy that surrounds the confederate battle emblem and unite under a new flag. Let’s finish the job and approve the new flag design. On November 3, vote for the “In God We Trust” Flag.
The “In God We Trust” flag that voters will decide on come November
I smell something suspicious by elI VenarSke
Staff WritEr Misinformation is one of the most concerning aspects of the news cycle surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The CDC and other “reliable” sources consistently update rules, guidelines, and priorities, leaving the common man confused and uncertain of the right measures to take. First it was “the virus isn’t transmissible from human to human,” then it was “masks aren’t even that effective,” and now it’s “cover your nose or the effect of wearing a mask is nullified.” The first two bits of information were eventually proven false, so it should be no surprise that the third turned out to be misinformation as well. The assumption about noses is that if they are left exposed, tiny virus particles will be sucked up the nostrils and infect the host’s body, just like they would if they entered through the mouth. The coronavirus is a respiratory disease, therefore it can be contracted through the mouth or nose. These conclusions about the coronavirus and mask wearing are based on the false assumption that the nose is part of the human respiratory system. At one point blood-letting was a common medical pro-
cedure, but modern science has rendered the technique obsolete. So it is with this particular aspect of human physiology. The old theory makes sense because of the breathing sensation one feels when taking in air through the nose; however, it falls apart in the face of new discoveries. Recent studies have shown that the air that enters the nostrils goes not to the lungs, but to small nose-breath-pores along the torso and back. The air traveling through the nose-breathpath and out through the nosebreath-pores vibrates and creates a breath-like sensation. The study also reported several biopsies in which no connection between the nose and lungs were found. A common question that the scientists who conducted the study have been asked is “what is the purpose of this system”? It’s stunningly simple, really: the pores act as tiny filters, collecting nutrients from the nose-breathed air and destroying any unwanted particles. Obviously, the coronavirus is not a concern in the case of nose-breathing because the virus particles are detected and destroyed by the nose-breath-pores. How does this profound scientific discovery affect us today? In coronavirus terms, it means that, once again, the common man has been lied to. There
is no reason to cover your nose when wearing a mask: it definitely will not put you and others at higher risk for contracting and spreading the virus, it certainly isn’t a waste of time and resources and a deliberate demolition of what we as a society have managed to reconstruct over the last six months, and you absolutely are not a silly silly for wearing a mask but not covering your nose.
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Kyle Rittenhouse was present at Kenosha intent on defending businesses alongside other men. Armed with a rifle and a medkit, he was seen before the shootings chatting, offering medical help, and even receiving a water bottle from police. Video of the first shooting shows gunshots going off and Rittenhouse running through an auto service shop parking lot, his pursuer Joseph Rosenbaum was shot in the head and killed. After this Rittenhouse is seen stating “I just shot somebody” on the phone before running away from other rioters. The second shooting takes place as he is running down the street with several people in pursuit attempting to attack him. Rittenhouse stumbles, and turns around and kills Anothny Huber as Huber lunges for him. A third man, Gaige Grosskeutz runs towards him with arms outstretched and pistol in hand, and is shot in the bicep. Rittenhouse gets up in front of the reeling crowd and runs to police with his arms raised. He passed them, drove home to Antioch, Illinois, and turned himself in the next day. Now admittedly, the shooting that took place while he was on the ground can be claimed as self defense, but the fact that he had already shot people beforehand also makes the people attacking him acting in self defense also. The fact that he is a minor (17 years old) in possession of a deadly weapon, and from out of state makes defending his actions even more difficult, as he was clearly looking for trouble travelling to Wisconsin with his rifle. His actions would have been more understandable had he been an adult and defending his own home or workplace, but this is not the case. Claims that his actions were vigilantism sets a dangerous precedent, because if every 17 year old decides to act as judge, jury, and executioner over matters that upset them, what’s stopping half of our senior class from doing the same thing? Nothing; Kyle Rittenhouse is a murderer, plain and simple. According to Wisconsin self defense law section 939.48(2)(a) “A person who engag-
