News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
October 2023
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Hauntcert hits the stage with seasonal music
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 39, Issue 3
Class of 2027 retreats to Camp Allen for fellowship Freshmans gathers to bond as a grade and look forward to the year
SIMONA KARANI Staff Writer Hauntcert hit the Underwood Theatre on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:00pm. With performances from the band, orchestra, and choir, it was an anticipated event for the EHS community. For the event, the Music Program prepared a night of seasonal music with festivities and a reception. The concert is centered around instrumental music, and Music Program Coordinator Mr. Joe Beam plans and directs the concert. Since the date traditionally falls around Halloween, the performers dressed up in costume. The audience is encouraged to dress up and wear there costumes as well, and it is the perfect event to keep the Halloween spirit in the air. Music programs such as the Orchestra, Band, and Choir performed music relating to spooky themes. Performing Arts Chair Mr. Garmon Ashby, the choir director, led the choir and prepared for weeks to make sure they were ready for the concert. The choir sang, “The Hanging Tree” from The Hunger Games and “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars. Sophomore choir member Kate Lahoti enjoys Hauntcert because “it’s the perfect way to set the mood for Halloween, and it also gives a chance for us to perform iconic pieces we wouldn’t usually sing outside of the Hauntcert performance.” The band performed jazz pieces during the show, something the members enjoy practicing. Orchestra performed a variety of pieces showcasing all instruments and its members. There was also a piece that featured a harp called “Esperance.” Mr. Beam added, “I’ve been told by many different people that the Hauntcert is their favorite concert of the year.” Orchestra also performed “The Haunted Carousel” and ended the night with a mix from Back to the Future. This arrangement featured the orchestra and the band and was a perfect way to end the night.
INSIDE Trending movies, candy, and costumes Take a look at the fallthemed spread inside!
PAGE 6-7 Check out October’s recognized athletes Seniors Ally Frailey and Billy Wheless
PAGE 11 Features ........................ 2-3 Entertainment .................. 4 Culture ........................ 5 Opinion ........................ 8-9 Sports........................... 10-11 Knight Shift...................... 12
A freshman advisory gathers for a smaller Chapel session to bond with their new advisor, Mr. Chris Potter. The Rev. Katie Gould spoke to the freshmen to get them prepared for the next four years of Chapel at EHS. Photo by Sophia Shin. JULIA SHERMAN Production Editor
“Episcopal High School has eleven different honor societies. EHS students can be inducted into these societies by following a series of requirements for each. Each student is required to uphold honesty and integrity as well as practice good moral character. Students were inducted at the beginning of the school year to recognize and honor their hard work.” Learn more about National Honor Society on Page 2
SOS answers the call to community needs ANYA PANT Opinions Editor Students of Service, more commonly called SOS, is one of the largest organizations on campus. During their time at Episcopal, students participate in at least one service project hosted by SOS. Students of Service is led by Prime Minister Sarah Yates and Deputy Prime Minister Drew Nobel, as well as the faculty co-directors - Mrs. Alcalá, Mrs. Broussard, Mr. Murphy and Mrs. Samson. This organization features six ministries that cater toward different needs all around the greater Houston area. The ministries are the Ministry of Animal Welfare, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Hunger, Ministry of Homelessness, and Ministry of Special Events. There is a student leader associated with each of these ministries, as well as a student director of communications, a student-led board to plan activities, and two faculty members. The student leaders of the respective ministries are Morgan Herod, Eleanor Brown, Thompson White, Sriya Dev, and Jocelyn Valencia. The Ministry of Special Events is led by a sevenleader group. Each of these ministries has partnered with nonprofits around Houston to bring community service that the students of EHS can participate in. The Ministry of Animal Welfare has partnered with the
Houston Humane Society, where students do a variety of tasks such as bag food or clean kennels. The Ministry of Education has partnered with the Nehemiah Center and Books Between Kids. The Ministry of Environment partners with Buffalo Bayou and Memorial Conservancy Park. The Ministry of Hunger is matched with Houston Food Bank, Kids Meals, and Bread of
Life, and The Ministry of Homelessness has partnered with The Beacon: Homeless Services. All of these partnerships provide students who are willing to participate a diverse outlook on the many areas of Houston that require attention. If you want to sign up for any volunteer activities, the sign ups are posted on the Helper Helper App.
EHS Students of Service gather together at the start of the school year to take a picture of the new leaders for the 2023-24 school year. Photo courtesy of Mr. Dan Murphy.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Garden honors student passing Honor societies welcome new with impactful infinity design participants during inductions MORGAN HEROD Co-editor in Chief The Kaufman Garden was created in 1995-1996, in memory of alum Andrew Kaufman (’95). A day after his graduation, he passed away due to meningitis, and his sister, Laura Kaufman (’91), designed the garden to help honor his life and legacy. Located toward the east side of the South ellipse, it is marked as a place where students can go to rest and relax. Most of the greenery has been replaced over the years, though the Tree of Life remains. Surrounding the tree are big stones, placed in an infinity pattern, suggesting
eternal life. The stones are engraved with words, and when put together, they say things such as “stay here with me” and “remember me.” A stone container lies in the corner so that every other deceased EHS student and alum can be recognized and remembered with their own stone. The EHS community remembers Andrew as a “strong student” who was interested in computers and was involved in the tech theater program. He was full of life and lived vibrantly. To continue honoring his legacy, Andrew’s parents offered a scholarship to one excellent junior every year for 25 years.
LULU GIBELLINI Staff Writer Episcopal High School has 11 different honor society organizations. These include International Thespian Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and National Computer Science Honor Society. Each of the honor societies have different requirements in applying for membership. National Honor Society represents EHS’s highest standard of academics, character, leadership, and service. Students must have a minimum of a 3.7 GPA, 20 service hours, and exhibit good moral character and serve as leaders in our school’s community. Mu Alpha Theta is a prestigious math honor society available to those who have enrolled in their third year of math classes. These students must have earned A or Ain all math classes and no more than one B+ in any honors or AP math class. As well, students need to be an active member of the Math Club with good standing. The National English Honor Society requires at least an A- in an on level English class or B+ in an honors English class, a 3.5 GPA, and a submitted writing piece. The National Computer Science Honor
Society is new to EHS, and students must have completed at least one AP Computer Science course and have a minimum GPA of 3.7. The International Thespian Society caters to theater students. Membership is acquired by several points students gain from their participation. The National Art Honor Society is open to all junior and senior visual arts students who are eager to take on an art-related service for the school and for Houston. An example of this is the face painting at Challenger Football. Quill and Scroll is an international publications honor society for students who have taken at least four semesters of any publication course at EHS and earned an A- or higher average. Tri-M Music Honor Society is available for students who are musically gifted and wanting to contribute to EHS. Requirements include at least three semesters in the EHS music program as well as an A average in those classes. La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is a Spanish honor society requiring a 3.8 GPA, and students must be enrolled in or have completed a third year of Spanish. The National Chinese Honor Society requires at least two years of a Chinese class and 25 hours of service by graduation. The National French Honor Society is for individuals enrolled in a second year of French and maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
The Kaufman Garden lies just outside Benitez Chapel. Photo by Julia Sherman.
Freshman Retreat creates long-lasting relationships ANYA PANT Opinions Editor The Class of 2027’s Freshman Retreat took place on October 11, as new Knights were given a chance to bond with their advisories and classmates, which are a very important part of Episcopal’s culture. Each freshman is sorted into an advisory based on a survey they took before the year started, and he or she remains with the advisory and its respective advisor for their high school career. This is why Freshmen Retreat is an integral part of freshman year. The day of retreat starts with the freshman taking buses from school to Camp Allen where they will spend the day. At
Camp Allen the freshmen are sorted by advisory and proceed to spend the day doing planned activities together. These activities are centered around team building and ice breakers, like traversing the Camp Allen rope course, which is always a favorite; writing letters to their future selves; participating in get-to-know-you games; and free time at the playgrounds in Camp Allen. All these activities are done with the advisory and sometimes multiple advisories will be grouped together. The day ends with a class photo, and everyone gets on the bus to head home. The Freshman Retreat to Camp Allen is an amazing opportunity for the new Knights to get to know each other better and form bonds that can last a lifetime.
