The Knight Times / April 2023 Issue 9

Student directors bring their oneacts to the stage

CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer

With the March performance of Mamma Mia, EHS Onstage’s cycle of fall, winter, and spring plays has ended, but theater students still could participate in a Main Stage show. One-Acts are unique to the other productions held at EHS. Rather than Performing Arts Coordinator Mr. George Brock or Theatre Tech’s Mr. Paul Revaz, they are chosen, cast, scheduled, and directed by students themselves. The performances took place on Thursday and Friday, April 20 and 21, at 7:00 P.M. in the school’s Underwood Theater.

To apply for a role as director, the Directing for the Stage Class is a course requirement. Here, students learn important skills in directing. After that, they get to select their chosen script, followed by approval from teachers. Their jobs as directors begin with holding auditions, and then a schedule is set for rehearsals going forward, a process very similar to that of the regular stage productions.

This year, the two shows are 507 and Any Body for Tea, directed by seniors Bella Marquez and Taliana Stoy respectively. Any Body for Tea follows the story of O’Finn, a detective investigating the murder of an elderly woman, only to discover a plot of the local women to attract the bachelor and keep him in the neighborhood. Actors in the performance include Grayson Van Gundy, Brooke Crabtree, Stella Frank, Catherine Miller, Avalon Bell, Mary Katherine King, Myles Patterson, Garrison Amendola, Henry Harkins, and Brooklyn Hermance. 507 is a romantic comedy about a woman who locks herself in a stranger’s hotel bathroom and then they fall in love. The cast includes Elizabeth Weeden, Quinn Morgenroth, Taft Mohair III, and Lydia Tolbert. In addition, sophomore Mia Tribble worked as Stage Manager.

Bella Marquez, director for 507, said regarding her one act, “I would just like to tell the KT readers that the cast has been working incredibly hard to put on this show. I also have the help of an amazing stage manager in Mia Tribble.

Performances at Coffee House amaze once again

EHS’s annual Coffee House raises funds for human trafficking

IZZIE SONG Staff Writer

“EHS welcomed professional artists, one for 2D and 3D mediums and another for photography, to judge the The Spring Arts Exhibition. The exhibition and its featured pieces exist not only as an expression of each student’s visual accomplishment but also as an opportunity for the copmmunity to appreciate exceptional student artwork.”

Learn more about The Spring Arts Exhibit on Page 3

EHS students run for ’23-’24 leadership positions

ANYA PANT Staff Writer

Leadership is an essential part of life. At some point in all our lives, we are going to have to take charge and be the leader in something. Whether it is a club at school, SOS leader, captain of a sports team or opportunities later in life, leadership is an essential skill to obtain. A great way to get started in leadership is with the Student Council.

The council consists of three representatives from each grade, plus the student body leaders. There is one class president per grade, and to help the president with their responsibilities, there is also two covice-presidents. The application process for both class president and co-vice-president are the same. First, each candidate must fill out an application packet that was emailed out by Mr. Tabish Virani. Then, they must prepare a speech that will be presented in front of the student council advisors and then in front of the student body of the candidate’s grade.

In addition, each candidate must prepare a resume and a prerecorded video that explains reasons for running and why they are a fit candidate.

The responsibilities of the president are to represent his or her class on the Execu-

tive Board, serve on the Honor and Discipline council, work with the grade level deans, and lead class meetings. The job of the co-vice-presidents is identical to the class presidents except they assist with class meetings instead of leading them.

If you want to be a student body leader instead of a grade level leader, the application process is identical except that the student body applications don’t need a video.

The responsibilities of the student body president are to lead weekly meetings, serve as a member of the Discipline and Honor Councils, speak at events on and off campus, and attend monthly meetings with the Headmaster. The job of the vice president is to help the president with duties. The student body parliamentarian helps take attendance at these meetings and the secretary helps create agendas.

Newly-elected student body officers Breylan Thompson, Reagan Gabel, Adam Choi, and Emerson Rippstein were recently inducted to serve on Student Council this coming school year. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.

Senior Mehran Kooshiar performs “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus for 5B lunch. Seniors Hannah Rose, Kara Seade, and other students enjoyed their lunch and Mehran’s entertaining performance. Photo by Sloane Wallace.

Various honors societies available for all EHS juniors and seniors

MORGAN HEROD Opinions Editor

On February 13, the National Honor Society inducted new junior and senior members. Students gathered in the USC and celebrated their academic accomplishments with family and friends. After Spring Break, members gathered in the Alkek Gym to elect new officer positions for the 2023-2024 school year. At the end of April, the transition of power and responsibility took place at the last full-chapter meeting of the year.

Daphne Melton was elected President; Cullen Walton, Vice President, Annika Haug, Secretary-Treasurer; Lili Shore, Parliamentarian; and Maddox Miner, HistorianPublications Chair.

Members of the National Art Honor Society were also inducted in April, making them official members. In order to achieve membership status, each student had to get eight art credits. To fulfill these

Lessons in

MATTIE PINCU Guest Writer

Blessing - being in God’s favor. And what a good thing that is! Often, we are caught up in the drama from friends, having jealousy of others, or the burden of a stressful test; while it is reasonable to have grief about these circumstances, more often than not, we allow them to take hold of our lives, and we lose sight of the bigger, better plan that God perfectly crafted specially for each and every one of us. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God provides boundless love. He invites us to lay our concerns on him; He tells us He will hold our hand through it all. When we make mistakes, when we

requirements, members went to the Mad Potter, art museums, and other visual art establishments. Additionally, three semesters of visual art classes are required, and all students must have a grade of an A- or above. The art society strives to encourage creativity and to minister passion for the visual arts. The students inducted showed great passion for the EHS Arts Pillar and were eager to continue their involvement in all the visual arts programs EHS has to offer.

Quill and Scroll, an international society specifically for those in publications classes, voted for next year’s officers online. Fifteen new members were also inducted in a joint ceremony with NAHS. With the mission statement, “We encourage, support and recognize individual student initiative and achievement in scholastic journalism, regardless the medium,” Quill and Scroll helps students find their passion whether it be in front of the camera or behind.

Sophomore Ethan Lahoti serves EHS through his diverse interests

crack under pressure, when we believe we are failures; God still loves us. His unwavering, unfailing love for all His children is the biggest blessing of all.

Whenever I get a bad grade, a family argument occurs, or a competition does not go in my favor, even though these are all relatively small problems, I turn to God. This is especially true when disappointment turns to doubt. His presence in times of need and times of celebration is comforting and special. We are all a work in progress, learning and growing day by day, but I encourage you to step back and let Him work in you. As the psalmist sings, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” Psalm 84:11-13

CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer

Ethan Lahoti is a prime example of the opportunities offered at EHS and the dedication students put into their activities. During his sophomore year, he has participated with plenty of organizations, teams, and clubs in a variety of the school’s Pillars, along with balancing all these different commitments with schoolwork and home life.

In the Academic Pillar, he currently serves as the Internal Vice President of the Math Club and peruses the leadership role in the Math Club to fulfill his love for math. His job is to make flyers for all Math Club meetings and events.

Ethan also takes time to be a part of the Athletics Pillar, playing volleyball this past fall well enough to play on the varsity. His team went undefeated going into SPC, impressive for a young team. They won all their playoff matches until the championship before losing to Trinity Valley in a close match. He also participates in club volleyball with a club called HVA (Houston Volleyball Academy). When asked about his time in volleyball, he said, “I love the game of volleyball, and club is a way for me to get better while also enjoying the game.”

Starting in freshman year, he joined the fall play, Our Town, giving him a good impression of the theater’s EHS Onstage

Reflections...

program. He had already performed in two shows prior to entering EHS - Moana and Peter Pan. After seeing Chicago last year, he was inspired to get back into theater and audition for the spring musical Mamma Mia, where he got the role of Sam Carmichael. He found the experience a wonderful time and a great use of his theatrical skills and looks forward to seeing what musicals EHS will put on in the future. Also in the Arts Pillar, he will have completed two years of choir at school’s end. Singing is another of his artistic talents, and Mr. Garmon Ashby has helped him explore that passion.