es in unlawful conduct of a type likely to provoke others to attack him or her and thereby does provoke an attack is not entitled to claim the privilege of self-defense against such attack, except when the attack which ensues is of a type causing the person engaging in the unlawful conduct to reasonably believe that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. In such a case, the person engaging in the unlawful conduct is privileged to act in self-defense, but the person is not privileged to resort to the use of force intended or likely to cause death to the person’s assailant unless the person reasonably believes he or she has exhausted every other reasonable means to escape from or otherwise avoid death or great bodily harm at the hands of his or her assailant.” I am going to argue that Rittenhouse was not in danger of great bodily harm because Anthony Huber was armed with a skateboard, and while Gaige Grosskreutz is shown to have a handgun in multiple pictures and videos, he was approaching Rittenhouse with his hands raised after the other two men had been shot and killed. Grosskreutz is a paramedic, as clearly indicated by his cap and orange medkit, and kept the pistol for self defense. Should have Grosskreutz have run at him with his gun out, no. But it seems like a double standard if you defend one citizen’s right to bear arms while attacking others. He still could have attempted to scoot away after falling down, and should have only shot as a last resort. “People are getting injured, and our job is to protect this business,” and, “My job also is to protect people. If someone is hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle; I’ve gotta protect myself, obviously. But I also have my med kit.”, said Rittenhouse in an interview with the Daily Caller. Which is ironic, because he killed people and ran away like a coward. Rittenhouse considered himself a member of a militia group called the Kenosha Guard, which was out in force with the goal of protecting businesses. Rittenhouse is facing a minimum sentence of life in prison if convicted of a first degree homicide, and under Wisconsin law is treated as an adult in the legal system, and deservedly so.
Dear Fellow Students,
Eli Venarske demonstrating how not to wear a mask, as it does not cover his nose. Photo courtesy of Eli Venarske
Our school, community, state, and country are all great, but are also in constant need of improvement. By voicing your opinion in The Sentry, you may be the first step in setting into motion much-needed change. We provide two ways for you to do this. You can write a shorter Letter to the Editor or a longer Guest Editorial. Both of these will need to be emailed to sentry@jacksonprep.net for submission. We look forward to hearing your voice. For more information, please view our editorial guidelines at jpsentry.net/about or on Page 15. Selby Ireland and Cass Rutledge Opinion Editors jacksonprepsentry @jpsentry
Opinion
14
September 2020
Kamala Harris is a threat to the United States of America by Cass Rutledge
OpiniOn EditOr Let’s be honest. Joe Biden isn’t mentally there. That is why his handlers have barely let him out of his basement, and that is why his vice presidential nominee is more important than the picks of the past. According to Rasmussen Reports, a polling company, 59% of likely voters think that Biden would not even be able finish his first term if elected. Joe Biden himself recognized that he is a “transition candidate” to the next generation of Democratic leadership, which is increasingly leftist and more openly socialist. Kamala Harris, Biden’s new lead handler, is the embodiment of that radical leftist future. The amount of mental gymnastics necessary to call Kamala Harris a “pragmatic moderate” as The New York Times did is truly astounding. Harris openly embraces the far left and is in no way a moderate. She does not even hide her big government ambitions, as shown through her public service record and her failed presidential bid. Let’s start by looking at the current job she has as a United States Senator. In 2019, GovTrack. us, a legislator and legislation tracking website, named Sen. Harris the most liberal senator. Yes, you read that right. Kamala Harris was more liberal than every single United States Senator, including Elizabeth Warren
