Trinity Voice- February 2021

THE

TRINITY VOICE

February 9, 2O21 Volume 23 Issue 3 Trinity Preparatory School 57OO Trinity Prep Lane Winter Park, FL 32792 thetrinityvoice.com

TAKE A BREATHER Exposure to nature reduces the risk of mental illness.

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NEWS

Trinity forms Diversity Council to address discrimination within the school.

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LIFESTYLES

COVID-19 has prompted changes in religious tradition and practices.

Pages 12-13

FOCUS

Economic concerns make forming environmental policies difficult.

Pages 16-17

OPINIONS

Responses to BLM protests and the Capitol Hill riot reveal double standards.

Pages 24-25

SPORTS

Student athletes begin spring sports with high hopes despite COVID-19 restrictions.

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Table of Contents

February 2O21

TABLE OF CONTENTS News

Biden Cabinet O4-O5 Stocks and the Economy O6 Diversity Council O7 Media Bias O8 Mazza Retirement 1O Foster Drive 11

Lifestyles

Religious Traditions 12-13 Artist of the Week 14 Music Education 15

Focus

Environment and Economy 16-17

Environmental Racism 18-19 Nature and Mental Health 2O Climate Refugees 21

Opinions

Lead Ed 22 Social Media Regulations 23 Police Double Standards 24-25 Capitol Riots 26

Sports

Spring Sports 28-29 Boys Varsity Basketball 3O Boys Varsity Soccer 31 Ella Craghill

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The Trinity Voice is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association.

The Trinity Voice is produced by the newspaper/journalism class at Trinity Preparatory School of Florida. Editorials represent the opinion of The Trinity Voice writer and are not necessarily the views of the administration, faculty, or Board of Trustees of Trinity. The Voice welcomes letters to the editor and freelance articles or photography. All submissions become the property of The Voice. Please send all correspondence to 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, FL 32792. The Voice may also be contacted via phone at 407-671-4140 and via e-mail at voice@trinityprep.org. For information regarding the purchase of advertising within The Voice contact us by one of the methods mentioned above. The Voice is a monthly publication during the school year (with the exceptions of November, January, and March).

VOICE@TRINITYPREP.ORG Kayla Alexandre

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Kayla Alexandre

Cover Photo

Staff/News Bites

February 2O21

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NEWS SPOTLIGHT

STAFF

Editors-in-Chief: Ryan Zehnder, Matthew Mapa Managing Editor: Matthew Halpin Copy Editor: Deniz Bölöni-Turgut

This Month: By the Numbers

34%

$19 billion

900,000

President Trump’s final approval rating in Gallup poll

stock short seller losses on GameStop

Americans who filed new jobless claims the week of Jan. 21

Layout Editors: Emma Kim, Amy Qiao Online Editor: Maneesh Rajulapati News Department: Andrew Bachrach (Editor), Ava Savino, Julian Sealy, Jack Ververis Opinions Department: Connor Raffa (Editor), Maddie Peckham, Jake McCreary Focus Department: Deniz Bölöni-Turgut (Editor), Evan Huang, Marcos Membreno Lifestyles Department: Sidney Seybold (Editor), Alec Diaz, Sarah Zehnder, Amy-Ruth Gyang Sports Department: Jake Raffa (Editor), Oliver Johnson, Boaz Kim, Cate Williams Graphics Department: Henry Van Voorhis (Editor), Jaidyn Holt Photo Department: Kayla Alexandre (Editor), Mateo Membreno (Editor), Anuha Tatineni, Ella Craghill, Jessica Dorrien Fact Checker: Oliver Johnson Business Manager: Sidney Seybold Adviser: Erin Miller

The Headlines President Biden removes the ban preventing transgender people from serving in the military

Amazon appeals ruling allowing Alabama factory to vote on unionization Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigns due to tensions in the coalition government

Quote of the Month For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.

U.S. Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration

Local Spotlight Walt Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary

Orange County’s unemployment rate hits 7.2%, the worst in Florida

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News

February 2O21

Infographic by Andrew Bachrach Graphics by Jaidyn Holt

Antony Blinken Secretary of State

Tom Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture

Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation

Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury

Gina Raimondo Secretary of Commerce

Jennifer Granholm Secretary of Energy

Lloyd Austin Secretary of Defense

Marty Walsh Secretary of Labor

Miguel Cardona Secretary of Education

Merrick Garland Attorney General

Xavier Becerra Secretary of Health & Human Serv.

Denis McDonough Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Deb Haaland Secretary of Interior

Marcia Fudge Secretary of Housing & Urban Dev.

Alejandro Mayorkas Secretary of Homeland Security

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News

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Spotlight “When infrastructure works well, most Americans hardly notice. But these days we are noticing infrastructure too often for the wrong reasons. That can, and must, change.”

- Pete Buttigieg, Transportation

“This moment is profound when...a former Secretary of the Interior once proclaimed it his goal to, ‘civilize or exterminate’ [Native Americans].

I’m a living testament to the failure of that horrific ideology.”

- Deb Haaland, Interior

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News

February 2O21

WHAT’S UP WITH THE STOCK MARKET?

Market signals economic growth despite troubling events in the world Article by Ava Savino Graphic by Emma Kim When Senior Rom Peles purchased stocks of a company, he knew that he was taking a huge gamble with his money. If the company performed poorly, he could lose large portions of his money, but if it did well, he could make huge profits. So when his stock more than doubled in value overnight, his investment risk turned into a reward.

However, most students aren’t as knowledgeable about the stock market as Peles and don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

So, what exactly is the stock market, how does it impact the country, and does it truly reflect the state of the economy?