English teacher Ms. Neidin Hernandez welcomes senior Jenniya Lane to the National English Honor Society. Photo by Morgan Maxwell.
Lessons in JACK CONNER Guest Writer
Freshmen Eleni Gagliardi and Troy Collins practice team building skills through interactive word games. Photo by Sophia Shin.
Faith can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Whether it is the faith in God that I have, and many others in the community have, or simply just the faith a student has in his or her preparation for a test or project, the idea of faith has always been fundamental to the Episcopal High School community. Through our Daily Chapel services and religion classes, the founders of our school wanted to ensure the students of EHS were knowledgeable about the idea of faith, even if they were not members of the Episcopalian Church. This is important because although faith may sound like a word that only applies to religion, this is
untrue. You simply have to look around, and you will see the idea of faith present in all Four Pillars. In the Athletics Pillar, athletes have faith in their coaches that they are best preparing them to achieve their goals as a team. In the Academics Pillar, students have faith in their teachers that they are setting them up best to succeed throughout high school and their endeavors later in life.in the Arts Pillar, the student body has faith that through acting, song, dance, or visual arts, the people in that department will do their best to provide the best entertainment and artwork for the EHS community. Although the idea of faith might seem very complex and hard to grasp, whether you recognize it or not, faith will be forever present in all aspects of our community.
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Features ∙ Page 3
Slice of π COREY KIRKPATRICK Guest Writer Hi, Everybody, I am Corey Kirkpatrick, External Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta, and I am here to share the latest math news. This spooky season has brought a lot of new math opportunities for EHS math lovers. October was a productive, funfilled month, marked with our first guest speaker of this school year! Thank you to Dr. Banfield who spoke with over 100 students during both lunches on October 3 about her geophysics experiences. This month also included the launch of the 2023 annual Math Madness national bracket competition. Our mathletes have competed in four rounds and have not
been eliminated yet. Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta continue to hold monthly meetings in Innovation Space 1 this semester. Congratulations to the 65 Mu Alpha Theta members who were recognized at the Induction Ceremony on Monday, October 2 in the Hildebrand Alumni Room. Save the date for our schoolwide celebration of Post- Fibonacci Day on November 28 during both lunches, 5A and 5B. If you haven’t already, follow @ ehsmathclub on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with math events and exciting math memes! Also, it is never too late to join Math Club as there are still many more exciting events and competitions to participate in this year.
Senior Emily McKay excels in debate and AI programming IZZIE SONG Staff Writer Emily McKay is a senior at Episcopal High School who has accomplished great things as an Ai programmer and captain of the debate team. After taking a class sophomore year, McKay was inclined to pursue debate in a competitive setting. Soon, she was not only participating, but excelling in such, being the first EHS student in 40 years to nationally qualify for Program Oral Interpretation (POI), an event revolving around persuasive speech through acting. She’s currently ranked 20th in Texas for POI. McKay also leads the EHS debate team in tournaments every other weekend. They attend a variety of educational facilities, including Jordan High School in Katy, the sight of their most recent victory. These meetings are loosely structured, with several different debates, both political and social in nature, occurring simultaneously. According to McKay, such an atmosphere
allows her to not only meet new people but also grasp their unique perspectives. She gains more than just social experiences from these events though. Such meetings provide her with a consistent setting to hone her skills. They’ve paid off, too; McKay is currently ranked 73rd in the country for impromptu speaking. In this type of debate, participants must create a speech in seven minutes on a spontaneously revealed topic. Not only interested in debate, McKay is also an active member of Mu Alpha Theta and EHS’s Quiz Bowl team. However, her most notable side accomplishments lay in the realm of technology. Free time during COVID-19 spurred an interest in computers within McKay. After thorough research, she utilized a combination of her technological and debate knowledge to help develop an AI that uses tactical empathy to teach kids negotiation skills. Currently, she is working on an AI for the EHS website that will serve as its personal assistant.
Emily McKay participated in the TFA State Qualifier and placed first in Impromptu on Saturday. She also placed 2nd in the Program of Oral Interpretation. Photo courtesy of the EHS speech and debate instagram.
EHS quiz bowl team hosts first tournament of the year CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Writer On October 7, Episcopal High School hosted the year’s first quiz bowl tournament, ending with successful results. Three teams from EHS competed, each picking up key wins. Teams from high schools all over Texas came to compete, some nationally-ranked competitors. Visiting teams included rival private schools from Houston - Strake Jesuit, St. Thomas, and St. Agnes, a nearby team from Bellaire High School, two teams from the Cypress-Fairbanks school district, and even a school from as far away as Westwood High School in Round Rock. Games consisted of 20 toss-up questions worth up to fifteen points, each followed by three bonus questions awarded to the team who first buzzed in with the correct answer. In one match, the Episcopal B team ended the game in a tie with Cy-Fair High School. A tie-breaker question was asked, and Episcopal student Zach Paull quickly buzzed in with the game-winning answer. Team captain Priya Parekh and the other members of the B team were immensely thankful for his quick-thinking, especially because it was the junior’s first ever quiz bowl competition. The Episcopal C team consisted entirely
of members who had never competed in a tournament before. Players Alex Gonzales, Adam Choi, Aidan Murphy, and Dylan Quan exemplified teamwork, collecting multiple victories. The Episcopal A team members - Evan Ringwald, Amelia Novotny, Carson Kotlarz, and Sarah Yates - ended the competition third overall, securing the school a place in the NAQT Nationals, held in May in Atlanta, Georgia. Senior Evan Ringwald won the first-place individual award after correctly answering over 40 questions, the largest number out of every other student in the tournament. Another stand-out Knight who competed was sophomore Taylor Jones. As one of the quiz bowl program’s best math students, her quick problem-solving skills earned the B team bonus points on the toss-ups. Head quiz bowl coach Mr. Scotty Johnson ended the competition feeling excited about the students’ growth and the results of the competition, saying, “The teams made me really proud. It is not always about wins and losses. Some things are much more important - I am talking teamwork and honor.” He encourages every student interested in trying something new to join the school quiz bowl team for a tournament or in their weekly practices every Friday in Innovation Space One.
Former D1 athlete Coach Rachel Stelter inspires students at EHS JALYNN WOOLLEY Editor-in-Chief Few journeys are as inspiring as that of beloved head varsity girls soccer coach and psychology teacher at EHS, Coach Rachel Stelter. Coach Stelter is a former D1 college soccer player turned professional athlete, coach, and successful entrepreneur. Coach Stelter’s remarkable journey started when she seized the opportunity to play abroad after graduating from Davidson University. Her overseas adventure commenced in Prague, setting the stage for her professional career. Describing her time abroad as a truly enlightening yet challenging process, she embarked on an international adventure which later led her to play
Rachel Stelter in action during her professional playing time. She continues to offer her talents by coaching. Photo courtesy of houstonsoccerschool.
for a team in Grenoble, France, before she finally returned to the United States to continue her professional career. Once back home, she proudly represented renowned teams such as the Boston Breakers and the Houston Dash, an incredible addition to her list of accomplishments, before she retired. In her retirement, she searched for a career that would challenge her, encourage her to compete, and keep her connected to her lifelong passion for soccer. This journey led her to briefly coach at her alma mater, The John Cooper School, where she discovered her innate gift for coaching. Soon after, she transitioned to a role as program coordinator and coach at Soccer Shots, a prominent youth soccer program in Houston, allowing her to discover her passion for a career in business. These career experiences proved to be a source of profound inspiration, ultimately driving her to establish her own business: Houston Soccer School. This unique venture is dedicated exclusively to girls, for girls. At its core, the goal of her company is to foster a community of female soccer players in Houston where former professional and high school soccer players can come together to empower the next generation of young female athletes. Coach Stelter’s journey is a testament to the opportunities that await those who dare to dream and persistently pursue their passions. With unwavering dedication, she has left an incredible mark on the world of soccer, education, and female empowerment. Her story serves as an inspiration for all who aspire to reach their full potential, on and off the field.