and self-avowed socialist Bernie Sanders. Beyond that, she has cosponsored radical legislation, which most notably includes the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. Bernie Sanders’s version of these two bills alone would cost Americans about 33.8 trillion (yes, trillion) dollars over the next decade, according to the BBC, almost doubling the current budget, and would require huge tax increases for the middle class. Expect Harris’s version to cost even more considering that she had an even more liberal Senate voting record in 2018. The Green New Deal uses the issue of climate change as a way to usher in socialism, which would include a jobs guarantee and universal healthcare, sifting even more choice and freedom from the citizenry and private sector. Medicare for All is Medicare for None. Private health insurance would be abolished, and your healthcare would be placed in the hands of the inefficient, untrustworthy federal government. To top it all off, Harris voted against the bipartisan USMCA, which has already created thousands of jobs, and a bill to ban infanticide. Not abortion; infanticide. Withholding life-saving medical attention to newborn babies is okay with her. In no way is Kamala Harris a moderate, and it is simply baseless to suggest that she is. Despite being nowhere
Sens. Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, the second and first most liberal senators, respectively, in 2019 according to GovTrack.us, have a conversation during a debate. Photo Courtesy of AFP
near a moderate, Kamala Harris kept moving far left and out of touch with average Americans on the campaign trail. Some of the highlights include that she wants to give illegal immigrants taxpayer funded healthcare, ban plastic straws, ban fracking, ban certain unspecified unhealthy eating behaviors, and bypass Congress to restrict gun ownership, saying she’d take “executive action” if Congress did not act in 100 days. Kamala Harris is not only radical in every sense of the word, but she is also so power hungry to the point that she is morally bankrupt. It was only a short while ago when Harris said she “believe[s]” the allegations of unwanted touching by several women against Joe Biden. She then went on to attack Biden for praising segregationists and for opposing busing, calling the issue
Kanye 2020 is a joke by tRinity sCalia
Staff WritEr Kanye 2020 is a campaign that could only exist in our timeline. To me, it’s absolutely inconceivable that singer-songwriter Kanye West could hold any political position, much less President of the United States. West announced his presidential campaign in a tweet that read “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION”. Unsurprisingly, West missed the deadline to be on the ballot in most states. According to Steve Kramer, a member of West’s campaign team, Kanye was dropping out. Despite this, West will appear on the ballot in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah, Idaho, Iowa, Tennessee, Vermont, Mississippi, Colorado, and Minnesota. In an interview with Forbes, West revealed some of his policies, and, boy, are they vague. When asked about foreign policy West replied “I haven’t developed it yet. I’m focused on protecting America, first, with our great military. Let’s focus on ourselves first.” West also said he was going to use the fictional country of Wakanda as a framework for his government. Overall, his policies are incredibly out of touch. West’s
go-to answer seems to be some quip about reinstating God in our country. In terms of what Kanye 2020 will do for the election, it’s going to be bad for Biden. I get it, the options are bad. I think West’s strategy is distracting liberals and centrists into writing his name in as a joke. I know what you’re thinking, “No one is that stupid.” Don’t put it past the American population. A significant number of people cast a write in vote for Harambe (a dead gorilla, by the way) in 2016. I don’t think that this is going to be significant enough to swing the election in Trump’s favor. In the right-dominated political scene, we need Biden to have every single possible vote. Kanye is an interrupter. Despite Trump’s denial of involvement with Kanye, it’s likely some Republican strings have been pulled to get Kanye where he is. White House advisor Jared Kushner had a “friendly discussion” with West in Colorado. When confronted about being a spoiler by Forbes, West indicated to trying to siphon votes from Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Questions about who was backing the West campaign were ignored. This in conjunction with Kanye’s history with Trump implies maybe the Trump campaign could be pushing Kanye along. I think that a plan like that would be too incompetent, even
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for Trump. I think Trump simply capitalized on West’s delusions of presidency by pulling a couple of strings. In my opinion, Kanye West is just a mentally ill man with a big platform. West has opened up publicly about his diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder in the past. People close to West have talked about West’s struggles and how incredibly unpredictable his behavior is. Kanye West needs real help. In the grand scheme of things, West’s campaign is insignificant. There is absolutely no chance he wins and I think it’s pretty unlikely that he changes the outcome of the election. To me, it’s just frustrating seeing Kanye play around with politics when so many people’s lives ride on our next election. West probably didn’t intend his campaign as a joke, but it is. Let’s just leave the joke there and not vote for him.