In the stock market, ownership of public companies is traded depending on the value of the company. These amounts are based off of factors such as reported earnings and the demand of the particular stock. These pieces of companies are constantly being bought and sold. Depending on when a person exchanges their stocks, they can make a profit or lose money, making it, as Peles likes to say, “a bit of a gamble.”

The stock market can often reflect the events of the world, but that isn’t always the case. In February, as fear of COVID-19 rose in the U.S., the stock market went down sharply in response. While this crash added even more difficulties to the economy, it was turned around as quickly as it started just over a month later, according to MarketWatch. Despite the multitude of hardships that happened to American families in 2020, the New York Stock Exchange stayed strong and ended the year on a positive note, seemingly unphased by the worsening state of COVID-19 in America.

AP Micro and Macro Economics teacher Kelly Aull said stocks can sometimes disregard major events in the world. By doing this, they can continue to grow as if they were seeing increased profits, but they actually aren’t.

“What’s happening more often now is that company’s stock values have taken on kind of a life of their own,” Aull said.

There are many explanations as to why the market is doing so well despite the negative events happening in the world. New York

Times Writer Jeff Sommer explains one of his ideas in his article titled, “The Markets’ Strange Disregard for the Chaos in Washington.”

“The pandemic is the main cause of global economic troubles, and it will eventually end,” Sommer said. “With vaccinations underway, Wall Street hopes that economic growth...will surge later this year.”

Aull gives a different angle to view the market’s quick pandemic recovery. She said that even though companies have laid off many of their employees from before COVID-19, they can still produce the same amount of profits.

“Especially in manufacturing and industries that are benefiting from an increase in technology… companies need fewer people to get the same work done,” Aull said.

The U.S. unemployment rate has risen exponentially since the pandemic. From March to April in 2020, the unemployment rate went up from 4.4% to almost 15%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number has since went down to 6.7%, but it still hasn’t recovered back to its original rate.

Events that lower the stock market don’t always have to be seen as negative. Peles started investing in his sophomore year around the time of the U.S. and China trade war. This international event caused the economy and stock market to go down, but Peles saw this as a chance for him to profit off of the situation.

When Chinese stocks dropped 30-40% due to the trade war, he researched the companies

affected and saw that their revenue wasn’t dropping, and there was nothing actually wrong with the company.

“I thought the market might have overreacted, so I invested,” Peles said. “Eventually they went back up 30-40%.”

With the stock market’s highly positive performance masking the negative state of other events occuring in the country such as COVID-19 deaths, increased unemployment rates and the recent riots at the capitol, experts are divided on how to feel about the future of the market and economy.

According to New York Times Conrad de Aenlle, many investors expect that this year could produce even higher stock values. Vaccines helping people return to normal again fuels business growth and the economy, therefore promoting the stock market. Conversely, some investors are concerned that the stock market is only protected by a “bubble” from the outside world, and it could eventually “pop” and cause massive losses in the economy.

The stock market and economy are both places of uncertainty and volatility. Although they are often predictable by following major events in the news, it isn’t always the case. Peles recommends to reflect on losses and keep analyzing your decisions in the market to continue improving upon your investment skills.

“The more you invest, the more likely you are to make money,” Peles said. “[The market] rewards a lot of time, research and intuition.”

The Great Recession took 18 months to recover from 2007-2009.

It was caused by banks giving out home loans to people with poor credit who could not pay the money back.

While the COVID-19 Recession took a greater initial hit, it recovered much faster than the Great Recession, only taking a few months even with the state of COVID-19 worsening.

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News

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DIVERSITY COUNCIL HOPES FOR CHANGE ON CAMPUS Article by Jack Ververis Graphic by Matthew Mapa

They then sent out applications in September and announced the members in November.

This summer, millions of Americans faced a Now, the appointed council will investigate reckoning with the place that racism played in the school’s environment before presenting its their daily lives. Whether it be in their homes, recommendations to the Board of Trustees in workplaces or even selves, this collective May. These measures will fall to the Head of self-reflection has been a long time coming.

School’s office for implementation. The first Trinity’s own reckoning topic they will be focusing came in July. When the is race, and the council “We’ve avoided this on school posted a statement will work to create resourcon Instagram regarding issue [of race] for so es, opportunities and an Black Lives Matter protests, long. This is the time to audience for students who the comments were filled might have never had one. with people expressing their change, and this is the “We’ve avoided this issue thoughts on the school en- best way to do it.” [of race] for so long,” juvironment. With so many nior Lilly Nguyen, who will - Lilly Nguyen, Junior serve on the Council, said. personal stories, the school knew this reckoning need“This is the time to change, ed a response. Now, one of those results, the and this is the best way to do it.”

Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion, The council isn’t designed to solve every is here. problem right away, but rather, according to Trinity’s founding marked an anomaly Lawson, to tackle a different issue each year in the Civil Rights era South. While many with a different appointed council. It also schools resisted integration, founder Rev. Can- won’t have any administrative authority. Inon Rees Hay formed the school with diversi- stead, it will complement the school’s current ty in mind. However, the increasing diversity inclusivity efforts, such as faculty diversity edof both schools and America over the last 50 ucation and Saints In Conversation. years hasn’t fully lived up to this promise.

Such programs, moderated by the school “We have become a far more diverse pop- but run by the students, can effectively drive ulation, but I don’t think that’s necessarily change. As Inside Higher Education reports translated into an increasing degree of sensi- in July, promoting “difficult” conversations tivity or understanding,” English teacher Dean among students can help them form their own Rhoads, who has taught at Trinity for over 40 space of inclusion. years and will be one of three teachers on the “I think the school as a whole needs to be Council, said. the driver [of change],” Lawson said.