For some time, he has been a member of Diversity in Action, specifically the steering committee, the leadership group. He meets every month with fellow DIA members to discuss how to make DIA a success by bringing the school community together and bonding through activities.

On the Honor Council, Ethan represents his grade level and is grateful to be in that position. In his own words, “In the Honor Council, we meet with students who have violated the honor code and/or rules in the student handbook. Our job is to help the student and try to prevent another occurrence.”

Meanwhile, in the Admissions Council, he plays a similar role, helping to plan and lead different events throughout the school year for prospective students to get a taste of the Four Pillars at EHS.

with Dean Colello

Discuss five interesting facts about yourself that most if not all of the EHS community doesn’t know?

I have lived in Texas for 40 years and do not own a cowboy hat, boots, or big belt buckle.

Only attended the Rodeo twice. Part of that changed this past December when the Style Show Chairs gifted me with a pair of personalized boots with Dean/Knight Logo imprinted. In high school I was a wrestler and played soccer (Senior Year Captain/MVP)

and went on to play soccer in college. Collect Sports/Movie Memorabilia - two interesting movie pieces – Caddyshack movie poster signed by Rodney Dangerfield and a Godfather I picture signed by Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Marlon Brando. A lot of Chicago sports team pieces.

When I was the Dean of Students at EHS (1988-99), the skirt length was at the top of the knee.

One of my favorite rock bands is ACDC – “If it’s too loud, you are too old.”

Episcopal High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society in the Underwood Student Center. New inductees crossed the stage to shake hands with Principal Mr. Antonio Avalos and Alyssa Wall, the president of NHS. Photo by Sloane Wallace.

Sophomore Ethan Lahoti plays during a home varsity boys volleyball game. Photo by Vivian Turbidy.

Two people join hands as a form of giving comfort and relief. Photo courtesy of radiant-culture.com.

Slice of π

Post AP course).

SRIYA DEV Guest Writer

Hi, EHS! This is Sriya Dev, a Math Club officer shadow. We hope everyone is finishing strong in their math classes this fourth quarter.

In February, ten mathletes competed in the annual M3 (Mega Mathworks Math) Challenge sponsored by Mathworks and organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). During a consecutive 14-hour period, the two teams created a mathematical model to tackle a real-world problem. Both teams were successful in triage and advanced to the second round of judging. Only 168 of the 650 teams that submitted solution papers were selected to advance. One of the teams was commended for its efforts in the category of technical computing for utilizing MATLAB (a programming and numeric computing platform one team member learned this year at EHS in the Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

In our last meeting of the year, on April 5, we held elections for next year’s Math Club officers. Thank you to the many candidates. It was a close election. Congratulations to the 2023 officers:

Math Club

President – Bella Chramosta

Internal Vice President – Ethan Lahoti

External Vice President – Adam Choi

Secretary – Marie Knolle

Social Media Coordinators – Leila

Elserag, Hashim Saeed, Jules Weinstein

Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society)

President – Sarah Yates

Internal Vice President – Evan Ringwald

External Vice President – Corey Kirkpatrick

Secretary – Georgia Junell

Treasurer – Sam Marino

To stay up to date on math club events, follow @ehsmathclub on Instagram and Twitter.

Mr. Randolph departs from EHS after 27 dedicated years

ANYA PANT Staff Writer

Mr. Kim Randolph, an esteemed member of our EHS community, will be retiring before the upcoming school year. Mr. Randolph has been with Episcopal since 1996, and over the years he has held many positions, such as Associate Dean of Students, Dean of Students, and Principal of the school.

As the current Associate Head of School for Student Life and Academics, Mr. Randolph was asked about his favorite role on campus: “I really loved teaching because I love interacting with the students and getting to know them personally.”

Along with holding many positions in administration, Mr. Randolph was also a coach for freshman football, freshman basketball, baseball, varsity football as a defensive coordinator, and softball, which he holds a deep love for. In addition to teaching, coaching, and leading our school, Mr. Randolph loves to participate in the different traditions at Episcopal.

Mr. Randolph’s favorite tradition is College T-shirt Day because “it’s the exuberance at the end of four years knowing where you are going to college. That’s our goal always for every student who walks in here. There is something so neat about watching people who are focused on their future.”

He believes the best part of Episcopal is the student-teacher relationships. These

Seniors prepare for college life with special workshops

relationships are a big part of what Episcopal stands for because our mission is all about finding gifts in each individual student and finding a way to use them. This is a part of Episcopal that Mr. Randolph is going to miss deeply in the coming year.

The 2023 Spring Arts Exhibition celebrates EHS student artwork

IZZIE SONG Staff Writer

Episcopal’s semi-annual arts exhibit will be held from April 19 to May 12, showcasing the best work from visual arts students completed in the spring semester.

The Spring Arts Exhibition will be held in B building’s hallways and atrium, displaying paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, and other works of varying medias. The event will be launched with a reception where each creation faces evaluation in a competitive setting. EHS welcomes professional artists, one for 2D and 3D mediums, and another for photography, to judge the pieces.

Visual Arts Department Chair Mrs. Kate Philbrick, alongside Studio Arts Coordinator Ms. Lauren Cunningham and photography teacher Mr. Japheth Storlie oversee the selecting of judges who they deem fit

to assess the students’ work. The purpose of bringing in outside eyes is to provide an unbiased opinion on the matter.

“We watch the kids make the works, and then we get so close that it’s hard to be unbiased,” said Mrs. Philbrick. “We as teachers have a hard time separating out the artwork from the student.”

Furthermore, as each judge is a professional in his or her field, this experience provides a refined evaluation of art. Top three ribbons will be handed out to the artists selected, and their exhibit awards appear on each of their college resumes. After the event, winning pieces can be found displayed in the USC’s gallery for the student body’s enjoyment.

The Spring Arts Exhibition exists not only as an expression of each student’s visual accomplishment but also as an opportunity for exceptional works to be recognized and celebrated.

This time of year marks the 8th Annual Senior Workshop at Episcopal. This began in 2015 when Reverend Beth Holden thought it was a good idea to bring the CHOICES Program and the College Counseling team together to educate the current seniors with what to expect once they graduate. This program is special since the seniors get to hear and learn from EHS faculty and staff, a wide range of alumni, and outside visitors.

This workshop was split into three parts, beginning with a sexual assault awareness and prevention seminar. Males heard from Dr. Richard Baker, Executive Director for Institutional Equity and the Title IX Coordinator at Rice University. The female seniors attended a seminar with Silverback Self Defense. The girls learned tips on social media, awareness strategies, and practiced self-defense tactics.

The second portion occurred a few weeks later when seniors were split into different breakout sessions. The seven different possible sessions were Academic Transition and Managing Learning Differences; Coping with College Stress; Get Me to the Greek; Living the Good Life: Residential Options and Consideration; Managing the Clock: Having Fun and Getting it Done; Money Money Money: Banking and Money Management; and Summer Jobs, Internships, and Research Opportunities. Students were then placed into their top three favorite sessions and learned from each for 25 to 30 minutes.

Last, the Senior Workshop series concluded with a panel of recent alumni, ranging from 2013-2018 EHS graduation years. Here, the graduates shared what they wish they had known about college life before college. In the years to come, Episcopal will keep this Senior Workshop tradition going to support success for all its graduates.

ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer

Left: the poster for the 2023 spring student art exhibition. Right: a surrealist painting by Lindsey Levan ‘25. Photos courtesy of Ms. Philbrick and by Lily O’Gorman.

A panel of successful alumni present to current seniors to prepare them on college life and what to expect in the year to come. Photo courtesy of EHS Instagram.

Next year, Mr. Randolph will move on from his role as Associate Head of School.. Photo by Charles Holt.

Episcopal students gather to enjoy the spring Coffee House performances

JULIA SHERMAN Staff Writer

Coffee House is not only a way to bring students together as a community, but also to raise money and awareness for survivors of sex trafficking. Coffee House has been an Episcopal Knights tradition for years, and it is an event that students and faculty always look forward to. Performances range from bands and solos to comedy performances and many more fun opportunities for the EHS community to show their talents and passions to fellow

peers. EHS partners with a local coffee shop every year for students to enjoy coffee with lunch and watch friends and classmates perform. Shirts are also made available to purchase. This spring, both 5A and 5B lunch were hits once again for EHS’ Spring Coffee House.