How likely really is Kanye to be elected in 2020. Illustration by Alex Roberson
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“personal” and said repeatedly that she was on completely different sides with Biden on school busing and added that the Democratic Party must act “swiftly” on this issue. She completely abandoned her old thoughts and attacks when her presidential bid failed miserably, and it became possible for her to reach the next highest step. She accepted the vice presidential nomination of the one who she just recently alleged inappropriately touched women and would have made it more difficult for her to leave her segregated school. This is beyond changing policy issues to accommodate the top of your ticket. To allege such serious and disqualifying actions against Joe Biden and then months later run for office alongside him is an abandonment of Harris’s values. That
is who Kamala Harris is: someone whose only goal is to climb the political ladder and to do whatever it takes to reach the next step, even if that means compromising on her own beliefs. Joe Biden frequently forgets where he is, struggles to speak in full sentences, and has noticeably and sadly begun a mental decline over the past few years. Joe Biden cannot handle an interview and unfiltered questioning, much less the highest office in our land. This could make his Vice President, Kamala Harris, the de facto President of the United States, and that is a scary thought. Her political opportunism reaches no bounds and her leftist, socialist agenda is ever-expanding and truly poses a very dangerous and grave threat to our country, our freedoms, and the generations to come.
Tales from the new kid by david Jenkins iii
GuESt COntributOr I have spent my school career from Kindergarten to high school in the Madison public school system. Now, as a new senior in a vastly different environment amidst a once in a lifetime pandemic, I thought I would share a few of my observations. First of all, the school work here is much more difficult. At Germantown, my previous school, I would only have had to take one academic class because I have already finished my other credit requirements. However, I am quickly learning. My teachers have all been helpful, and I have found classmates to help me catch up outside of class. While I am sometimes discouraged by hard tests and quizzes or an extreme amount of homework, I keep my head up high and keep going. This also means that I do not have as much time for social activities. Being the new kid in senior year, connections to other students are crucial for clarifying what a teacher said in class, joining a study group, etc. I have been largely deprived of that. As the school year goes on, I hope that will change. I do not mean to say that I do not have new Prep friends because I do, and they have all been helpful and great towards me. Coming from a different school, I was well aware of the stereotypes that come with being a student at Prep. That is not something we can ignore. It is some-
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David Jenkins III. Photo by Cass Rutledge thing that we should face head on. Pretending like there is not a stig-
ma that comes with attending this school is avoiding the reality. Some things that I have heard in past years are that my new peers are snobby, rich, and stuck up. We need to all go out of our way to not have or appear like we have a “better than thou art” attitude and to treat everyone with respect. The only way to rid ourselves of this stigma is to go against it in every setting. No exceptions. We are being watched, and when people see us and what we do, they make our opinions of us then and there, regardless of if they know us or not. There are some people who definitely go against this stereotype, and it is not fair to them to be grouped with all of the people that do fit the stereotype. You might not think you have a “Preppy” attitude, but I challenge you to stop and evaluate yourself to see if you might. Now that I go here, I am having to do it too.