In an effort to combat this, the school has formed the Advisory Council for Diversity and Inclusion, a group consisting of 20 students, teachers, parents and alumni. The council will According recommend efforts to combat discrimination to the National throughout the school and will work to develAssociation of op change over multiple years.

“No school administration is the be-all endIndependent Schools, all of how to solve these problems,” Head of School Byron Lawson said. “But that’s the beauty of having this council. There are 20 other people who can bring other skill sets, inof students in member clinations and experiences to solving not just schools are people this problem, but others.”

The Board of Trustees first met over the of color summer to discuss how to promote inclusivity and had students take a multiculturalism survey to better understand students’ experiences.

33.3%

Rather than recommending on specific instances of discrimination at the school, the Advisory Council will prioritize the overall climate of diversity at Trinity. The council will analyze not only the current state of diversity, but also how to make organizational progress that will hopefully lead to individual change.

“It really is about changing a culture, and that means changing the attitudes of individuals,” Rhoads said.

The Board of Trustees reviewed over 100 applications and considered viewpoints, backgrounds, reasons for applying and the dynamics of the school’s diversity. However, some students, like junior Daniel Rodriguez, are concerned over a perceived lack of diverse council members which they believe could prevent substantive change.

Many schools across the country are being faced with a reckoning of how to handle toxic environments. The council presents a chance to act on those issues.

“Toxic environments breed toxicity,” sophomore Kyra Alston said. “[Trinity needs] to make it known that this is an environment that we will not tolerate, and reprimand those who would contribute to that.”

Whether or not the council is successful, most agree that it’s an important step toward creating inclusion and that having these conversations is more important than ever.

“Inclusive is a very large statement, so this is going to be a meaningful dialogue here at the school.” Lawson said. “Hopefully, there’s an education for us all in this process.”

Breakdown of POC at NAIS schools 30.93% 14.78%

Two or More Races American Latinx/Hispanic American

23.02% Asian American

23.37%

Black/African American

7.91% Other

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News

February 2O21

BREAKING NEWS

TRINITY ON NEWS BIAS: HOW TO SOLVE IT Article by Julian Sealy Graphic by Amy Qiao and Matthew Mapa Flipping through CNN and Fox News on his television, Freshman Tavish Ward eagerly watches as the events of the Capitol Riots unfold before his eyes. Ward recognizes a discrepancy between the two news channels’ coverage.

“Social media, like Twitter, and certain media stations like Fox... I think those are main instruments of spreading misinformation,” Ward said.

In the modern era, journalism is more important than ever before. However, news biases from both audiences and sources are reinforcing political polarization and blurring the lines between journalism and sensationalism.

For example, news sources can tend to be more opinionated to gain viewership, and news stations often exaggerate or falsify headlines because they know certain audiences would elicit extreme responses and thus, increase the station’s viewership. Thus, it is crucial for audiences to trust journalists that will provide true information.

With both readers and news sources, politics is a huge factor in news bias. On the audience side, it plays a significant role in the news sources people watch and their reactions.

“Depending on where you stand politically, that will definitely affect the information that you receive and how you perceive it,” social science teacher Rosanna Cal said.

In a similar fashion, politics also influences the variety of ways news sources might cover the same event. News coverage on social media tends to be convenient for providing quick information, but that information may not always be straight down to the facts.

“When people watch the news on TV, they’re only getting very condensed pieces of information and the information being divided will depend on the political view of the station,” Cal said.

Social science teacher and Director of Forensics Benjamin Gaddis said that another contributor to news bias is confirmation bias.

“People are seeking out things that they agree with, rather than confronting just facts being written and not necessarily delivered through

someone’s tone or opinion,” Gaddis said. “The main issue is both confirmation bias and niche news. The more I’m looking for someone to agree with me and write something that confirms the beliefs that we have already.”

Confirmation bias can cause readers to quickly jump to opinions instead of fully engaging with the nuance of issues.

“I think that people need to read as many things as possible,” Gaddis said. “They need to find things that either make them uncomfortable or just give them the facts so that they get to make up the opinions afterwards.”

Although news bias can be portrayed negatively, it also gives viewers a chance to see other perspectives on a side of the spectrum they may not have otherwise looked at. English teacher Robert Boerth explained the importance of checking multiple sources when reading the news and the main issue with news bias.

“When I read the news, I never look at just one source,” Boerth said. “Typically I will look at Fox News, CNN [and] USA Today. Every single day you can see that they are often covering the same stories, but they obviously all have different slants.”

The Associated Press, or the AP, is widely

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considered by many to be one of the most reliable news sources out there. While unbiased news doesn’t exist, balanced news does.

According to the COM Library Media Chart, the Associated Press nearly tops the chart and proves to be a very reliable source for many.

“I trust the Associated Press, as reliable and trustworthy,” Cal said. “I also check out BBC News because the British are known to be blunt about things.”

News biases aren’t going away anytime soon.

However, Cal said that in the modern era, it is vital that everybody tries to fight news bias.

“You can stop the news bias,” Cal said.

“Having grown up in an era where there’s so much conflicting information, where there’s so much bias and the facts are taking a back seat.

[Journalists]more than anyone else should know that what you’re doing now needs to be true to the facts, true to the events without any bias and let the reader come to their own conclusion and their own opinion.”