This year’s spring offering brought many entertaining performances for students to enjoy. During 5A lunch, sophomore Rome Clay rapped for the students. Senior Lydia Berkley and freshman Tallulah Berkley performed “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls as a band. Sophomores Izzie Song, Kennah Bent, and Lindsey Levan preformed as a band together as well. Rishabh Sharma sang “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan and played the guitar.

During 5B lunch, senior Ben Welsh returned with his free style rap for the last time. Henry Kinzel put on a surprise performance for 5B as he sang “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus, with a dance alongside it for the students. Chandler Hollis came back with his iconic performance of “Don’t” by Bryson Triller, which always gets the crowd enthusiastic. Seniors Madison Schulz and Jason Otah and junior Emma Vanderbloemen, Chef John Ly, and Mr. Alan Bradshaw performed as a band to the song “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Juniors Rob Britton, Adam Deutsch, and William Masterson put on a comedy show for the 5B lunch as well.

ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer

Muchos equipos de búsqueda en Ecuador siguen buscando sobrevivientes en el lodo de un deslizamiento de tierra en las montañas a las afueras del pueble de Alausí. Más de 60 personas han sido reportadas como desaparecidas debido a este gran deslizamiento de lodo en la región de Chimborazo. Los funcionarios del gobierno dijeron que solo 7 personas fueron encontradas muertas, pero esperan que se encuentren muchas más. Este es un pensamiento muy aterrador, pero los rescatistas dijeron que escuchaban sonidos de debajo del lodo. ¡Creían que un niño de unos 12 años estaba atrapado bajo el lodo todavía con vida! Debido a todas las fuertes lluvias que causaron el deslizamiento de tierra, el transporte y la conexión también han fallado. Por ejemplo, la carretera que une Alausí con Guamote estuvo cerrada porque se colapsó. El presidente Guillermo Lasso está haciendo lo mejor que puede para proteger y ayudar a las familias afectadas, pero los vecinos dijeron a los medios locales que estaban molestos porque ya habían alertado sobre el estado de la ladera debido a un ter-

remoto que azotó a Ecuador hace unas semanas.

Many search teams in Ecuador are continuously looking for survivors in the mud from a landslide in the mountains outside the town of Alausí. Over 60 people have been reported missing due to this major mudslide in the region of Chimborazo. Government officials said only seven people were found dead, but they expect many more to be found. This is a very scary thought, but rescue workers said they even hear sounds coming from under the mud. They believed a child about 12 years old was stuck under the mud still alive! Due to all the heavy rain causing the landslide, transportation and connection has also been faulty. For example, the highway linking Alausí and Guamote was closed since it collapsed. President Guillermo Lasso is doing the best he can to protect and help the families affected, but residents told local media that they were angry because there had already been warning about the state of the hillside due to an earthquake that struck Ecuador a few weeks before.

IZZIE SONG Staff Writer

C.A.R.E is a program that seeks to inform students on the importance of advocating for oneself. Standing for consent advocacy and refusal education, the idea of C.A.R.E came about five years ago when concerns were raised on just how little people were learning about the subjects.

A group of students came forward recalling the age-old lesson to never get in the car with a drunk driver. However, they could not remember being taught the explicit importance of consent. This lack of critical education was what led to the formation of C.A.R.E.

The program seeks to show what setting beneficial, robust boundaries looks like, not only in romantic relationships but in platonic ones as well. C.A.R.E has an overarching goal to equip EHS students with the skills needed to enforce said boundaries, creating a space where everyone feels safe in their own skin.

To do this, coordinators Mr. Mark

Mitchell and Mrs. Rachel Lopez work to construct PowerPoints on different topics, including bullying and the rules of relationships. They also bring in nationally recognized speakers to share their stories. Faculty is trained on C.A.R.E to help conduct semi-annual advisories focused on the curriculum. However, even with this presence on campus, C.A.R.E wishes to develop a stronger outreach basis, working closely with the mental health counselors.

The existence of a program like C.A.R.E stands to benefit anyone who involves him or herself with others, even if it remains an affair exclusive to EHS. Starting conversations on consent is a key step in creating an environment in which everyone can flourish. Yet, awareness on the topic is often overlooked. C.A.R.E hopes to further highlight the safety everyone deserves to feel within themselves.

“You’re in charge of your own body and your own personal space,” said C.A.R.E administrator Mr. Mitchell. “No one has the right to intrude on either of those.”

Colle e Know¿edge ¿

with Mark-Anthony Mey

Hi, my name is Mark-Anthony Mey and welcome to College Knowledge. I started this column in The Knight Times to give students a small insight into prospective colleges in order to help when applying as seniors. While not a heavily-detailed guide, I hope these informative pieces will help those looking for a little more knowledge about college.

Well, it’s April of my senior year, and I can safely say that the chapter of my college admissions is closed and sealed shut. Now that I’ve (finally) decided where I am attending next year, I wanted to circle back to this column and give a few tips to any juniors applying next year or parents who are just stressed about the whole process beyond the basics. I created this column to answer some of the questions I had about this mysterious process and hope that I can help now to alieve some of your anxieties or curiosities.

Tip 1: Tour. If you have the means and time during the summer or fall, tour schools. At least for me, the feel of the campus and student body was very important, and it is very difficult to achieve a true feel for a school from their website. Of course, if you can’t tour before you apply, it’s not a deal breaker as I did that with a majority of my schools, but it helps to have a personal ranking of the schools. In my experience, it’s better to have toured ten schools and only applied to the three you liked than applying to ten that you are indifferent to.

Tip 2: The basics vs the essay. By the basics, I mean extracurriculars, grades, test scores, and teacher recommendations. You have them and they are what they are. At this point, those impressions you left and goals you achieved or didn’t aren’t going to change because you stress yourself out about them. Rather, focus on what you can to really make your application: the essay and supplements. Work over the summer and into the fall on your main common application essay to make

sure it tells a unique story about who you are. Colleges are looking for students who would be a fit in their student bodies as much as you are looking for a school you can be a productive member of. Spending time on the main essay and university related supplemental essays will not be a waste, and having your college counselor there to make edits and revisions is truly an invaluable resource.

Final Tip: Talk to current students. If you know anyone that has a connection to the school you’re applying to, reach out. Especially if you are applying to their same program, it’s great to get information and opinions that you can’t get from a website. Hearing why a student does or doesn’t love a school is, of course, subjective, but it’s very helpful when compared to your own criteria and needs in a school. I hope some of this helped solve your curiosities, and I wish y’all luck in all of your endeavors for the next year, college and otherwise.

A high school graduate questions where they will attend college. Photo courtesy of gettingatthecore.com.

EHS students watch as Ben Welsh performs an original rap at Coffee House.

Photo by Sloane Wallace.

Award-winning author and founder of the Center of Respect, Mike Domitrz, discusses respectful relationships with senior Emily Young. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.

Let’s talk about men’s fashion. Yes, I know I’m a girl, and I obviously don’t have first-hand experience here, but think of this as more of my admiration and exploring my curiosity within men’s fashion. So, first things first. It seems like men’s fashion is a little cooler than women’s fashion, but I’ve noticed there are lots of men that still struggle or are indifferent toward finding their own sense of style, even though the fashion industry is so gracious in representation of different looks for men. Historically speaking, most big fashion houses and brands were started and still run by men. So, you’d think they have the natural edge with all of these avenues at their disposable.

I think a lot of men’s hesitancy toward engaging more heavily with fashion is that historically speaking, women have been the ones that love to shop and pamper themselves with clothes. And over time, this has perpetuated an idea that fashion itself or caring about fashion is more feminine than anything. This idea is sim-

F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay

ply not true, especially in today’s fashion. Both men and women can be seen actively trying to channel their yin and yang simultaneously by incorporating feminine and masculine looks into their rotations.