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Everything wrong with cancel culture
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Attention: Student COVID-19 recommendations
Cancel culture: The majority of people who spend time on social media are familiar with this term. Being “canceled” is when someone is uninvited from events and otherwise hurt in their professional life because of long past statements on social media. Today, more than ever, social media has provided an avenue for people’s actions to be exposed. There are countless examples, from celebrities to working class Americans, of individuals getting “canceled”. Popular hip-hop singer Cardi B was canceled for making social media accounts dedicated to bashing other female artists. YouTuber Shane Dawson was “canceled” as well, because of his past content and actions related to pedophilia. What is the true meaning of being canceled? Does it mean that everyone sits back and waits for an apology video from the “canceled” person via Instagram, Youtube, or TikTok, or does it mean constant bullying and harassment towards them? For the person being “exposed”, it mostly means the latter of the two. People getting canceled should not mean a deluge of social media users diving to the comments to attack the canceled person. In the case of TikToker @Emmuhlu, who was exposed for saying racial slurs, was subject to an inappropriately large amount of cyberbullying. The cyberbullying drove her to attempt to take her own life. In cases like this, it makes us wonder, what is this cancelling accomplishing? Does it really help people reflect on their actions and allow them to grow? Or, is cancelling people a sugar-coated term for cyberbullying? According to stopbullying.gov, cyberbullying affects nearly 15% of high school students. Cancel culture certainly contributes to this statistic. Shane Dawson makes you wonder how much getting canceled achieves. Shane was exposed for saying pedophilia-related things on past YouTube videos and on his social media accounts. Lots of people came to his defense claiming it was mere “dark humor,” but dark humor does not encompass being a pedophile. People also claim that the actions were committed years ago, but shouldn’t people be held accountable? While there is no case in which cyberbullying is ever appropriate, Dawson getting canceled exposed some of his worst moments onto the internet for everyone to see. These actions, beyond disgusting, let his viewers know what he has been doing all of these years, both behind and in front of the camera. After seeing what he did, YouTube corporate demonetized Dawson’s account. This, for lack of better words, ended his career. Cancel culture’s true purpose is sometimes used for the greater good. People oftentimes take advantage of this and turn it into something that it is not: a way to bully people. Cancel culture has multiple adverse effects and provides little to no personal growth within the “canceled” individual. We should be careful with the tools that we use; they can be a powerful force for good or for evil depending on how they are used. Let’s be sure to use social media in the right way and not to destroy the lives of others.
All of us here on the staff are incredibly grateful and excited to be able to come back to school in person. The unbelievable job that our school’s administration has done over the past weeks and months must be lauded. If any of you come across Mr. Coco, Dr. Nealey, Ms. Haire, or anyone else in the administration, please thank them for all that they have done to make school even possible. We support all of the common-sense steps that the school has already taken to help prevent the spread of the virus, from wearing masks and logging into Ascend to the ten-minute breaks between classes, giving teachers the time necessary to coordinate students who can not come to class. However, as the school continues to stay open, and as we all continue to learn and remain safe, we would like to offer some helpful advice for ways that the school might be able to improve. Being unable to enter the buildings until 7:55 in the morning may not be the best policy. In fact, we think that it may have the opposite effect of what was intended. Students gather outside the building in great clumps or in each other’s cars before all going into the building at the exact same time. The result: more students are gathered in a smaller amount of space. If students were allowed inside whenever they arrive, as has been the policy in years past, there would be less “clumping” and more space to spread out. Once inside, there are several additional factors at work helping to keep students safe. The new air conditioning system that kills COVID-19 particles in a matter of minutes has helped to prevent any spread of the virus at Prep (as far as we know). Mask requirements are easier to enforce inside with teachers everywhere around the building. Students clean their desks and log into Ascend after answering coronavirus-screening questions. In between classes, students are once again forced outside. This may not be a great policy for the same reason that not letting students inside in the mornings may not be a great policy. If the inside of the senior high was opened during breaks and people were able to be spread out sitting along the hallways while wearing masks, the rules would be more enforceable and students would be safer. As you can see in the picture below, students are forced to clump together outside, usually not wearning masks and especially on rainy days, because the Dining Commons and hallways are closed off. Keeping everyone safe and continuing in-person learning are obviously Prep’s number one priorities. However, in the eyes of students, some of these policies may not work as well as others. We have to remember that preventing students from sitting next to each other in classrooms will not stop the spread. Nothing will work perfectly, and we will all learn what works along the way, and hopefully, this new perspective will help speed up that process. If anyone in the administration reads this editorial, thank you for all that you do. We know that you are trying your best to do what’s right based on the best information you have available. We hope that you do not interpret this as us complaining about what you are doing; we want to help you and help our school do the best that it can. Students, you can use common sense to discern waht is safe and what is not when it comes to COVID-19. We have been in a pandemic for months now. You can make good decisions when it comes to public health. Do not make the situation at school get worse.
Let’s no be too quick to hit “delete” on someone. Photo by Megan Tomlinson
Unmasked students stand outside clumped together on a damp day. Photo by Cass Rutledge
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