% OF AMERICANS WHO THINK THE NEWS THEY USE MOST HAS ____ IN THEIR 2O2O PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COVERAGE PRESENTED FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT FAVORED ONE SIDE OF AN ISSUE PUBLISHED INFORMATION THAT HASN’T BEEN FULLY VERIFIED REPORTED MADE-UP INFORMATION INTENDED TO MISLEAD VIEWERS SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH CENTER

67% 56% 37%

MEDIA POLL

February 2O21

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News

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MAZZA LEAVES LASTING LEGACY Article by Julian Sealy Photo by Ella Craghill

Throughout his Trinity career, Computer Science Department Chair Ralph Mazza has worn many hats. Starting out as an eighth grade science teacher in 1995, Mazza has made a legacy of inspiring students to pursue their passions, whether it be film, softball or volleyball, and he now feels ready to retire.

“It’s time,” Mazza said. “I’ve been doing this for 45 years and my daughter just gave us a grandson. We want to travel while we are still young enough and healthy.”

One of Mazza’s many great achievements at Trinity is creating the school’s first website back in the early 2000s.

“I built the first formal school website and because of that I slowly migrated into the computer areas,” Mazza said. “Now it’s just Mrs. Frederick and I doing all of it.”

Although Mazza is currently the multimedia teacher, he actually started the first Science Olympiad for the middle school.

“I wanted something that the students could do research and develop a project,” Mazza said.

“To watch it grow over the years and continue, I kind of look at it as a part of my legacy here.”

Mazza recognizes how important his re- influence you had on them, even though you lationships are with his colleagues and how didn’t know you had that influence.” much he has learned Mazza’s influence is from them, especially “The people that have been also visible off-campus.

Coach Dee Starling and One of the students Coach Jeff Wilson. He around here for a while, like that Mazza influenced has strong relationships Mrs. Parker, Dr. Clanton, is NYU film major and with former teachers Prep alumni Coach Babyak [and] Mr. Her- Trinity as they used to go out Ethan Kobrin. Kobrin once a month before the ron, all came in around the was initially in Mazza’s COVID-19 pandemic. same time. We’ve all been film class as a seventh “The people that have grader and put his carbeen around here for a supportive of each other.” toon in the film fest. while, like Mrs. Park- Ralph Mazza, Computer Science Mazza and Kobrin have er, Dr. Clanton, Coach kept in good touch over Department Chair the years.

Babyak [and] Mr. Herron, all came in around Mazza has not only the same time,” Mazza said. “We’ve all been had countless memories and success inside the supportive of each other.” classroom, but on the court and field as well.

Mazza mentioned some of the former stu- He started off coaching boys seventh grade dents he has taught that have now become basketball and has since moved into coaching teachers and how incredible it has been to see both Girls Varsity Volleyball and Softball. them grow into the people they are today.

Mazza described his favorite coaching mo“Mrs. Miller, Ms. Farmer, Mr. Schneider, ment as one he will never forget as it was a they were all former students and it’s always big game against Masters Academy. They were great seeing them and hearing back from down their best player, but overcame that and them,” Mazza said. “You sometimes hear the won the game which sparked an impressive winning streak for the team.

“We won the championship for five or six years in a row and that match is just such a fond memory,” Mazza said.

Spending time with his eight-month-old grandson and traveling are two things Mazza is most looking forward to after retirement.

Mazza’s father was a World War II veteran and one of his big plans was to go to Europe and follow where his father had been during the war and see the sites of where he fought.

“This has been home for 25 years,” Mazza said. “This is the longest I’ve ever been at one place, and I’ve made a lot of connections here.”

Mr. Mazza helps a student in his Introduction to Media class. One of Mazza’s favorite parts of teaching at Trinity was the freedom to create his own curriculum.

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STUDENTS ORGANIZE FOSTER CARE DRIVE Article by Oliver Johnson Photos by Mateo Membreno and courtesy of Elizabeth Driscoll

After returning from winter break, members of the Foster Care Connection Club organized their first supply drive. From the 25th to the 28th of January, the club collected baby supplies here on campus. Juniors Elizabeth Driscoll and Jack Gregg founded the club this school year hoping to help foster kids.

The items will be donated to the Foundation for Foster Children in Central Florida which mainly focuses on foster care children in the nearby area.

“We wanted to do something to help because that’s what our club is all about, helping foster care kids and we saw [the drive] as something that needed to happen,” Driscoll said.

Originally, the club had planned on asking for school supplies donations, but realized there might be a better way to put their donations to use. The school year had already started and so they began to look for other types of donations to accept.

Jack Gregg’s mom, who helps with the Foundation for Foster Children in Central Florida, told them that baby supplies were

the most needed types of items that they were for the drive and even raise awareness about the foster care system. According to Driscoll, looking for.

With that, the club founders decided it was this was a great way to get more people inbest to keep donations to baby supplies as they volved and be able to give back even more to the Foundation for run out so quickly.

Foster Children.

There is a rising Although the number of children club does not plan in the foster care on doing any othsystem and the iner drives this year, creasing need for they still plan on baby supplies can spreading awareness cause foundations about the foster care to lack items. system in assembly The club put bins and chapel. all around campus “We have been including at the car talking about doloop during school Driscoll puts up a flyer for her baby supply ing something later pickup in order to drive. Over the past few weeks, she has been on in the year to collect all of the do- posting them around campus and promoting just inform people nations from Trini- the drive through Notes in the Quad and about what it’s like ty students. assembly announcements. to be in the foster There was also an effort to spread the word about the drive to care system and inspire others to help the cause others outside the Trinity family. Members of also,” Driscoll said.