Entertainment ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Netflix releases documentary Olivia Rodrigo takes a more mature honoring 80’s band Wham! approach on her sophomore album discography deserves all the attention that it received. Additionally, many facts about George This summer, a new documentary, Michael and previously unseen footage Wham!, dropped on Netflix. It starred the of the band can be seen in the film, as the members of one of the 1980’s most popuproducers unearthed newly-discovered lar bands, Wham! The pop duo consisted interviews. This allowed producers to use of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael, clips of the pair’s voices to narrate the who released their first single in 1981. documentary, even though Michael had The program depicts their rise to fame and passed away in 2016. The remarkable what life was like during and after their editing, smooth transitions, and shocking revelations that took place made viewers emotional and caused many to reminisce about Michael’s highly accomplished career. As well as reveal information about Michael, the documentary highlighted what a great friend and band partner Andrew Ridgeley was. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of the English pop duo He encouraged Michael to Wham! Photo courtesy of iconicimages.net. branch off from careers had peaked. Wham! and release individual projects Director Chris Smith used many record- when he rose to fame. Ridgeley’s encourings of Wham’s original performances to agement can serve as an example of true give the documentary a nostalgic feel. The friendship. film also featured clips from performances December 25 marks the seventh anniof other famous artists, like Banarama and versary of George Michael’s tragic death. Aretha Franklin, demonstrating the diverAfter his passing, it was revealed that he sity of eighties music. Many of Wham’s silently funded charities supporting all songs can be heard in the background sorts of causes, demonstrating the singer’s of the film, including underrated pieces kindness. His legacy is continued by like “Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do)” Andrew Ridgeley, the remaining member and classics like “Careless Whisper” and of Wham!, and all the uplifting music he “Everything She Wants.” Their iconic wrote throughout his career. CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Wrtier
Williams’ story retells history and discusses the power of language JALYNN WOOLEY Editor in Chief The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams is a captivating historical novel that takes readers on a journey through the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Through the eyes of the pro-
The Dictionary of Lost Words is a 2020 debut historical novel by Australian author Pip Williams and is based on true historical events surrounding the compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary by a team of lexicographers. Image courtesy of affirmpress.com.au.
tagonist, Esme, the book explores themes of feminism, language, and the power of words. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, Williams introduces readers to Esme, the daughter of one of the many lexicographers working on the First Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. Raised in the Scriptorium, the dictionary’s make-shift workshop, Esme becomes captivated by words that are left out by the predominately male team of scholars. This fascination leads her to create her own dictionary, focusing on words that reflect the lives and experiences of women, the marginalized, and the forgotten. Williams’ prose is lyrical and immersive, effortlessly transporting readers to a crucial moment in history. She skillfully weaves fact with fiction, making the Scriptorium and its inhabitants come to life. Esme’s journey is a heartwarming and empowering one as she navigates the societal expectations placed upon women of her time. As Esme’s dictionary and vocabulary grows, so does her understanding of the world and her supposed place in it. At its core, this book is a celebration of the power of words to shape our understanding of the world. It reminds us that language is not static; it evolves and adapts just as each one of us does. The Dictionary of Lost Words is beautifully written and thought-provoking. It will resonate with anyone who can appreciate the power of language. It’s a tribute to the forgotten words and voices of history.
CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Copy Editor Last month Olivia Rodrigo released her sophomore album GUTS, succeeding her debut album SOUR from 2021. GUTS covers many of the experiences of teenage life, such as dating and fitting in. However, in comparison to her prior music, Rodrigo has taken a more mature approach. There was a significant amount of concern that Rodrigo would fall victim to “second album syndrome,” a common pitfall many artists fall into trying to repeat the success of their debut without understanding its appeal, often by failing to substantially evolve from their previous work. Fortunately, GUTS has not disappointed and has gotten nearly as much praise from both critics and fans alike. This success comes down to her willingness to branch out into other genres and focus on new topics more relevant to her own experiences. The two singles produced in the lead up to GUTS’ release, “vampire” and “bad idea right,” gave fans a good idea of what to expect, both musically and thematically. Dan Nigro joined with Rodrigo again for their second collaboration, working as both a producer and a writer on many of her songs. Musically, the track list is quite diverse, constantly switching between aggressive pop rock songs like “all-amer-
The preview photo for Rodrigo’s new album GUTS. Photo courtesy of y101. com.
ican” to slower, more thoughtful ballads such as “lacy.” Regarding her production, Rodrigo took heavy influence from various pop-rock and alternative rock artists of the 90s and early 2000s to replicate that angsty tone so common in those genres. “all-american” is a strong start to the album, starting quiet and soft before a sudden shift to aggressive guitars for the chorus, encapsulating the experiences of emotional repression and expectation of perfection. Even though “vampire” would not find itself out of place alongside other heartbreak anthems from SOUR, it still expresses some of the album’s themes of maturity, as well as do an excellent job of building energy gradually over the course of the track. “lacy” goes into feelings of envy and insecurity symbolized by an imaginary girl, while “ballad of a homeschooled girl” takes a more upbeat approach to social anxiety. Rodrigo recounts on her own mistakes and responsibility in “making the bed,” reflecting a growth in maturity since SOUR. Interspersed are more energetic songs such as “bad idea right” and “get him back” that focus on fun storytelling, depicting the absurdities of high school dating and breakups. While “hope ur ok” was a good song by itself, as a final track on SOUR it felt out of place. By contrast, “teenage dream” beautifully concludes the album, reflecting on her last years before adulthood and looking ahead to the future.
Olivia’s new album GUTS photo shoot. Photo courtesy of Billboard.
HOT TAKES with ANGELINA FERTITTA With over 232 million subscribers, Netflix stands as the world’s most popular streaming service. However, Amazon Prime is not far behind, boasting 200 million subscribers, and, in my opinion, is a far superior option. When looking at the cost of subscription, Prime offers more bang for your buck, as it costs a whole dollar less than the standard Netflix subscription and includes access to things like an Amazon Prime membership and Prime Music. A Prime subscription is also unique, as it extends beyond just entertainment by giving access to two-day Prime shipping and discounts in Whole Foods grocery stores. Prime is also the better option for families, because the most basic subscription allows you to stream for up to three devices compared to Netflix, which limits you to just one. Amazon Prime also has Netflix beat with its size and amount of content. Amazon Prime’s library is home to shockingly more than 26,300 movies and 2,700 TV
shows compared to Netflix, which has only about 4,000 movies and 2,400 TV shows. Although it is not the most popular service, considering factors of pricing, content, and other perks, Amazon Prime is undeniably the better option when deciding between the two streaming services.
Amazon’s movie and television company, Prime Video, and the most popular streaming service, Netflix, go head -to-head in subscriber numbers. Photos courtesy of Prime Video Studios and Netflix Streaming Media Company.
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Culture ∙ Page 5
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and Labrinth. Some other well-known artists that played were Portugal. The Man, Nessa Barrett, My. Joy, Tove Lo, Noah Kahan, Declan Mckenna, and Niall Horan. Luckily, I got to experience so many fantastic artists at ACL during the first week. I got to see various artists, but my top two were Foo Fighters and Labrinth. Labrinth has many iconic songs from the trending show Euphoria, and it was one performance I will never forget. Labrinth performed on October 8, and had an amazing set with some of his most iconic songs such as “Mount Everest,” “Formula,” and “Genius” with SIA. Overall, ACL was a big hit this year and is a great way to gather so many people yearly to listen to their favorite artists.