The way I see it, there are a few types of men’s styles. “The athleisure guy” is the gym shark geek that lives in sweats or athletic shorts. “The thrifty guy” (I mean, it’s in the name) is the guy that loves to thrift and collect vintage clothing. They are heavily influenced by streetwear culture, and they love a good throwback anything. Last, we have “the wondering guy,” the guy that either doesn’t really care what he wears because “it’s just clothes” or just hasn’t really found his style and needs a nudge in the right direction.

Whichever guy you are, it’s important to remember to express your individuality and that oftentimes, less is more. There’s also nothing wrong with experimentation, and the clothes you wear are an extension of oneself. That will get you a long way in developing your sense of style.

Rushmore: A coming-of-age film

ISABEL O’GORMAN Copy Editor

Rushmore is a landmark Wes Anderson film that stands out for its exploration of the universal themes of adolescence, identity, love, and loss. Shot in Houston, the film features scenes and locations that many of us would consider familiar, contributing to its relatability and resonance. However, what truly sets Rushmore a part is Anderson’s both charming and poignant distinctive visual style, creating worlds through vivid color, striking composition, and a keen attention to detail. These aspects of the film draw audiences deeply into the lives and hardships of the characters, particularly the offbeat protagonist Max Fischer.

Rushmore is a film that captivates audiences with its universal relatability while also being strikingly autobiographical of Wes Anderson’s early life. As an alumnus of St. John’s, Anderson added a personal touch to the film by incorporating his alma mater as Rushmore Academy, the prestigious prep school that Max Fischer struggles to navigate. The film also features Lamar High School, a known location for those familiar with the Houston area, as Grover Cleveland High School. Critics have noted the similarities between Fischer and Anderson, as both aspire to be theater directors, highlighting the film’s intimate connection to Anderson’s own life.

Despite this autobiographical nature, Rushmore is a coming-of-age story that speaks to the universal experience of growing up and finding one’s place in the world. Through Max’s journey, the film touches viewers by exploring the themes of ambition, creativity, and search for individual purpose, creating a storyline that touches viewers on a personal and relatable level. What makes Rushmore notably significant is its ability resonate with audiences, regardless of their age or background, and its lasting influence on contemporary cinema.

Rushmore not only serves as a comingof-age story for the film’s protagonist, Max Fischer, but also for Wes Anderson as a filmmaker. This film was breakthrough for Anderson, especially coming off of the heels of his unsuccessful first feature length film Bottle Rocket Rushmore helped to establish Anderson’s unique style and vision as a filmmaker, setting the template for many of Anderson’s subsequent works. For example, the film’s division into months parallels the later Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums. Furthermore, the use of memorable, quirky characters, offbeat humor, and distinctive visual style connect Rushmore to Anderson’s later works and influence.

Overall, Rushmore is a must-watch film that marks a turning point in the career of Wes Anderson and explores enduring themes of identity that strike every viewer as personal.

Raigan’s Radio

RAIGAN CLAY Features Editor

Mosaics. How are we influenced? A mosaic is defined as an image or creation that is formed by several smaller pieces to make an arrangement. When talking about music and art in general, it is important to know that nothing is ever entirely original. Art is derived from experience and influence. Art and people in general are mosaics, meaning we are formed by the collective of everything and everyone we’ve experienced in our lives. With the idea of mosaics in mind, when looking at the music of today and different niches and genres found in music, it’s important to remember how interwoven and connected music is.

Influence is everything. From birth we are subjected to sound and music that has formed the soundtrack of our lives. Every artist gets asked who their influences are or who they look up to. Influence isn’t stealing an idea or a sound; influence is inspiration and fuel to create something that is unique to an artist that combines to make their own mosaic sound.

Recently, I listened to Amy Winehouse’s Frank for the first time. Amy Winehouse had a very unique jazzy kind of voice that set her apart from artists of her time. Kali Uchis just released her album Red Moon in Venus, and I thought about Amy when I first heard it. Uchis has a similar choice of production to Winehouse, and she has a distinctively similar cadence. You can

hear the resemblance clearly in Uchis’s new song “Endlessly.”

Similarly, Adele has said, “Frank changed the way [she }viewed music.” She frequently talks about Winehouse heavily in interviews when she’s asked who her influences are.

Another example is Tyler, The Creator’s new song “Heaven to Me” from his deluxe Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale. Tyler raps over a beat produced by Kanye West that appeared on John Legend’s album Once Again. Tyler says the first time he heard the beat it felt like a “highlight reel” of his life and that’s why he chose to use it.

West and Tyler aren’t strangers to each other; they have a deep history of working with and inspiring one another. Any time they work together, fans can expect nothing but excellence and a sound that will invoke nostalgia, but also a sense of pushing boundaries.

As an artist it’s important that you’re not only influencing but also being influenced. There is beauty in drawing on others’ creations to help make a contribution to music all that more impactful.

Huff’s navigation of escaping reality

JALYNN WOOLLEY Production Editor

The Ones We Keep is an emotional family drama by Bobbie Jean Huff. It touches on the complexity of loss and the struggles of moving forward in life while the memories of the past continue to haunt. Huff’s writing is intimate and raw as she breathes life into characters that have been shattered by death.

The novel begins as Olivia and Harry Somerville escape to a quiet resort in Vermont with their three young boys, but after a tragic accident, a mother realizes that she will not be returning home with three sons, but instead one. In that moment, Olivia makes a split-second decision that will plague her for the rest of her life.

If she never knows which son has drowned, can she convince herself that

none have drowned at all? Can she create an alternate reality in which all three of her boys survive?

As the novel progresses, we see the devastating impact of Olivia’s decision on her family, particularly her surviving son, and the complex dynamics that emerge as they attempt to cope with their grief in different ways. Huff skillfully weaves together the past and the present, slowly revealing the family’s secrets and the ways in which their past traumas have shaped their present-day struggles. Through the author’s vivid imagery, the reader is drawn into the characters’ emotional world, feeling their pain, anger, and confusion as they navigate their new reality.

Overall, The Ones We Keep is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that explores human emotion in the face of tragedy.

Clockwise, top left, different aesthetics commonly seen within men’s fashion. Photo courtesy of zimbio.com, daniel-patrick.tumblr, and aeworld.com.

Wes Anderson’s classic film Rushmore arguably catapulted his career and also served as an homage to his earlier life. Photo courtesy of cia.edu.

Tyler, The Creator uses a new kind of album rollout. Photo courtesy of glide.com

Jukebox Time Machine: Music Throughout the Decades

The 1950s was a time of musical diversity, as the US started to experience a shift toward Rock n’ Roll, Country, and R&B. The era saw the rise of new genres like Doo-Wop, and the emergence of influential artists such as Elvis, Presley, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly.

Starting in the 1940s, Rock and Roll experienced a boom in popularity into the 50s, becoming the most popular genre of the decade. The “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley, was the face of the industry, and with hits such as “Hound Dog” and Jailhouse Rock.”

Country music also surged in popularity during the 50s. Headline stars included Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Pasty Cline. Popular for its storytelling and emotional depth, the songs usually focused on love and heartbreak.

Finally, Rhythm and Blues (R&B) was another integral sect of the 1950s music culture. Rooted in African American culture, it featured a mix of blues, jazz, and hints of gospel. Artists such as Ray Charles, Fats Domino, and Little Richard helped make popular the R&B sounds.

The music of the 1950s beautifully represented the cultural and social changes brought about by the post-war era. It was a time of prosperity, and the country’s success was reflected in its music.

To gauge the importance of music in the 1960s, one must first grasp that the 60s were a point of inception for ensuing subgenres of rock and pop, such as psychedelic, blues, folk, soul, and progressive. These subgenres of rock and pop began to promulgate rock and pop as mainstream rather than being the deviation.

As a result, music was no longer an activity characterized as a humdrum activity but rather a seminal and rebellious one. In addition, musicians began to talk about stigmatized issues rather than dismissing them, incepting political change on a mass scale. Especially with the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War, and Cold War occurring concomitantly with the musical era of the 60s, bands began to express these political and social sentiments through their songs.

Some examples of these political expressions included “Blackbird” by The Beatles, which alludes to civil rights issues in America, and “Blowin' in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, an anti-war song. Psychedelics were also commonly used to influence music during the 60s, creating subgenres of psychedelia often characterized by dreamy and relaxed themes.