The foster care system is something very the club reached out to friends, family members, or anyone they felt would be interested important to Driscoll, as she has two adopted in donating. This helped get more donations siblings of her own. Her experience with her siblings has been very important in her decision to start this club and make a difference in her community.

Growing up, Driscoll said she saw how much her parents did to provide her siblings with a loving family and she recognizes how difficult it can be on other adopted children who don’t have that.

“My parents worked so hard with them and it really opened my eyes to how important adoption can be,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll spoke about how much children in the foster care system can be without. Whether that be babies needing baby supplies, or the need for school supplies, Driscoll knows of the lack of goods for certain kids and how hard it can be in the foster care system.

“There are so many things like baby supplies that people take for granted that a lot of these foster care kids are at a loss of,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll poses in front of the collected supplies. Most donors chose to give directly through her Amazon wishlist with the supplies being shipped directly to her house.

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Lifestyles

February 2O21

PANDEMIC CHALLENGES Article by Sidney Seybold Photo courtesy of Pexels

In March, when Americans were preparing to shelter at home due to the coronavirus, religious leaders scrambled to figure out what exactly they were going to do now that in-person services were not an option. In a country where approximately 45% of people, about 130 million, say they “attend a religious service at least once or twice a month,” according to the Pew Research Center, the race to balance spirituality with health and safety was on.

While many places of worship had to switch to virtual, drive-thru or socially distant platforms, other acts of piety, specifically in the Roman Catholic Church, were not moved to an online format.

According to Adam Marchese, who is a priest at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, different bishops did what best suited their parish. He said that the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, John Noonan, under his

ordination by God, issued a dispensation at the beginning of quarantine stating that failure to attend Mass in person was not a mortal sin, as it was before the pandemic. Instead, parishioners were instructed to watch virtually.

This dispensation was important because mortal sin is the most serious category of sin, as it involves a person knowingly breaking divine law, like the Ten Commandments.

“The purpose of a dispensation is for those who have a genuine fear of the virus,” Marchese said. “I know people who basically have not left their house since March. They exist; they’re still out there.”

As of now, St. Margaret Mary is offering virtual and in-person Mass with required masks and social distancing, and the average attendance for a weekend service is about 25% of the maximum capacity. The dispensation is for those who are elderly, sick or do not leave their homes, but Marchese is aware that some people have not been following the rules.

“The issue has become there are those who take advantage of that dispensation, so I’ve heard people ... who would normally come in-person on Sundays, but they chose not to come in-person one Sunday not because the numbers and the virus spiked ... but because they wanted to go to the beach.”

As for specific acts of piety, Catholics believe that in order to rid themselves of mortal sin, they must go to confession. However,

during quarantine, there was no way to attend confession, as under canon law, or ecclesiastical laws of the Catholic Church, confession cannot be done virtually due to concerns over lack of privacy.

“According to canon law, which is kind of like that law of the Church, the people of God always have the right to a private confession,” Marchese said. “... I must be able to hear you and know that it is actually you there, so meaning that it’s not someone holding a phone there or something like that.”

Marchese said that because of the rule, priests all over the country had to find new ways to offer confession to parishioners.

“What was fascinating was how creative, especially during the height of quarantine, priests were getting,” Marchese said.

“There were some churches that would set up drive-thru confessionals, so you could literally drive up, and the priest would be sitting there in a chair, and you’d roll down your window, so that way the priest could hear your confession.”

As for administering the sacra-

February 2O21

Lifestyles

RELIGIOUS TRADITION ments that are colloquially put under the umbrella term “last rites” to hospitalized Catholic patients with COVID-19, which include confession, Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum (Communion), Marchese said sometimes he is allowed in the hospital rooms, and sometimes he isn’t. According to Catechism of the Catholic Church, a text composed by Pope John Paul II, “By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them.”

Because many hospitals are still not allowing priests in the hospital rooms, The Los Angeles Times asserts that Pope Francis issued a dispensation stating that coronavirus patients who receive prayers “delivered over the video chat would have the same spiritual effect as if he were to perform the normal anointing with holy oil: a full pardon of all sins.”

Finally, receiving the Eucharist, or more commonly known as Communion, has been a challenge during the pan-

demic. One cannot receive the Eucharist (the bread and wine that represent Jesus’ body and blood) if they have committed mortal sins in the absence of confession. However, during quarantine, people couldn’t go to Mass, which meant they were committing a mortal sin, but they couldn’t go to confession either, so then they couldn’t receive the Eucharist.

Communion is a sacrament, which means it can’t be done virtually, so Pope Francis encouraged Catholics to instead receive a ‘spiritual communion,’ a way to feel close to God without actually receiving the Eucharist.

Yet, that revives some of the oldest core arguments between Catholics and Protestants.

According to the BBC, Catholics believe in transubstantiation, or that the substance of the bread and the wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, while still maintaining its physical appearance. On the other hand, Protestants don’t believe in transubstantiation and perform the act as a metaphorical reminder that Jesus died on the cross for their sins.

While Catholics do not assert that spiritual communion measures even close to receiving the Eucharist, it does place more of an emphasis on a personal relationship with God without the necessity of concrete rituals, an ideal that traditionally resonates more with Protestants.

The pandemic has also raised questions in Protestant churches about what happens

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during Communion and has changed the way some people are able to perform it. School chaplain Father Richard Towers said that under the guidance of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, during the pandemic he has only been allowed to distribute the host, not the wine.