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This past month, the Austin City Limits music festival returned with a great lineup of iconic artists. ACL took place in Austin, Texas, over the course of two weekends, October 6-8 and October 13-15. Ticket prices started at a minimum of $130 for general admission and reached a price of over $1,000 for platinum tickets. Although ACL has had better lineups in the past, this year's lineup was one for the books. With amazing performances and different genres of music, ACL was able to sell numerous tickets even when prices rose. Headliners for ACL included Kendrick Lamar, The Lumineers, Kali Uchis, Maggie Rogers, Foo Fighters, Shania Twain, The 1975, Alanis Morissette, Mumford & Sons, Odesza, Hozier, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
Because time is always in short supply, I want to cherish precious moments with the people I love. 书都看不完，睡也睡不够。一睁眼就月底了，明天就五月份了。 I often feel that I don’t spend enough 我今年就已经十六岁了。因为时间总是不够用， time with my friends or family. When I go 我更想要和我爱的人享受珍贵的时间。 to college in the future, I won’t be able to 我经常感觉我没有多和我的朋友或者家人在一起。 see them regularly. If I could pause time, 以后我去大学的时候，我就不可能经常看到他们。 I would like to have a nice meal with my family, talk about the interesting things 如果我可以暂停时间，我就想和我的家人好好吃顿饭， that happened today, and not rush to study. 聊聊今天发生有趣的事，我就不用急着去复习。 If I could pause time, I could watch mov如果我可以暂停时间，我就可以和我的朋友一起看电影， ies and go shopping with my friends. 去逛街。我可以好好欣赏博物馆里的艺术品。 I could truly appreciate the artwork in 除了和家人朋友多些时间相处以外，我也想多给自己点时间休息。 museums. 我常常觉得周末太短，如果我有超能力，我希望周末，寒暑假， In addition to spending more time with family and friends, I also want to give 都可以两倍长。我可以旅游，可以很多世界名著。 myself more time to rest. I often feel that 这样我就可以学学新的爱好，比如学个新的语言。 weekends are too short. If I had a super世界最公平的事情就是每天每个人就只有二十四个小时可以用。 power, I would like weekends and school 如果我每天能多一点时间，我肯定会好好利用这个得来不易的荣誉。 holidays to be twice as long. I could travel If I could choose a superpower, I would and read many world classics. This way, I wish for the ability to pause time. could learn new hobbies, like picking up a If I could choose a superpower, I would wish time for the ability to pause 5me. Many times, I feel like is flying by, new language. and5mes, I can’t keep I can’t The Many I feel like 5me is up. flying by, and I can'tfinish keep up. readI can't finish reading books, and Ifairest thing in the world is that can't get enough sleep. I open my eyes, and it's the end of the month, and tomorrow is already ing books, and I can’t get enough sleep. everyone has only twenty-four hours each I open my eyes, and it’s the end of the day. If I had a little extra time every day, month, and tomorrow is already May. I would definitely make the most of this I’m already sixteen years old this year. precious gift. 如果我能选择一个超能力，我希望我有暂停时间的能力。 很多时候，我觉得时间过的飞快，我都跟不上。
Singer Shania Twain performs during the frist weekend of the ACL festival. Photo curtesy of kxan.com. by Clara Crenshaw
IZZY SONG Staff Writer Dr. Raquel Abend is a new teacher at EHS who’s well versed in the world of Spanish Literature. A Venezuelan native, Abend grew up with childhood classics like Harry Potter that sparked an immediate interest in storytelling. She attempted her first novel at thirteen, and eleven years later published her debut work, Andor (2013). This sci-fi spectacle interworks themes of mental health into a dystopian reality against a plot that deviates from fictional norms. Not interested in commercial lit-
The EHS community welcomes new teacher Dr. Raquel Abend, writer of Andor and Blue Room and passionate educator. Photo by Angelina Fertitta.
erature, Dr. Abend focused on developing complex characters rather than appealing to the masses. These original narratives and vibrant world building are the most important aspects of Abend’s explorationbased writing. She “creates dystopian [settings] to talk about things that happen in reality,” difficult subjects like gender violence or the Holocaust. The latter is heavily featured in her second novel Blue Room (2017), which she authored after gaining a master’s in creative writing at NYU. Blue Room focuses on a Polish woman who returns to Poland after the transformation it underwent during WWII. While realistic, Blue Room deviates from the speculative fiction novel Andor. Dr. Abend uses both works to tackle historical issues from a unique perspective. But before this novel’s publication, she’d set her sights on a separate career in 2016, teaching. She hadn’t originally planned on this, but Dr. Abend discovered great joy in the learning process. “Teaching allows you to stay curious in life,” she commented. “I love to teach students [how] to think, not what to think.” Dr. Abend was brought to EHS as a Spanish teacher after completing her doctorate in creative writing at the University of Houston. Although scheduling can be a daunting task, she has not deviated from her creative ambitions. Abend has authored several works of poetry, published a collection of short stories, and completed the manuscript for her third novel, all over the past ten years.
This year’s illustrious Paris Fashion Week exceeded all expectations, delivering a spectacular showcase of star-studded front rows, new innovative fashion, and an emotional farewell to Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. While Paris Fashion Week always draws a high-profile crowd, this year’s SAGAFRA strikes freed up many celebrities’ typically busy schedules. Notable personalities, including Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, Dua Lipa, and Steve Lacy, attended shows, while some iconic figures even walked the runways, like Paris Hilton and Angela Bassett. Another standout attendee, Pamela Anderson, attended Paris Fashion Week wearing no makeup at the age of 56. In a video for Vogue France, Anderson shared that her decision to go makeup-free was spontaneous. The Loewe and Stella McCartney shows left a lasting impression. Loewe, under the creative direction of Johnathan Anderson, manipulated proportions, opening the
show with supersized knitted capes with dramatic oversized buttons. The models walked around sculptures by artist Lynda Benglis, appearing to be giant jewelry pieces such as earcuffs and bracelets. The Stella McCartney show was full of sustainable innovations, featuring Keel Labs, the maker of seaweed-based yarn, and Vegea, the creators of a vegan alternative to leather made with grape byproduct. Sarah Burton said an emotional goodbye after 26 years as the creative director. Her departure was marked by a heartfelt farewell, which included a standing ovation following the show and a hug from Anna Wintour, the esteemed editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine. Burton’s final show paid tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen. She stated that her final show was dedicated to “the memory of Lee Alexander McQueen, whose wish was always to empower women, and to the passion, talent, and loyalty of my team.”
Loewe models walk the runway in the Spring Summer 2024 collection. Photo curtesy of russh.com.
Special Feature ∙ Page 6
Special Feature ∙ Page 7
The Knight Times ∙October 2023
Halloween
The celebration of Halloween goes all the way back to the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. The Celts lived around 2,000 years ago and celebrated their new year on November 1. The day recognized the end of summer and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, often associated with death. The Celts believed that the line between the living and the dead became blurred on the night before the new year. On October 31, they celebrated Samhain, and at night the ghosts of the dead supposedly returned to Earth. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III made November 1 a day to honor saints, keeping some of the Samhain traditions. The evening before was recognized as All Hallows’ Eve, which later became Halloween. Flash forward to present day, Halloween is celebrated with costumes, candy, parties, and trick-or-treating. It is the time to celebrate all things spooky. So put on your favorite scary movie and dress up as your favorite character to honor this tradition.