The 1970s: perhaps one of the greatest decades for music of all kinds. With the profusion of new genres, from Disco and Soul and R&B to what is now known as Classic Rock, the 70s seemed to bring something to the table for just about everyone.

Pop and Rock artists really took off in the United States and Europe during the 70s, creating astronomical success for bands such as Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC, the Jackson Five, and solo artists Blondie, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney, just to name a few. ‘

Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit Rumours topped the charts with sales rivaled by almost no other song of the decade, seeing over 40 million copies sold worldwide. Songs sung by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the classic American movie, Grease, additionally saw unparalleled success as well as Don McLean’s classic folk-rock hit, American Pie. Perhaps one of the most iconic groups of the 70s, Swedish band ABBA, rose to fame after winning Eurovision in 1974 and maintains a legacy that grants them recognition through present day.

Overall, musically the 70s were characterized by an explosion of innovation in genre, form, and popularity–innovation that has shaped music forever.

The most popular music of the 2000s was Pop and Hip-hop. Artists such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Avril Lavigne led the teen pop genre in the early 2000s. Britney Spears’ “Oops, I Did It Again” and Christina Aguilera’s “Come on Over Baby” became big hits in 2000.

At the same time, many boy bands were losing popularity. Many band members, including Justin Timberlake, left their bands in the mid 2000s to peruse solo pop careers. Other than the Backstreet Boys, the high demand for bands in the 90s practically disappeared in the mid 2000s. There were a few new boy bands that were successful in the late 2000s, including the Jones Brothers, but they never reached the level of popularity as 90s bands.

In the second half of the decade, a new electric pop genre was becoming more popular. Artists like Lady Gaga contributed to electric pop’s growing popularity. Her debut album The Fame was included in the Billboards Best Electronic Albums list, and the first two singles, “Poker Face” and “Just Dance,” became international number-one hits.

Beyoncé was also a prominent artist of the 2000s, mainly in R&B and hip-hop, but occasionally venturing into pop. Her third studio album I Am… Sasha Fierce contained successful pop songs including “Single Ladies” and “Halo.”

The 90’s were a pivotal decade for music. New genres such as Grunge/ Alternative Rock, Electronic Dance music, and Hip-Hop would change the music scene forever.

One of the most iconic representations of music in the 1990s is the never-ending flow of pop divas. Artists such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Madonna dominated the charts of the 90s. Hits such as “Vogue” by Madonna and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston are still influencing pop music to this day.

Alternative Rock emerged in the 70s but skyrocketed in popularity throughout the 90s. Initially, most Alt Rock bands only achieved minor notice in mainstream media, though a few bands such as R.E.M and Jane’s Addiction made it to the major record labels. This style of Rock really took off with the debut of the beloved band Nirvana whose discography has won them a stunning 27 nominations and 17 wins of various awards throughout the years.

Along with Rock came the rise of hip hop artists. The 1990’s was full of Rap and HipHop household names such as Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Dr. Dre, the Wu Tang Clan, and Jay-Z. Songs such as “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice.

Overall, the 90’s was full of diverse music and many upcoming artists who have remained prevalent in the music industry to this day.

In the 2010s, music was largely affected by the globalization of pop, the domination of Hip-Hop, and the emergence of streaming platforms which democratized music making and listening.

In the 2010s, Pop music reached a greater scope with the incorporation of global music into the mainstream. For example, hits like “Despacito” marked the shift into featuring other languages in this genre. Others followed suit and asserted this change like Bad Bunny and Cardi B. Emphasizing this effect, according to Forbes, in 2018, Latin music was the fifth most popular genre in America, beating out country and EDM. Furthermore, K-Pop artists gained traction in the U.S with artists like BLACKPINK preforming at 2019 Coachella. During this decade, Hip-hop began to rise in popularity, outselling rock music for the first time. In 2017, Hip-hop asserted its dominance by accounting for eight out of the year ’s Top 10 artists. This shift was in part due to the adapted listening methods that came out of this era, with more Hip-hop listeners opting for consuming music through streaming, and more rock listeners still buying physical albums.

The rise of streaming greatly affected this era with paid streaming services finally overtaking physical sales in 2017. And while Spotify and Apple music dominated the paid streaming game, Soundcloud and YouTube allowed for individuals to produce their own music and present it to a worldwide audience.

The 80s exploded with the creation of MTV in 1981, a channel dedicated to the revolutionary “music video.” The first music video burst on screen, flashing “Video Killed the Radio Star,” a hit encapsulating the New Wave sound. This genre was an 80s staple, emphasizing synthesizers that created its electronic feel.

Talking Heads was a notable New Wave band working to create what it saw as the “sounds of the future.” Bands involved with New Wave overlapped with the growing post-punk scene, sprouting from 70s classic punk. Depeche Mode was an act that played hand in hand with less mainstream, but flourishing, goth bands. The iconic Bauhaus touted a heavier sound than their previously mentioned post-punk companion. Alongside the alleyway of goth music, another alternative sound was rising, Hair Metal, which took influence from 70s Glam Rock. This genre proved the 80s need for an artist’s “image,” pushed by the new music video. Hair Metal included flamboyant outfits, heavy makeup, and of course, teased hair. The sound was rock inspired, but pop’s influence on its catchy hooks was apparent.

A new style of “Pop Star” defined the 80s. This was personified by the ever-fashionable diva, Madonna, and Michael Jackson, who peaked with his song “Thriller” in 1982. The two shared flashy looks and sounds that showed what pop was all about: catchy bass lines, upbeat progressions, and even more synthesizer. The 90s would take a sharp turn from the 80s upbeat feel, but this era would go on to heavily influence the 2000s musicscape.

The 2020s have brought a sea of change in the way we listen to, create, and experience music with the rising popularity of music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. This era of music can be marked by a diverse range of genres, styles, and

The 2020 era of music can be defined by numerous pop icons such as Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Post Malone, and Billie Eilish. These artists have broken numerous billboard records and have even been the recipients of many Grammy awards. Music consumption is at an all-time high due to the invention of music streaming services and artists such as these are merely reaping the benefits of their loyal fan bases. The music industry is constantly evolving, but especially with the creation of social media platforms like TikTok, certain smaller artists have found themselves launched into fame after their songs went viral on the app. Artists like Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, and Olivia Rodrigo have reached unprecedented levels of fame in a very short period thanks to social media apps.

One notable trend in the 2020s has been the increasing blurring of genre boundaries. Artists are no longer confined to traditional genre labels and are instead experimenting with new sounds and styles, often combining elements from different genres to create something entirely new. This trend is perhaps best exemplified by the success of artists like Billie Eilish, who has garnered critical acclaim for her unique blend of pop, alternative, and electronic music.

Opinions

Kids exploited on social media

JALYNN WOOLLEY Production Editor

Yet another loss of the digital age is the rise of child influencers. These children are at risk of social media exploitation as soon as their first ultrasound scan. The growth of social media platforms has raised questions concerning children’s rights in this new commercial space.

“Kidfuencers” are children who are posted online by their parents, generating large numbers of followers and views on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube. According to Wired, highly successful children can generate up to $26 million a year thanks to advertisements and sponsored content. These social media sites often require that users be at least 13 years of age to create an account on their site, which has led many parents to become the managers of these accounts.

This style of parental management blurs the line between work and home life, excluding child influencers from any existing child labor laws. Coogan’s Law, which dates back to 1939, enforces parents of child actors to establish a protected trust to deposit a portion of the child’s wages that

the child cannot access until they turn 18. Since this parental relationship lacks the employer-employee relationship that is outlined by Coogan’s Law, child influencers are unfortunately not protected under this legislation.

These children lack personal, professional, and financial protection. Children face loss of privacy, exploitation, deprivation of an education, online endangerment, and other psychological harms. Although, the parents of “kidfluencers” often reject the idea that they have pushed their child into social media and claim that the decision to post content online was a choice made entirely by the child.

This claim raises the question: At what age can a child legally give consent to be posted online? And when can a child understand the risks they face as a result of their online presence? Of course, parents should have autonomy over the raising of their own child, but the child’s best interest must always be kept in mind.