“There’s a very technical argument about ocular Eucharist and is God’s grace conveyed in the Eucharist by simply or merely watching it,” Towers said. “That is a question that has concerned theologians recently, and a lot of people are arguing about that ... I think just watching Communion reminds me of the prayers and what the memorial means to us, but it doesn’t feel the same to me as actually receiving Communion.”

The pandemic has changed spiritual routines, acts of piety and even church law, and there is an increasing fear among the faith community that people will continue to opt out of mainstream religion after it is over. However, in April 2020 the Pew Research Center found that 38% of Protestants and 27% of Catholics feel that their faith is stronger than before the pandemic. So, the question now stands — will the changes that faith communities underwent remain after the pandemic?

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Lifestyles

February 2O21

ART STUDENTS HONORED WITH NEW AWARD Article by Sarah Zehnder Photos by Anuha Tatineni and Kayla Alexandre

This month, Trinity will announce the first recipient of the new Artist of the Week award.

All students involved in the fine arts program at Trinity are eligible to receive the award. This includes all branches of the fine arts: music (vocal, orchestra, band), theater, dance, visual arts (2D, 3D, photography), forensics and creative writing.

For Athlete of the Week, coaches nominate one of their athletes who performed especially well during the previous week’s games and practices to be recognized in assembly and receive a T-shirt. However, Artist of the Week will function slightly differently. Teachers will have the opportunity to acknowledge students for exceptional performance at any time, not just once a week in assembly.

“We will recognize remarkable achievements when they happen,” fine art department chair Janine Papin said. “Because of that, the teachers will not rotate giving the award but will be able to present the award to a student when the opportunity arises.”

A student is eligible for the award if they meet the following criteria: The Artist of the week recognizes a Trinity Prep arts student who has demonstrated exceptional aptitude or achievement in Fine Arts, either in the classroom, in school performance, or in outside

competition or performance, and meets a cri- Emily Wilhelm created the distinctive design. teria for What It Means to Be a Saint.

During the fall semester, fine arts teacher But why hasn’t Trinity had Artist of the Irina Ashcraft challenged her students in evWeek all along? And what made them push for ery class to draw a design for the T-shirts. The the award this year? fine arts teachers, as well “We have actually “I feel like the amount of work as the board members of talked about it for years, the Patrons of the Arts, but this year, with a push that is put into creative out- reviewed the student from the current lead- lets sometimes goes unno- submissions and selected ership of Patrons of the favorite. ticed. We [Trinity students] their Arts, we got it done,” Pa“It makes sense that are so focused on athletics the design should come pin said.

Artist of the Week or academics that we don’t from one of our student was finally confirmed artists,” Papin said. and launched when the realize that other students Virtually or in-person, Patrons of the Arts un- are focusing their talents on Trinity assemblies will derwrote the purchase now feature the finalsomething more creative.” of the shirts for this year. ly instated Artist of the Patrons of the Arts is a Week awards as a way to - Hayden Lehr, Senior recognize deserving stuparent organization that supports Trinity’s fine dent artists. arts financially and by providing volunteers for “I feel like the amount of work that is put their many events. into creative outlets sometimes goes unnoAlthough the first recipient will not be an- ticed,” said senior and AP art student Hayden nounced until February, the fine arts depart- Lehr. “We [Trinity students] are so focused on ment soon plans to present an explanation athletics or academics that we don’t realize that video during virtual all-school assembly. other students are focusing their talents on Each recipient of Artist of the Week will something more creative.” receive a T-shirt which includes symbols from each fine arts department with a fleur de lis in the center. Senior and AP 3-D Art student

THE WORD ON CAMPUS Why should art students be recognized?

“It’s important that we recognize them because fine arts are often the unsung hearts of the Trinity Family.”

- Reese Taylor, Sophomore

“It’s important to represent the arts in awards because the students in the various arts work just as hard as the athletes.”

- Sarah Suarez, Junior

“It gives a chance for creative students to be recognized with this gift.”

- Hayden Lehr, Senior

February 2O21

Lifestyles

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THE DECRESCENDO OF MUSIC EDUCATION Article by Amy-Ruth Gyang Graphic by Henry Van Voorhis

with higher rates of poverty receive 13% less funding per student compared to schools with Greek philosopher Plato once said, “I would lower rates of poverty. As stated in an article by teach children music, physics, and philosophy; The Atlantic, students in lower income schools but most importantly music, for the patterns typically scored lower on standardized tests in music and all the arts are the keys to learn- compared to students in higher income areas. ing.” 400,000 years ago music became the Government initiatives such as the No Child earliest known instrument to man and since Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 and its sucthen has been used by babies to adults. De- cessor, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) spite its longevity, schools around the U.S. of 2015, have based the amount of funding have decreased students’ given to schools by test exposure to music for “If we understood how im- scores, leaving many decades. The lack of mulower income schools sic education boils down portant early intervention with less government to an epidemic that has of musical education is, we funding. Many schools been facing the public struggled in English would do a lot of things dif- that school system for deand math on standardferently.” cades: budget cuts. ized tests eventually cut According to the Namusic programs to bring tional Assessment of - Dr. Joy Galliford, Director of De- more focus to these funEducational Programs velopment for South Florida Music damental subjects. of Arts, public school The coronavirus panstudents’ introduction to the musical arts has demic has only intensified the importance of been at a steady decline since 1997. An article public school funding. A report by ABC Acby NPR states that government cuts in public tion News detailed a protest in late October by school spending have limited resources, leav- parents in Hillsborough County who marched ing music departments in disarray. against the possible budget cuts for music and A study done by Stanford University in 2012 art programs, in their schools. For decades, found that the funding gap between students students and parents have questioned the moof lower and higher-income areas has increased tives for government and musical education by 40% in the past sixty years. Furthermore, cuts. Senior Nydia Clifton has taken chorus according to the Broader, Bolder Approach to since sixth grade and credits the lack of musiEducation, a national campaign that mitigates cal education in schools, to not enough people the impacts of poverty-related disadvantages knowing about the benefits of music and the on teaching and learning, a child’s social class lack of funding to support its programs. is one of the most significant predictors of Despite the cuts in music education, practheir educational success. A study conducted ticing music holds many benefits. A medical