The Convent on what is now the Episcopal High School campus was once part of the home to an all-girls Catholic boarding school called the Mother House for the Sisters of Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. As legend goes, one of the resident nuns tragically died on the fourth floor of the building, and it is said to have been haunted ever since. Now, almost a century later, students of EHS take some of their art classes in the same hallways where this eerie spirit is said to roam. Throughout the years, students have attested to hearing footsteps and voices coming from the forbidden fourth floor. Many faculty members, too, have not escaped these encounters that can only be described as suspicious. Photography teacher Mr. Japheth Storlie went up to the top floor one day to test out a process for one of his classes, and while he was processing the film, he claims, “I looked down, and this figure just started coming up out of nowhere on the page… there was no figure in the scene and then all of a sudden there it was.” Although film teacher Mr. Pejman Milani has never seen the ghost, he says “the elevators open and close all the time on their own in the evenings.” Computer monitors turning on in the evening in his publications classroom and light footsteps on the fourth floor are just some of several unexplainable events that Mr. David Framel has witnessed. “During my IT class last year, we had a group of three students film a segment for their documentary in a hallway. All of the students are accounted for in the footage, but in one frame a dark figure is seen standing against the back wall. Looks like someone in a habit.” This alleged haunting has fascinated students and faculty alike since the school’s opening, and these tales continue as a tradition of history within the school community.
When people think of cats during this time of the year, their minds typically connect felines to spooky things. However, that’s not the case at Episcopal. Meet Shadow, the beloved campus cat who has become an amazing part of this school’s community. Her story began 14 years ago when she was born from a litter of kittens on the school's campus, just before it was going under construction. Today, Mrs. Carol Wasden, senior Cami Gibbons, and the administrative staff are usually the ones that feed Shadow and provide her with water. All of Shadow’s siblings were adopted, and Shadow remained a kitty student at Episcopal High School. Gibbons, reflecting on Shadow’s personality, said, "She likes to collect paper, plates, bowls, and flowers, and loves cuddling." Shadow usually observes the school and reminds students that there's more to campus life. Shadow has clearly left her paw prints on the hearts of Episcopal High School.
While accessing the fourth floor with a photography student, Mr. Storlie captured this shocking display. Who/What is that ghostly figure? Photo by Japheth Storlie.
Shadow, EHS’ campus cat, can be found lounging around the fenced area near the Convent building. She fills her day with cat naps and occasionally allows a few lucky students to pet her soft fur. Students and faculty provide her with everything she needs to live a comfortable life. Photos by Morgan Herod.
An unaccounted-for-figure appears at the end of the hall while Interim students film a documentary on the third floor of the Convent building. Photo courtesy of David Framel.
Popular Costumes Throughout the Decades
Superheroes
Charlie Brown & Peanuts
The Crew from Ghostbusters
Power Rangers
Spice Girls
Frozen Characters
Taylor Swift Eras
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Opinions ∙ Page 8
Opinions
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Tensions between Israel and Palestine threaten to make lasting impact CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Copy Editor The outbreak of hostilities on October 7 started by Hamas has marked the largest loss of Israeli life in at least 50 years. In addition to the immediate human tragedy, the attack also led to the start of a massive military response from the Israeli Defense Force. There remain many unknowns in the fog of war: the role Iran played, how Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, failed to see such a large operation coming, and how the IDF plans to respond. What is certain, however, is that this conflict will transform the region for decades to come. The Gaza Strip has been in a state of effective limbo for eight decades. Its status began as occupied territory of Egypt following Israel’s victory in the 1948 war. Seven Arab states had gone to war to destroy the emerging state of Israel and had been defeated, leaving only the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the hands of Jordan and Egypt respectively. The ceasefire lines drawn here would go on to gradually solidify into the status quo to this day. Israel took control over the Gaza Strip as well as East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Golan Heights in the 1967 Six Day War. Jewish settlements would begin to establish themselves in the occupied regions, provoking a debate over what to do with the newly acquired land. Officially, the settlements are illegal under international law. However, there is a great deal of support for these communities from the more expansionist elements of Israeli politics. Originally proposed in 2003 by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the evacuation of Israeli settlements would take place in 2005, ending 11 settlements in the Gaza Strip. The rationale for the disengagement according to Sharon was that the Strip’s dense and rapidly growing population would make settlement ineffective there, and the focus would instead be placed on the much larger West Bank where settlement has continued to this day. It was in this chaos of disengagement that Hamas rose to power. At the time the main political party representing and governing the Palestinian autonomy was Fatah. They were a secular party that had renounced terrorism and violence and recognized the state of Israel as a legitimate government with plans of a two-state solution. However, for years Fatah had been seen as incompetent and unsuccessful in achieving Palestinian representation. By 2006 Hamas had emerged as the more radical alternative to Fatah, rejecting the continued existence of any Jewish state and calling for a unified Arab, Islamic Palestine. Hamas won the 2006 election, and as tensions flared up with Fatah, Hamas seized the Gaza Strip the next year, expelling or killing all Fatah members. Hamas rules the Strip in an authoritarian manner, crushing political opposition and preventing elections ever since. In response to Hamas’s takeover, Israel would focus its efforts against the Gaza Strip, closing off their border crossings and shutting down most trade. An important question comes up quite often in debates over the situation, and that is whether Israel’s relationship with the Strip constitutes an occupation. The United Nations, Fatah, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International all label it as one, while interestingly neither Israel nor Hamas do. Israel obviously wants to avoid any claims of being an occupying power, whereas Hamas bases much of its legitimacy on being the ones who supposedly have kept Gaza free. Regardless of whether Israel exerts effective control over the territory, their block-
ade dramatically effected the dense urban area by limiting economic growth and even access to important construction and medical supplies. In popular media Israel and Palestine are often depicted as a constant battleground. While it is certainly true that the region has been tense for more than a century, it undersells the significance of this recent attack. Since 2007 combat has been limited primarily to rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas on civilian targets in Israel with occasional major flareups. The October 7 attack by contrast was a detailed, multipronged attack by both land and air, as well as an attempted naval invasion. Hamas had for the first time in more than three quarters of a century invaded core Israeli territory. Twenty-five hundred soldiers occupied various towns and communities near Israel’s border and massacred more than 1400 civilians along with taking around 200 hostages back to Gaza. That day there were also nearly 5000 rockets fired into Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv. Fortunately, most failed to reach their targets due to the extensive “Iron Dome” anti-air defenses. The tragedy provoked a response by the IDF, who had retaken all territory by October 11. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially declared war on Gaza and established a unified war government. Many reserve forces and politicians who were protesting Netanyahu’s corruption and power grabs have since united with him with the goal of solidarity. Aerial bombardment of Hamas targets started almost immediately, taking out many militant positions as well as several senior Hamas generals. Unfortunately, the bombardments have also caused thousands of civilian deaths. Fighting has also broken out in both the West Bank and Lebanon, especially against Hezbollah, a major party and terrorist group in Lebanon supported by Iran. At the time of writing, the IDF is preparing for a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas’s capabilities. Tanks and other military vehicles have been seen around the border, and the IDF has mobilized over 500,000 soldiers. An evacuation was called for by the IDF for civilians to leave northern Gaza to avoid the conflict. Although Israel has stated its goal is to protect the people of Gaza, there still exist serious humanitarian concerns. The International Committee of Red Cross has called for a ceasefire, stating that while “nothing can justify the horrific attacks Israel suffered last weekend […], those attacks cannot in turn justify” Israel’s actions
that “are not compatible with international humanitarian law.” The blockade on Gaza has continued to exacerbate water and food insecurities in addition to making the full evacuation of one million Gazans to the south impossible, according to the United Nations. President Biden has expressed his support for Israel and promised military supplies to aid the IDF in their endeavors. More pressing has been the involvement of Iran in Israel’s situation. Iran, for decades, has been Israel’s number one state opponent. A conflict between Israel and Palestine could serve to sour Israel’s relationship with the Arab world. Nations like Saudi Arabia, which have fought against Israel in prior wars, have been opening up to Israel lately, yet another war may push these potential allies away. It remains unclear how much of a role they played in the attack, with some sources claiming they were unaware of the full scale of the attack, and others claiming they had given the final go-ahead. Even if Iran has helped plan out the attack, it is unlikely they would be willing to intervene militarily on behalf of Hamas against Israel. While they share a similar enemy, Hamas is not an Iranian ally or proxy to the same extent Hezbollah or the Houthis
are, and probably do not want to risk escalation with Israel or the West over a foreign conflict. It is often said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is incredibly complex, and while that is certainly true regarding the broader peace process, there is nothing complex about Hamas’s actions. This attack has been the latest in a line of countless cases demonstrating their unwillingness to participate in a lasting solution. The only thing they have achieved throughout their reign has been the destruction of thousands of innocent lives and escalation of conflict. There is no future for the Palestinian people under a fundamentalist, militant group such as Hamas. Israel, however, has its own responsibilities in this conflict. First, it is responsible for the rescue of all hostages kept in Gaza currently. Second, it has a duty to minimize the loss of life in its response, and although Israel has attempted to limit civilian casualties, many of its actions, from a blockade to bombardments, have endangered countless lives and arguably violated international law. On a broader scale, effort must continue to be made in negotiations to bring a permanent solution to the region, representing the rights of both sides.