What’s most interesting of all is how most lawmakers seem to be avoiding the topic of child exploitation on social media at all costs, given how much adults fear their own online security.

Eras Tour debuts across the nation

CLARA CRENSHAW Staff Writer

The expectations for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour were high after the difficulty of getting tickets - and Swift did not disappoint. The Eras Tour, a three-and-a-half-hour concert where Taylor performs 44 songs, has been highly anticipated as it's her first tour since The Reputation Tour in 2018.

Taylor Swift fans, also known as Swifties, clearly missed Taylor, almost entirely selling out the whole tour. Approaching the first night of the tour in Glendale, Arizona, also known as Swift City, fans speculated on how Swift could successfully showcase all ten of her albums, or eras, in just one concert. Instead of doing mixes, what many Swifties, assumed she would do, Swift went from era to era, transforming the concert entirely with each new album. Swift opened the show with "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince," then quickly transitioned into fan favorite "Cruel Summer," Swift's excitement to return to the stage was evident as she expressed, "I don't know how to process all of this."

For many Swifties, the nostalgia of seeing Swift grown up and singing their childhood songs made the Eras Tour an emotional experience.

Although the Eras Tour has proven to be a fantastic experience - getting the tickets took work.

Aside from the Ticketmaster scandal, the average price of the tickets was around $700, which is not feasible for the average Taylor Swift fan. Despite the overpriced tickets, Swift sold out nearly the entire tour successfully. Experts predicted that with the money, the tour could gross, Swift would move into billionaire status. With the average ticket at $700, Swift could make up to $1.5 billion, and that's without the international tour dates she will most likely add.

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Due to a lack of federal regulation, children like the McClure Twins, the Clements Twins, and many more, face endangerment as their parents exploit them for financial gain on various social media platforms. Photo courtesy of CBS News.

Considering these numbers, The Taylor Swift Eras tour will be the highest-grossing tour ever, a record currently held by Ed Sheeran at 780 million. The Eras Tour will make history with Taylor Swift's unique talent of connecting with her fans and her breathtaking performances.

The Electoral College legitimizes democracy

O’GORMAN Copy Editor

While the merit of the Electoral College has provoked debates since the inception of the system, it is evident that this institution has stood the test of time and ultimately lives up to its original intention as set out by the Founding Fathers. Amongst the various reasons for the protection of the Electoral College, the chief advantages of such a system are that it protects the interests of smaller states, promotes a more diverse voting platform, provides for predictability while electing a president, and preserves federalism. Due to these factors, the Eleetoral College is a fundamental landmark of American national values that must be protected to ensure efficient functioning of the government and the protection of democracy.

Although many contend that the Electoral College impedes the operation of democratic practices and advocates for the direct election of the president, the system actually promotes fair representation in terms of state population. Without such a process, larger states would monopolize the votes and the country would be run on the ambition of these overpowering urban

areas. Due to the Electoral College and the effective check on this power, presidential candidates must campaign in all areas of the country and consider the various political circumstances and ideologies of the country rather than select states. The Electoral College thus acts to avoid what many call a “tyranny of the majority,” or a political system more closely associated with mobocracy. With this and according to the Heritage Foundation, the Electoral College further “[eschews] radical candidates for more moderate ones,” promoting the best interests of the country at large and therefore protecting the expression of the people

Furthermore, the current system promotes the legitimacy of election outcomes and provides for predictability of the election process. For example, the Electoral College expands the margin for victory because, as stated by the Heritage Foundation, “since 1900, 17 out of 20 presidential elections have been decided by 200 or more electoral votes. Due to this reality, the general population can have greater faith in the results of the presidency and fewer disputes surrounding the general legitimacy of an election. In a different yet related way, the system further stands to discourage voter fraud as it isolates the im-

pact of stolen votes,” thus promoting the American spirit of democracy and justice. Moreover, the Electoral College promotes federalism and the collaboration between state and federal governments. Under this premise, the Founding Fathers established the Electoral College as a compromise between electing the president through a Congressional vote and popular vote, thereby protecting the interests of all American citizens and working to soothe the national divides and obstructions on democracy. And though, according to Procon.org, “at least 700 amendments have been proposed to modify or abolish the Eloctoral College,” these ambitions have proved futile, primarily due to the implications of the Constitution and an inability to gamer the support for a Constitutional Amendment, requiring two thirds approval both houses of Congress and approval by 35 states.

Ultimately, the Founding Fathers devised the Electoral College consciously to, as National Affairs stated, defend the country against “the dangers inherent in democracy.”

Therefore, the nation must uphold these efforts and therefore work to reform or strengthen the system is place rather than overturn it.

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Science fails to accurately verify professed benefits of acupuncture

ALEX GONZALES Staff Writer

The recrudescence of Eastern mysticism in America has manifested itself through many forms, but acupuncture has proven to be the master over other strains. Acupuncture has become increasingly popular, with more than 10 million acupuncture treatments administered annually in the United States.

Eastern medicine has frequently shown itself to be the replacement for individuals disheartened with Western medical practices.

The antiquity of acupuncture is extensive regarding Chinese tradition and has continued for thousands of years. The basis of acupuncture relies on the idea that the cause of a disease is the locus in which Qi is blocked or disturbed from flowing freely. Qi is the postulation of mysterious energy that permeates the human body and the universe. This energy was initially utilized by Daoist philosophers and alchemists. Unfortunately, Chinese philosophical and cosmological interpretations paralleled advancements with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

This spawns a significant issue with TCM, considering vast human amelioration has occurred since the genesis of TCM. These antiquated Chinese notions of philosophy, which are a linchpin on TCM, impede the progress of traditional medicine. TCM remains a pseudoscience because it is reliant on unfalsifiable tenets.

Science bases itself on falsifiable propo-

War in Ukraine continues to drag on

CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer

sitions that can be subjected to testing and the ability of falsehood. This creates a dynamic in which the philosophy of medicine informs medical procedures that affect human life. This is antithetical to scientific development because poorly substantiated metaphysical conjectures are more important than testing and data. It is important that our medical system is based on empirical data rather than arbitrary and superstitious conjectures about reality.

In contrast to Eastern practice, Western practitioners of acupuncture shift the basis of acupuncture from Qi to the idea that acupuncture stimulates nerves. However, most literature on the topic of acupuncture is equivocal and thin. Scarce research bolsters the view of acupuncture, even though Western practices claim to be the more verifiable forms of acupuncture. The positive outcomes that patients of acupuncture report are often vague and nonspecific. Most of this research on acupuncture demonstrates that acupuncture is marginally better than other placebo procedures in reducing pain. The notion of acupuncture used to treat pain yielding nearly the same result as the placebo acutely challenges the reliability of acupuncture. Often, illness is eventually diminished through lifestyle changes, but overall health improvement is often falsely attributed to participation in acupuncture instead.

Acupuncture is a relatively innocuous practice, but it is vital to grasp that the benefits of acupuncture are often over-emphasized and, in some cases, non-existent due too often inept practitioners.

The Lily Pad

with Lily O’Gorman

We all know about climate change–rising temperatures, rising sea levels, holes in the ozone layer, etc., but most of the time it’s hard for us to feel the impacts of it directly.

For some, though, climate change related disasters have become an element of daily life–one that threatens the existence of the cities they call home.

Take Venice, Italy for example. Most well-known for its intricate canal system, historic architecture, and iconic bridges, the city hosts millions of tourists per year. However, Venice may not be a tourist destination for long; due to rising sea levels, the city has seen a growing risk of outright disappearance. Put shortly, it could sink.

According to the BBC, in a worst-case climate scenario, the city could be underwater but 2100. This sinking could be halted, though, by various cost-intensive projects currently in the works.

The project, aptly named Moses, involves a system of barriers that rise during times of predicted flooding to function almost like in-ocean seawalls. These walls have been constructed over the past 20 years, beginning in 2003. In total, it has cost over $6 billion–a price tag that hasn’t come without controversy.