by The Education Trust, a national nonprofit report conducted by the Department of Funthat works to close opportunity gaps of stu- damental Neurosciences detailed that playing dents from low-income families, found that a musical instrument or taking part in musiin more than half of the U.S. states, schools cal education strengthens a child’s brain with

a heightened increase in sight, hearing and self-awareness. Students who are exposed to musical instruction are better at sound identification and repetition than those who aren’t, which has a direct increase in their performance in formal education. It was discovered that those who played a musical instrument had higher proficiency rates in literacy and reading compared to students who did not play musical instruments.

An article by the Washington Post found that music education is neglected for over 3.8 millions students throughout the country. Organizations across the US have been formed to replace the lack of musical education in schools. Friends of South Florida Music (FSFM) is a foundation which, according to their website is focused on “providing comprehensive and age-appropriate musical activities for low-income children in the South Florida region.” Dr. Joy Galliford, Ph.D., is the founder, Director of Development, and Instructor for South Florida Music and has been a music educator for over thirty years.

“I’ve always known that there is another population that may not know or have the resources to be educated on musical education,” Galliford said.

With the coronavirus pandemic, most classes are held over Zoom and a few are still in-person, which are held after school in different locations such as schools or daycare centers. The students partake in dancing, drumming, and singing which are all activities used to enhance growth. Sticks, jingles, scarves and drums are all items used to make music and support gross motor development and repetition.

“Music is one of the least expensive, easiest, fun ways to increase a child’s overall development, socioemotional status and their mental well-being,” Galliford said.

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February 2O21

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Article by Deniz Bölöni-Turgut Graphic by Henry Van Voorhis

With a shift in power in the White House comes a shift in public policy. President Biden plans to enact environmental policies focused on using clean energy and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Opponents of these policies often cite economic disadvantages such as the immense cost and possible job losses in emission-heavy industries.

However, climate change has already started impacting the economy in the form of natural disasters. According to an article from ABC news, the 2020 California wildfire cost is estimated to be around $10 billion. Even without the regulations that many environmentally friendly policies suggest, the economic landscape of the United States is shifting. Science teacher Jonathan Gray said that climate change has forced many places such as Miami to consider how to combat rising sea levels and building damage from erosion.

“I think the biggest source driving climate change is the emission of CO2, so not only decreasing the emission of CO2 but also offering opportunities for scientists to come up with carbon sequestration methods, or getting carbon out of the atmosphere [is

important],” Gray said. “I think we can start to tal policies usually benefit the economy in the sort of retain that balance that we used to have long run. if we tackle it both ways.”

“There’s always going to be an economic imIndividuals can lower their carbon footprint pact when you’re creating new rules and reguin simple ways such as conserving electrici- lations that somehow intersects with the way ty, turning down the air conditioning during people do business,” Aull said. “There are piecthe summer or even installing solar panels, es of the Green New Deal that involve investsomething the federal government encourages ing in new or emerging sectors of the economy through a solar tax credit. The federal govern- related to clean energy, those things should ment could also take the lead in environmen- have a net positive impact especially when you consider the cost … of tal issues by creating policies which in- “I think there’s this false di- dealing with a lot of the impacts of industries that centivize clean energy and sustainability. chotomy out there that it’s pollute, industries that are “Our government either the environment or the unsustainable for our enThose things subsidizes, meaning economy and that’s not going to vironment. make it difficult for us to gives breaks to, oil maintain our economic and gas companies get us anywhere.” capacity long term.” [so that] they don’t - Jonathan Gray, Science Teacher The balance between pay the full price of maintaining the econoproduction,” Gray said. “I think those subsidies should be taken my and helping the environment is hard to away over time and if the government does achieve, but Aull and Gray agree that it’s cruwant to be subsidizing industry, they should cial to consider both when developing policies.

“If [you’re] addressing an environmental isb e subsidizing clean energy to make clean energy be able to compete with fossil sue, you want to do what’s best for the environment but you also have to … maximize benefuels.”

Upper school Dean of Students fits for the economy and maximize benefits for and economics teacher Kelly society,” Gray said. “When your solution adAull said that such environmen- dresses each of those, then that becomes more viable to politicians, to policymakers, to CEOs. … I think there’s this false dichotomy out there that it’s either the environment or the economy and that’s not going to get us anywhere.”

February 2O21

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The struggle to find a balance between environmental and economic concerns continues Another important thing to consider is the cost-effectiveness of any proposed environmental solution.

“If you do this wrong, there’s a big potential for us to create a lot of costly rules and regulations that either don’t get the environmental effects we really want or have negative side effects on the economy where we slow things down, [or] we make things harder to get a hold of,” Aull said.

It’s undeniable that investing in these clean industries or committing to lower greenhouse gas emissions would increase government spending and likely taxes. Estimates for the cost of the Green New Deal vary greatly, but most are in the trillions. The question becomes how can an increase in taxes be justified?