As we are approaching a stressful time of the school year, activities and extracurriculars are crucial to enhance your school experience and mental health. While school and homework take loads of time, it is always very important to get in hours of fun in your daily life. Extracurriculars allow you to pursue your own interests and passions. Whether it’s joining a club or becoming a member of a sports team, these activities give you the perfect opportunity to develop skills that aren’t covered in the classroom. Not just that, but extracurricular activities can bring you closer to the community while making bonds and connections with new people who share similar interests. Additionally, mental health is boosted, and these activities help create significant impacts through stress relief, time management, distractions from negative thoughts,
physical health, interactions, personal growth, and so much more. Extracurriculars create self-esteem and high-level satisfaction, helping release stress and anxiety, while reducing mental burnout. It is important to be involved in school and keep a well-rounded student profile. Joining extracurriculars such as clubs or community service can help students develop leadership skills and create a sense of belonging. Being part of a sports team can also enhance teamwork and physical fitness. Episcopal offers so many extracurriculars incorporated in sports programs, service programs, clubs, and arts. Activities such as these also create positive impacts for college applications and future careers. While high school can definitely be a journey, try to navigate your challenges and prioritize these experiences because they create positive impacts on your academic and social life, along with your future aspirations.
ANYA PANT Opinions Editor
health literacy rates, which can impact their decision to seek and access healthcare services. This can possibly lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Another challenge when looking to provide healthcare to rural areas is the geographical factor. The average rural person lives 2-3 times farther from a hospital than the urban dweller. This can really make a difference in more impoverished areas of the world where people don’t have access to personal transportation or must walk. The physical distance between a patient and a healthcare facility can impact the amount he or she visits, which can affect diagnosis and treatment. When looking at the statistics, compared to the average urban resident, people who live in rural areas have a higher likelihood to die from heart disease, cancer, strokes, and lower respiratory disease. There is also a 50 percent higher rate of unintentional injury deaths in rural areas when compared to urban areas. These disparities between rural and urban
signify that changes in healthcare need to be made to better accommodate rural areas. Though the challenges are tough, there are solutions coming to help bridge the gap between rural and urban healthcare. Medical buses are a solution that solves the geography problem in these areas. In these buses there are full labs that can run blood samples, as well as small scale pharmacies, and sometimes, ultrasound machines. Making these medical buses more widescale across all rural areas would help deliver safe and quality healthcare to those living in even the most remote areas across the globe. Buses like these can also help inform people about the importance of receiving proper healthcare and might make some more inclined to visit the hospital. Rural healthcare disparities can be a complex challenge to tackle, but with a combination of informing people and bringing healthcare services to them, strides can be made to bridge the gap in healthcare between rural and urban areas.
Extracurriculars are proven to have many benefits for students PORTER MILLER Staff Writer
Changes can make rural healthcare accessible While access to hospitals, urgent care, emergency centers, and other healthcare facilities is an everyday availability that most take for granted, it is important to keep in mind that many people in the world don’t have access to this privilege. Many rural areas across the world are among those without this basic access. This issue reaches far and wide as 46 million Americans and 43 percent of the world lives in rural areas. Access to quality healthcare should be a given for all people, no matter the location, and yet populations worldwide face challenges in finding medical services. Though there are many advancements in providing healthcare to rural areas, there are many challenges to consider. First, when looking at rural populations, higher rates of poverty can be noticed. Also, rural populations are likely to have limited coverage through health insurance and lower
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Opinions
Taliban fails to honor promises of Electric cars still women’s rights in Afghanistan face many issues with pollution MORGAN HEROD Editor-in-Chief
It has been two years since the Taliban took over Kabul, seizing control of Afghanistan, amidst the final withdrawal of US troops. The Taliban has marked their day of triumph as a national holiday. Bilal Karimi, the Taliban deputy spokesperson, stated that the day is “full of honor and pride for Afghans; Afghanistan is freed from occupation.” However, life for women has only become repressive and cruel. Afghan women are being erased from society and life. Their opinions, voices, and identities no longer matter. After the takeover in 2021, the Taliban presented itself as a more moderate version of its past self, promising women their rights to go to school and receive an education. Instead of keeping their word, they closed secondary schools for girls and banned women from going to university. They are no longer allowed to work at NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization), and their travel has been restricted unless a male chaperone is present. Their ability to go to places such as the park or gym has been taken away. More recently, the Taliban has shut down all beauty salons across the country. This beauty industry employed
around 60,000 women, most of which were the sole “breadwinners” for their households. The lack of basic human rights has caused a severe decline in mental health, with reports of increased depression and suicide. Nearly 8% of people surveyed knew a woman who had attempted to take her own life. Working restrictions and times of economic trouble have resulted in a rise in domestic violence and forced marriages. Zabiullah Mujahid, another Taliban spokesperson, said that “women are actively working in health, education, police departments, passport offices, airports and so on,” though this is far from the truth, and the evidence lies within the “gaping hole” in the health care sector. Women can only get health care from other women, but since the ban on higher education, female medical students have not been able to graduate, causing a shortage of female doctors, midwives, and nurses. Global attention to these issues has started to fade. Through grants to NGOs, the U.S. has helped Afghan women fight for their rights. However, if freedom is going to be restored, it is crucial that the world turns their attention to those who are being silenced. The women of Afghanistan must not be forgotten.
Teacher shortage leaves states struggling to find school staff
More than three fourths of states face some level of a serious, ongoing teacher shortage. Photo courtesy of ABC NEWS. SIMONA KARNANI Staff Writer During the summer, nearly three-fourths of principals said that the number of teaching applicants they had were not sufficient to fill their open spots. The pandemic intensified this issue since many teachers quit. With superintendents having to fill multiple vacant positions, most have resorted to hiring inexperienced and unqualified teachers, something that would have never been done a few years ago. However, the teacher shortage has always been a problem since teachers in math and special education have never been easy to find. Now, with more teachers quitting, districts struggle with a finding solution to have full staff again. Schools in rural areas that serve lowincome families and students have taken a huge hit. Pay wages seems to be the major culprit. In Arizona, the average starting salaries are lower than the national average. It got to the point where one-third of positions were vacant and four-fifths of all teachers were either support staff or underqualified teachers. The number of applicants dropped significantly, so a law was put in place which loosened the requirements to become a teacher. Aspiring
teachers didn’t have to have a bachelor’s degree to be able to teach in a classroom. A middle school in Illinois didn’t have a single teacher who was qualified to teach the subject they were teaching. Other solutions included long term substitute teachers, flying in teachers from overseas, and increasing class sizes. However, everything being done is harming students during a year that they should be getting a comprehensive education to attempt to reverse the toll the pandemic took on learning. In other states like New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, and especially Missouri, where the teachers have one of the lowest salaries on average in the country, districts are working toward switching to a four-day school week. This learning model will have longer school days but shorter weeks. For some families, a three-day weekend can be beneficial, but research suggests that learning will suffer if the amount of instructional hours drops. In contrast, districts in Virginia, where there are higher average starting salaries than the national average, teachers enjoy their jobs and have stayed in the education field. Since educators were being properly compensated and were getting what they felt they earn, teachers are happy. However, in places where teachers are being forced to work significantly more than they are rewarded, they are rightfully unpleased. For instance, a district in Lancaster, Texas had to squeeze almost 50 students together to listen to a lecture from the only qualified biology teacher on campus. Those teachers feel they are putting in more work than they are receiving in pay. Other districts have found a solution that seems to be the most beneficial for both teacher and student. They are partnering with a company called Elevate K-12, which has live virtual lessons by a certified teacher. Comparatively, this is the most effective solution because it is better than no teacher at all. Even though students are receiving instruction through a computer screen, learning is still taking place.