Other elements of Moses add to its divisive nature. To begin, Venice is built on a lagoon, a lagoon with an incredibly complex and fragile ecosystem. The most significant downside of Moses is its damaging effects to that ecosystem. Frank Viviano of National Geographic summed up the significance of the Venetian ecosystem, remarking that the lagoon’s “protective structure and biodiversity have been giving life to Venice for 1,800 years.” By dis-

rupting the sediment on the lagoon floor, Moses puts the rich biodiversity at risk. Andrea D’Alpaos, leading environmental engineer with Moses, puts it bluntly: “If Moses is used too often and raised for too many hours, the marshes will die.”

But, you may ask, what’s the big deal if a few marshes die? Isn’t that just collateral damage in the fight to keep a city from washing away? Well, it turns out, these specific marshes are more important than it may seem. The unique vegetation of the Venetian wetlands sequesters carbon dioxide at incredibly efficient rates. According to geologist Massimiliano Ghinassi, the Venetian lagoon removes an amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that is “50 times greater than that of tropical forests.” To be more specific, National Geographic estimates that amount as 360 tons of carbon dioxide per square kilometer per year.

Long story short, Moses is contentious and has real, significant, and potentially catastrophic implications in a worst-case scenario either way you look at it. And Venice won’t be the only city to face these issues–studies have shown this unprecedented trend of flooding will reach countless coastal cities across the world including Miami, New Orleans, and, yes, Houston.

It may not be happening in the United States right now, but research has shown that it will. If we want to be ready to face that challenge, it is critical that we open our eyes to the struggles of other cities like Venice and, if nothing else, realize that for many people, climate change is part of a present reality.

Just this month, Finland, a historically staunch neutral nation, was accepted as a new member of NATO, a military alliance consisting of the United States, Canada, Turkey, and most European countries. Along with Sweden’s simultaneous application, this marks the beginnings of a massive shift in the European and global political landscape, all in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With the war turning over a year long as of late February this year, it is important to look back on the progression of the war, its underlying causes, and how it has impacted the world.

During the initial phase of the invasion, everything was going perfectly for Russia, at least on the surface. Few analysts, whether they be Russian military leaders or Western journalists, believed that Ukraine stood a chance in the event of war. However, this assumption was based on Ukraine’s performance during the original 2014 crisis in Crimea and Donbass. At this time Ukraine’s military was disorganized, and their government was preoccupied with stabilizing the country after the Euromaidan chaos. They had no material support from Europe at the time, as they were still hoping to preserve good relations and appease Russia.

Coming into the war, Russia was expecting these conditions to remain. Instead, the West supported Ukraine with both military equipment and sanctions against Russia. Specifically, Ukraine received large quantities of anti-air and anti-tank weapons early on, which were incredibly effective at counteracting Russia’s armor and arial superiority. What was originally supposed to be a quick military operation to take out Kyiv and seize land has become a long, drawn-out stalemate, with battles over single towns lasting months. Currently, there is a debate among NATO members regarding whether to send fighter jets and long range missiles as well, with the concern being that Ukraine may fire them into Russian territory, escalating the conflict. In addition, there is the question as to how long this supply will last, as support is falling in the United States, especially among Republicans.

Russia also overestimated the instability of Ukraine. A common misconception before and continuing during the war was that the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine were mostly pro-Russia and would welcome the invasion with little resistance. This separation was mostly the product of culture war politics in early 2000s Ukraine as a way to bolster support for politicians. Russia only became involved when the 2014 coup, at least in its eyes, threatened Russia’s influence.

The country seized the opportunity of a weak Ukraine to conquer Crimea, fulfilling the dreams of many ultranationalists. In the Donbass, an area with a substantial Russian population, military veteran and reenactment enthusiast Igor Girkin, funded by billionaire Konstantim Malofeev, worked with the Russian government to stage local rebellions and establish a Russian puppet state, starting in Sloviansk. However, despite Russian media’s claims that there was going to be an imminent genocide of Russians in Ukraine, when Sloviansk was eventually liberated, that genocide never came. Instead, journalists uncovered the horrors of the Russian occupation.

This would cement all non-occupied areas in Ukraine as firm supporters of Ukraine against Russia, despite ethnic backgrounds.

Then comes the repercussions for Eu-

Over a year since Russia’s initial invasion, war pushes onward in Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Hardvard Gazette.

rope as a whole. Prior to the invasion, Europe mostly wished to win over the newly independent Russian Federation. Russia essentially got away with its intervention in Ukraine from 2014 to 2015 with few losses in terms of relations with the West. But the 2022 invasion posed a threat to the new European system, based on diplomacy and an end to conflict. Germany, relatively pacificist and with a close dependence on Russia for natural gas, shifted in approach from its appeasement strategy under Merkel to direct support for Ukraine. Poland, itself being a former Iron Curtain Soviet puppet, had a great deal of sympathy for Ukraine and has been their greatest supporter. Hungary has become ostracized within the EU and NATO for their more pro-Russia stance and refusal to aid Ukraine. Even Serbia, one of Russia’s few European allies, has cut back on its support. Georgia and Moldova, who have both faced similar invasions by Russia since the 90s and 2000s, see the invasion as all the more reason to aim for NATO membership; however, the new Moldavian government may lean less in that direction.

Russia has become increasingly isolated from its allies, as China refuses to support them or acknowledge their claims in Ukraine. Aside from Belarus, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and their puppets, Russia lacks the same international alliance as Ukraine. America, on the other hand, seems to be going the opposite way. As mentioned before, there is growing opposition to continued assistance in Ukraine. While many want to preserve Ukraine’s independence or subvert Russian interests, others see it as spending that could be better used elsewhere domestically. It goes without mentioning the various allegations of Biden’s interests in Ukraine and Trump’s to Russia, which have been dominating arguments. Time will tell how this attitude will evolve, but what is certain is that Putin’s choice to invade has, and will continue to, influence the future of Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and America’s place in the world.

In even more recent news, over 30 pages of classified US documents regarding US military intelligence were leaked on various online messaging boards and social media sites. The leak was traced back by journalist and federal investigators to Jack Douglas Teixeira. The 21-year-old had access to the records through his job as an air national guardsman and posted them on a small online group chat on Discord.

According to members of the now deleted server, he was not by any means a politically motivated whistleblower or spy and posted them simply for attention in the community.

The various photos would find their way to other servers and later 4chan, an anonymous messaging board, where they were posted to win an online argument. Jack Teixeira has since been arrested by law enforcement, currently awaits trial from jail, and could be looking at a long sentence.

It was also revealed that Egypt had been planning to sell weapons to Russia secretly. Said plans have since been canceled under threat of international sanctions.

Lacrosse team perserveres through a challenging season

THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer

The girls lacrosse team has persevered through many difficult opponents this season, earning themselves a 6-6 record. Along the way the squad has had some impressive wins, such as their competitive match against Austin High School.

Against Austin, the Knights fought diligently and held a team that averages 17 goals a game to only 12. With this strong defense, the Knights offense was able to shine. Their performance rewarded the Knights with a 13-12 win.

The Knights have had multiple close battles; three of their twelve matches

were won or lost by only one goal. In the game against Bellaire High School, the Knights were winning at halftime, but Bellaire came back with the 12-11 win.

The team has shown massive improvement through the season, with most of their wins coming in the second half of its campaign. Sophomore Claire Murray stated, “I’m excited to see what we can do later this year if we continue to improve.”

The Knights have exhibited their dedication by becoming a stronger team despite their struggles during the early season.

The Knights faced Kinkaid High School on April 11 where they won/ lost SCORE.

SPC title hopes await for softball

the Knights.

The EHS varsity softball team has had an exciting month of successful games and tournaments, beginning the month of April with a 9-3 record and a full calendar of games to take place throughout the rest of the season.

The team’s recent dedication and work ethic has led them to a 11-0 victory over Goliad, a 5-1 win against Smithville, and an 8-6 win over Cuero while competing in the Schulenburg Tournament. Building off this success, the team went on to defeat Pasadena 14-4, Legacy 10-2, John Cooper 5-1, and St. Pius in a closely matched game which ended with a 3-2 victory for

The girls then went on to face St. Agnes in a challenging game which resulted in an unfortunate 10-3 loss, breaking their winning streak. The team faced many skilled opponents throughout this recent series of games and tournaments; regardless, the athletes have remained competent and fully dedicated to performing at maximum capacity.

The talented group of girls continues to focus on improving every aspect of their athletic ability as they near the peak of their spring season; they currently look forward to the possibility of bringing home an SPC championship trophy and representing EHS through their exceptional athletic performance.

Boys baseball defeats Kinkaid 2-1

Sullivan, who struck out two Falcons to secure the win.

Boys lacrosse finishes season strong

JULIA SHERMAN Staff Writer

This 2023 season, the boys varsity lacrosse has had big wins over some of its biggest rivals. This senior heavy team has strongly led the team overall and will lead them into a good shot at bringing home an SPC title.

Varsity coach Mike Donnelly said, “Boys lacrosse is currently 9-4 with big wins over Kinkaid, Strake Jesuit, and Lake Travis. We have a senior-laden team. We have experienced a rash of injuries, so players have been stepping up.”

The team is proudly led by defensive

linemen Hutch Coward, Conor Shanley, Augie Garcia, and Rhett Davenport.

Seniors this year have worked hard to improve the program for years to come, leaving a great example for the rising players.

Junior goalie Ryan Gatto has shown strength this season.

Coach Donnelly added, “Our offense has been led by attackmen Jackson Hearn (now injured), Jack Schaefer, Colin Bennett, and Will Lewis and middies Drew Haffner, Andrew Choi, Mark Morris, Rex Petrulis, Parker Manley, Travis Ray, Thompson White, Jackson Chavis, and Senator Flood. Freshmen Tyler Shanley, Durham Browder, and Andrew Budhoff play significant minutes too.”

With the powerful defense of Episcopal Knights baseball, the team defeated Kinkaid High School 2-1 in a thriller.

Adam Katz, a Davidson baseball commit, took the mound for the Knights and did a phenomenal job as he pitched six strong innings and allowed only one run on seven strikeouts.

During a night of mound dominance from both teams, the Knights also relied on the skilled base running of Logan Almeida and Miles Young, which led to two runs. To close the game, the Knights brought out sophomore pitcher Preston

After this crucial SPC win, the Knights faced Houston Christian High School. Sullivan started on the mound, striking out seven Mustangs and allowing one run in his six innings of work.

Throughout the game, the Knights showcased their batting expertise, scoring eight runs on nine hits, six RBIs, and two home runs from Katz and Eddy Tamez. The tight game headed into the 11th inning when Tamez hit a walk off home run to win the game for the Knights.

The Knights beat St. Johns 6-4 and Second Baptist 4-2 then faced Bellaire High School 8-6 which sadly ended in a loss.

THOMPSON WHITE Staff Writer

JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer

The girls lacrosse team huddles after a productive practice led by Coach Stephanie Colson and Assistant Coach Sara Holland. Photo by Vivian Turbidy.

Cullen Witt swings through a pitch during the varsity’s matchup with Kinkaid, which resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Knights. Photo by Lila Henningsen.

Ninth grader Addison Bey pitches at home against Magnolia West High School in a home game. Photo by Lila Henningsen.

Tennis expects successful performance in SPC tournament

CLARA CRENSHAW Staff Writer

The Episcopal High School tennis teams continues their successful seasons as they prepare for SPC matches.

The tennis teams participated in the TTCA private school tournament in College Station on March 3-4. They played four schools and beat Concordia Lutheran and Abilene Christian School. During the TTCA tournament, the team played mixed doubles, with males and females teaming up. Bethanne Fitz and Joe Davis won three out of four of their mixed doubles matches. The team has four SPC matches coming up against Jon Cooper, Houston Christian, Awty, and Kinkaid.

Mr. Harris and Ms. Succi are especially

thankful for the help and support of the tennis moms this season. Coach Harris said, “The influx of parent support this season has made a big difference in team spirit and morale, and we appreciate all the parents who have come out to watch.”

Although varsity is losing many players, including Nico Trullenque, Tom Davis, Joe Davis, Kiera Adzgery, Maddison Newman, Isabel O’Gorman, and Catherine Russell, the JV girls team welcomed multiple talented freshmen, and Mr. Harris and Ms. Succi are looking forward to a successful season in the future.

Coach Harris said, “Overall, the school’s tennis team has had an impressive season, with many talented players and a strong support system. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for our team.”

Track dominates opponents

With the 2023 spring athletics season approaching its peak, the Episcopal Knights track team is looking forward to a promising conclusion to the year.

As of now, the team is yet to face many of their potential end-of-the-year opponents and has remained diligently committed to practicing and honing their skills before the season ramps up.

The coaching staff is confident that the team will continue to improve in the coming weeks, leading to new potential for achievement throughout the coming events. With many events being sched-

uled later in the year, the athletes have remained dedicated to improving their abilities as a team and have displayed exemplary resolve considering the slow start to the year.

Regardless of their present status, the team has a schedule full of upcoming competitions that will allow them to establish themselves as formidable opponents. The coaching staff is extremely proud of the way the athletes have responded during training. The team now intends to perform highly in their upcoming competitions before entering the peak of the spring season, where they will participate and hopefully dominate in the SPC Tournament.

Golf showcases outstanding talent in multiple tournaments

SPC is not too far away for all our hardworking varsity teams, including girls and boys golf. So far, golf has been practicing in the weight room, on the school putting green, and at Houston Country Club.

Some highlights of the season so far are the girls placing second overall in the Black Horse Tournament, which was the first tournament EHS placed in in several years. The boys team placed second at the John Cooper Invitational and the Episcopal Invitational, too. Junior Bradley O’Donnell won the Episcopal Invitational

with an outstanding score of four under par. The top scores this season for the girls have been 82, 86, 88, and 94.

Senior Paige Champion mentioned, “My favorite part of being on the team is going to Houston Country Club on Wednesdays. We get to play nine holes, and I love being with all my teammates. There is also always a beautiful sunset to close the end of practice.”

Senior Henry Crain on the boys team mentioned, “Golf season is always fun and competitive. I’m mostly looking forward to competing against Kinkaid during SPC since they are one of our biggest rivals in many of our school sports.”

ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer

JAKE BERLIN Sports Editor

Senior Harrison Martin excels at the high jump event for the Knights at the St. Johns Maverick Relays. Photo by Mya Broughton.

DJ Taylor dominates the hurdles at the St. John’s Maverik Relays. DJ’s PR at the 110 meter hurdle is an impressive 14.71 seconds. Photo by Mya Broughton.

The Boys Varsity Golf team from left to right - Bradley O’Donnell, Henry Crain, Jack Connor, Will Jones, Wilhelm Olsson, Currie Clark, Jack Hartman, Jack Oren, Dylan Katz, and James Carter. Photo by Charles Holt.

Senior Henry Crain drives off for the Boys Varsity Golf team. Photo by Charles Holt.

Varsity Girls golf player Nicole Blanco perfects her craft at Houston Country Club Photo by Emma Freeman.

Sophomore Maddy Bos practices at the MET center. Photo by McKenna Foteh.

Junior Chase Hutchins readies a backhand. Photo by Vivian Turbidy.

Speaks Out

“ If you could be a part of any band, what band would you join?”

Resident Jester

PhotoJ Photo of the Month

Celebrity Sighting

Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? This question will withstand the test of time. As pictured above, junior Nolan Sanders bears a striking resemblance to America’s favorite werewolf. From his dark chestnut hair to his smug grin even Bella Swan would not be able to differentiate between the two. Nolan Sanders appears to be a dupe for this iconic celebrity. Warning to all EHS students! Stay away from him on the full moon. You never know what might happen...

Cartoon by Lily O’Gorman.

MARY TAYLOR “NSYNC”

Sophomore, Kennedy Greene, captures a meaningful moment between two track teammates.

Photo by Kennedy Greene.

WILL ANDREWS “Coldplay”

GRACE GRAY “Coldplay”

ZACH BERLIN “A Mariachi Band”

CAROLINE NELSON “The Jonas Brothers”

JACK MCKINNIE “Imagine Dragons”

BELLA BOURLON “Lemonade Mouth”

TRIP DUCEY “Zach Brown Band”

MRS. WELCH “Fifth Harmony”

DR. LUU “Nirvana”

Photos courtesy of Access Online and by Jalynn Woolley.