Investment in electric cars has grown rapidly in the last decade. Photo courtesy of Vox. JALYNN WOOLLEY Editor-in-Chief In recent years, electric cars have been promoted as a beacon of hope, promising to reduce humanity’s carbon footprint to usher in a cleaner and greener future. However, it has become increasingly clear that electric vehicles may not serve as the all-encompassing solution they have been portrayed to be. Many manufacturers of electric vehicles carry the “zero carbon emissions” badge, but this is often not true. Although these vehicles do not emit greenhouse gases, and their overall carbon emissions are significantly reduced in comparison to their gasoline-reliant counterparts, that does not reduce their environmental impact to zero. In order to compare the climate impacts of different vehicle models, it is important to consider the source of electricity used to charge those vehicles. While many US power plants generate electricity from a mix of fossil fuels and renewable sources, there are many coal-heavy grids that are still prevalent across the country. In areas where coal grids are a prominent energy source, the environmental impacts of electric vehicles can be worse than that of conventional cars. It is also important to acknowledge the environmental damage that occurs during the manufacturing of electric vehicles. The extraction of the four primary elements used in the construction of batteries for electric cars often involves harsh and environmentally destructive methods. For example, the production of nickel results in deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, lithium requires an average of 500,000 gallons of water for each ton produced, copper mining can have negative effects on vegetation and animal habitats, and cobalt mining is often associated with child labor and hazardous working conditions (New York Times). Another factor to consider is the disposal of these lithium-ion batteries. According to Fee.org, 90% of internal combustion engine batteries are recycled while only 5% of electric vehicle batteries are recycled. Recycling these batteries can be difficult and expensive, which is why manufacturers have been reluctant to do so, but it is important to find these batteries a second life in other applications. It has been found that these batteries can be used for backup storage or solar power, which would reduce their negative environmental impact. In all honesty, electric cars are the key to unlocking a green emission-free future; however, there are several critical challenges and considerations on our path to achieving this ambitious goal. To truly eliminate their negative environmental impact, manufactures need to be more conscious about the extraction of materials required for lithium-ion batteries and establish effective recycling and reuse methods for these batteries–which, if they are so keen on fulfilling their environmentally conscious promises, should be a relatively easy fix for them.
Opinions ∙ Page 9
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400 Head of School Mr. Ned Smith Associate Heads of School The Rev. Tyler Montgomery Mrs. Evelyn Cambria Principal Mr. Antonio Avalos Dean of Arts Mr. Paul Revaz Visual Arts Chair Mrs. Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator Mr. David Framel Editors-in-Chief Morgan Herod Jalynn Woolley Managing Editor Clara Crenshaw Production Editor Julia Sherman Copy Editor Campbell Richardson Opinions Editor Anya Pant Sports Editor Thompson White Staff Writers Izzie Song Liz Burke Simona Karnani Angelina Fertitta Caroline Johnson Vanessa Reed Paige Pan Lulu Gibellini Porter Miller Photojournalism Instructor Mr. Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Vivian Turbidy Jules Weinstein Photographers Avalon Bell Libby Davis McKenna Foteh Emma Freeman Kennedy Greene Kate Malta Morgan Maxwell Sophia Shin Sloane Wallace
The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School newspaper class, who are solely responsible for its creation and editorial content. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Episcopal Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. Published ten times a year, The Knight Times is a non-profit educational tool. The staff encourages the submission of letters, editorials, and story ideas from the community, but reserves the right to edit and/or use said articles.
Sports ∙ Page 10
Sports
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Rivalry season begins in football THOMPSON WHITE Sports Editor Winning six games in seven contests, the Knights football team has had a promising season with more yet to come. Nearing the end of the regular season, the Knights have outscored their opponents 300 points scored to 110 points allowed, dominating their competition. Against Second Baptist, the Knights effectively utilized their passing game. Karson Gordon and Tyler Bloomgren threw for a combined 245 yards to shut out the Eagles 42-0. With this momentum, the Knights went on to shutout Nolan Catholic 56-0. At 6-0 and ranked the number one private school in Texas, the Knights faced a long-awaited rivalry game against St.
John’s. During the game, the Knights relied on the running and catching of junior running back Brandon Thomas. Occasionally, the Knights went with the deep ball; junior Logan Bartee hauled in a sideline throw for 50 yards, paving the way for a Knights touchdown. With around two minutes left, the game came down to an electric drive for the Knights. Thomas scored a five-yard touchdown with eight seconds remaining to bring the game to a 33-32 St. John’s lead. The Knights could either go for the win or attempt the extra point kick to tie. With their impressive backfield and O-line, the Knights went for the two-point conversion but came up short. Although the Knights combined 450 passing and rushing yards, they were not able to overcome the Mavericks.
Garon Sampson, a wide receiver, evades a tackle against the Mavericks. The knights lost 33-32. Photo by Vivian Turbidy.
Girls volleyball dominates SPC play Mental fortitude is necessary in XC JULIA SHERMAN Production Editor The girls varsity volleyball team has had a successful season and is looking to win SPC. With an outstanding 17-1 record, the girls have not dropped a set in conference play and have pushed through each game. The team is led by a strong group of seniors: Jenniya Lane, Ally Frailey, Tiara Gordon, Sammy Little, Mykayla McMillian, Valentina Morales, Taylor Smith, and Kara Thomas. These seniors have helped guide the underclassmen and are sad to leave next year. Lane and Frailey have
fully stepped up to lead the team. Lane is committed to University of Pennsylvania Frailey to Santa Clara’s beach volleyball team. Outstanding junior Mackenzie Collins has committed to Texas A&M to further continue her volleyball career. The girls have beaten their biggest rival, St. John’s, multiple times, most recently on October 5, and have had great performances against SPC foe Hockaday. Coach Cyd McMillian has also been a tremendous addition to the team in her second year at EHS, leading the team to the SPC title last year.
Boys volleyball remains undefeated CLARA CRENSHAW Managing Editor The Episcopal High School varsity boys volleyball team remains undefeated with a perfect 10-0 record. Following their victory in the Houston Cup Tournament, the boys secured multiple impressive wins against Kinkaid and St. John’s. Notably, they won a thrilling game against Awty with a score of 31-29 in the fourth set to conclude an exhilarating match. Coach Kerry Hofmeister said, “The battle for this team since early August
PORTER MILLER Staff Writer Cross country has been hard at work this season. These fierce athletes arrive at school every morning around 5:45 and train for an hour and a half. Their workouts consist of 45-50 minute runs, a distance of around 4-6 miles. Talk about commitment. When they aren’t timing their runs, they condition with 200-meter repeats to 1.5-mile repeats. Meets are held during the fall and early winter months, and the athletes use their time staying fit and upholding stamina. While these runners compete in meets all the time, challenges during the competition can be mentally pressing, but
this season the athletes have shown their positivity and motivation. So far in the season, the girls team has placed in the top three multiple times in 5A/6A competitions. Many Knights finish in the medalist category, a top 10 performance. To show how successful and hardworking this team is, last year at the SPC championships, five runners received medals and beat the second place team by 30 points. Achieving this goal is such a rewarding and special accomplishment. The boys and girls teams work together and lift each other up to create a positive and fun environment. Cross country also requires a lot of mental strength. The workouts aren’t easy, and even when the runners want to give up and slow down, their teammates stand by and push them.
has been with itself. We have a very, very special amount of talent on this team that can light up a gym when things are going well. It isn’t easy to balance that with the desire to get better at the little things on daily basis, but that is the challenge we have before us. Our goal is to put everything we have into the last month of the season and hopefully make history up in Fort Worth.” As they look ahead, the team is determined to maintain their strong performance in the South Zone schedule and make a run for the SPC title.
Freshman Tom Allen trains for cross country during the morning practices. During practice, the team runs 4-6 miles before school starts. Photo by Sloane Wallace.
Senior leaders are honored in field hockey’s Senior Night LULU GIBELLINI Staff Writer
Ryan Maas spikes at the net against Awty International. The Knights won in the fourth set. Photo by Emma Freeman.
This year the field hockey team is off to a great start with many wins and only few losses against nationally-ranked teams. Head Coach Emily White has big goals for their season. She looks forward to SPC and bringing home a win, as well as creating a fun environment for the girls to play and enjoy the sport of field hockey. The team also won the Episcopal Cup for the second year in a row and the second time in program history. Coach White says, “It was a
big goal of ours, and it’s very exciting.” Coach White would also love to thank the large group of seniors who have helped support the team over the past several years. These seniors include Mackenzie Allen, Cate Crane, Madeline Hamstra, Morgan Herod, Georgia Junell, Serena Moore, Caroline Nelson, Susannah Rosof, and Mary Louise Wareing. These girls have shown tremendous hard work, dedication, and great ambition. Their next big events include Senior Knight on October 13th against St. Andrews and the following day a big counter game versus St. Stephens, one of their team’s biggest rivals.
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Sports ∙ Page 11
Sports Billy Wheless
Athlete Spotlight
field. Through this hard work, he stood out to coaches on and off the field. EHS football has allowed Wheless to bond and form life-long friendships with his teamBilly Wheless, a dominant offensive mates as well. He is excited to “win the tackle for the Episcopal football team, is SPC championship” as a final sendoff for an integral piece to his high school the Knights offense. football career. Through his talent Longhorn alum and dedication to the “Colt McCoy has sport, he received always been [his] an offer to become favorite football a student-athlete at player.” It is not Brown University, an only McCoy’s Ivy League member, eye-catching talduring his junior year ent but also his at EHS. strong Christianity Wheless started that stands out to tackle football in fifth him. Wheless has grade and played at looked up to McRiver Oaks BapCoy since he was tist middle school. a young boy, and Although he consisit was McCoy that tently tried out for sparked his interquarterback in fifth, est in football. sixth, and seventh As a team player, grade, his coaches Wheless is motialways put him on vated to improve the line since he towto put his team in ered over his middle a position to win. school opponents. Wheless chose Wheless chose EHS Billy Wheless lines up to play offensive Brown Univerbecause he knew that tackle. Photo courtesy of Billy Wheless. sity because of EHS would help pave the appreciative the way to playing college football. and intelligent coaching staff that will not Midway through his sophomore year only help him improve as a football player at EHS, Wheless acted on his dream of but also build him as a person. He is also playing Ivy league football and started excited to live in the beautiful scenery of to put more hours in the gym and on the Rhode Island. THOMPSON WHITE Sports Editor
Billy Wheless commits to play D1 football at Ivy League Brown University. Photo courtesy of Billy Wheless.
Ally Frailey
she occupies the position as well. The person Ally looks up to the most is her mother, and her main motivation is her younger self. She started her journey With the fall season coming to an end, at seven years old and has always strived the Knight Times has chosen to recognize to go D1 and senior Ally Frailey even potentially as a star player in pro in beach the girls’ volleyball volleyball. She program. Normalsays that she ly, Ally plays beach owes it to “her” volleyball during to keep going and club season at accomplish those Third Coast, comdreams. peting and winning Ally’s goals many tournaments, for her senior and then playing season are to win indoors during SPC and have school. With the a stronger bond help of Ally, the with all her teamvolleyball team mates. She wants won the SPC to leave the team championship last better than when year and are strivshe joined the ing to repeat as program. title holders. This year, Ally Ally plays all verbally commit6-rows and is an ted to play D1 outside for Episcocollege beach pal, making a huge Ally Frailey goes on an official visit to Santa volleyball at impact on the team. Clara. Photo courtesy of Ally Frailey. the University Ally serves an of Santa Clara, where she is looking important role with her amazing leaderforward to the school’s sense of commuship, kindness, and huge talent. When nity and family and the incredible growth she was seven, her mother coached her to mindset that the coaches and players be a libero, but throughout the years, she have. She is excited because the beach has shifted to the outside position. Ally volleyball team does many things outside has been an outside now for eight years, of the sport together, focusing on team throughout her middle school and high bonding. school years, and when she plays indoors, VANESSA REED Staff Writer
Ally Frailey announces her commitment to play beach volleyball at Santa Clara University. Photo courtesy of Ally Frailey.
College GameDay comes to Red River Showdown LIZ BURKE Staff Writer Texas is home to some of the best college football programs in the nation. The University of Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Baylor Bears, and TCU Horned Frogs are just a few of the colleges that play competitively. The Texas Longhorns, with their huge home stadium, Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and amazing traditions, are symbolic of the deep passion Texans have for college football. On
October 7, the University of Oklahoma Sooners and UT had a very intense game, known as the Red River Rivalry, ending in a 34-30 win for OU. This Red River Rivalry game was full of athleticism and strategy. With both teams trading blows throughout the contest, it was OU that got the win in the final minute. Quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel of OU and Quinn Ewers of UT led their teams and made critical plays. The contest, filled with suspense and unpredictability, shows us that the Red River Rivalry remains one of the most thrilling rivalries in college football history.
Quinn Ewers celebrates Texas First Quarterback Dillon Gabriel looks to down. Photo courtesy of San Antonio Ex- pass for the Sooners. Photo courtesy of press News. OU Daily.
Knight Shift∙ Page 12
The Knight Times ∙ October 2023
Speaks Out “What is your biggest fear?”
Prints Charming
Cartoon by Izzie Song. KAYDEN EDWARDS “Ghosts”
JORDAN YOUNG “Spiders”
JOSH LYNCH “Zombies”
ISABELLE DEGRANGE “Getting stung by bees”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
The Episcopal High School community comes together in worship during an allschool service of Holy Eucharist. Photo by Jules Weinstein.
Celebrity Sighting BRANDON THOMAS “Heights”
KEELY CARR “Clowns”
JOSHUA HORN “Ghosts”
JULES WEINSTEIN “Horror movies”
MR. JONES “Clown’s balloon”
MRS. GONGORA “Snakes”
Hey, Upper EastSiders, Gossip Girl here...and I have the biggest news ever. Frank MacRory (left) has been seen wandering the halls of Episcopal High School, and it has caused a stir as many students have mistaken him for the one and only...Chuck Bass (right). Students are wondering why this notorious bad boy has left New York and graced the Knights with his mysterious presence. The similarities between the two is undeniable. They share strikingly similar facial expressions such as their sassy eyebrow raise and mischievous smirk. The shape of the jawline and angled eyes allow Frank to perfectly recreate the iconic Chuck Bass scowl. So why has Mr. Bass left the prestigious Constance to come to EHS, and will his best friend Nate Archibald also be joining us? I guess that’s a secret we’ll never know. XOXO Gossip Girl. Photo courtesy of ePipoca.com and by Julia Sherman.
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