“The way we justify taxes generally as a society is by saying that they’re going to things that benefit everyone,” Aull said. “For every dollar you pay in taxes, if it creates at least a dollar’s worth, hopefully more than a dollar’s worth of benefits for society, then it’s worthwhile. … It’s either an investment in creating a good society today or it allows you to be earning money well into the future.”

For people already working in industries or living in towns which are supported by emission heavy factories or companies, there are many options to lessen the negative

impact. Aull said that some industries, such as which have been increasing in frequency and the auto industry, are already seeing a smaller severity every year. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane range of available jobs. season was the most acThis isn’t because of We’re not only living in the here tive in recorded history any environmental regwith 30 named storms ulations, but because and now, even though I feel like and wildfires in variof automation and that’s certainly our base in- ous parts of the world improvements in techmany people stinct at most times. … I think displaced nology. The solution is from their homes. The to fill the job slots with with the proper funding and the challenge of creating new industries focused proper way of managing clean environmental polion renewable energy. cies which address all “As the environment energy, … we can certainly cut of these problems and changes, we have to out on that in time.” garner widespread supchange with the enviport is real and should - Jonathan Gray, Science Teacher be tackled sooner rathronment,” Gray said.

“If we hold on to our er than later. old ways of doing things, then it won’t “There is still time,” Gray said, “We humans be good for anybody as opposed to not have the unique ability to at least think far being good for a subset of people. If ahead to the future. We’re not only living in we could train those people in clean the here and now, even though I feel like that’s energy and technologies, then we certainly our base instinct at most times. … I could maybe avoid a lot of those think with the proper funding and the proper job losses.” way of managing clean energy, … we can cerWhen addressing environmentainly cut out on that in time.” tal issues, Gray said it’s also important to have plans for people whose houses and lives are threatened by the effects of climate change. There are a myriad of natural disasters

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February 2O21

Environmental racism Infographic by Matthew Mapa Graphics by Matthew Mapa

Mapping ENvironmental Injustices

Navajo Nation, Southwest U.S. 36 percent of men and 26 percent of women

in Navajo Nation have high concentrations of uranium in their bodies due to uranium mining sites

Cancer Alley, Louisiana

Predominantly black area where residents are

West Bronx, New York

7O% Latino and 29% African-American area where air pollution is

270%

5o times

than the state average

Hispanic Americans breathe

Asian Americans breathe

African Americans breathe

more vehicle air pollution than white residents

more vehicle air pollution than white residents

more vehicle air pollution than white residents

75%

more likely to develop cancer because of air and water pollution

73%

61%

February 2O21

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IN THE UNITED STATES Timeline of Environmental Justice 1994 1982 1990 Dr. Benjamin Chavis first coins the term “environmental racism” to describe the dumping of toxic waste in predominantly black Warren County, North Carolina

Environmental justice leaders President Bill Clinton signs sign onto a letter to the “Big 1O” Executive Order 12898, which environmental groups, accusing directed federal agencies to them of racial bias and urging address disproportionately high them to address toxic health and environmental efcontamination in minority fects of their policies on low-incommunities come people and people of color

Environmental Racism and Racial Segregation Racial segregation prevents people of color from building wealth through property ownership

Political power imbalances allow for the perpetuation of environmental racism and racial segregation

Non-whites experienced 37% higher exposure to nitrogen dioxide than whites If people of color had breathed the lower nitrogen dioxide levels experienced by whites in 2O1O, it would have prevented an estimated

5,000 deaths from heart disease

Without wealth, people of color struggle to create political power

Sources: Insider, Union of Concerned Scientists, KUNM, African American Voices in Congress, The Century Foundation, University of Washington

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February 2O21

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR The impact of nature on mental health in the 21st Century Article by Marcos Membreno sualizations of the experiences to help in stressGraphic by Jaidyn Holt ful moments.

In 2018, psychology teacher Donna Walker, “When I’m having those moments where took her first hike through the Appalachian you’re worried and laying in bed going over all Trail. What had long been a dream postponed the crap going on in life, it’s good to just stop, by busy schedules, finally became a reality. Un- imagine a section of the trail, and just start knowingly, this journey led her to discover a walking,” Walker said. new outlet for her anxMany like Walker iety. The peace and se- “I’d say the biggest change have experienced morenity of nature was able it had on me was, because I ments like this—where to unnerve her through being or visualising nathe trek. Her everyday have a tendency to be a lit- ture alleviates negative worries were calmed by tle more on the anxious side thinking. birds chirping and wind Walker’s experience and have OCD tendencies ... isn’t unique. In fact, a rustling through trees.

“It was really trans- learning how to let go, be in 2015 study published by formative, and I was not the moment and just start Proceedings of the Naexpecting it to be like tional Academy of Sciwalking.” that,” Walker said. ence, showed the benefit Hiking over 200 miles - Donna Walker, Psychology of walking for 90 minsurrounded by nature, Teacher utes in a natural envishe was able to connect ronment as compared to with herself without any an urban one. Those in a outside distractions. She found new knowl- natural setting ended up having lower prefronedge, wisdom, and experiences that changed tal cortex activity. This region is commonly her for the better. used when relatively having thoughts focusing “I’d say the biggest change it had on me was, on negative emotions. because I have a tendency to be a little more on Dr. Jason Strauss, director of geriatric the anxious side and have OCD tendencies ... psychiatry at Harvard-affiliated Cambridge learning how to let go, be in the moment and Health Alliance, says that the combination of just start walking,” Walker said. visual and auditory sensations in nature relax Being out on the trail helped Walker calm the brain. down her stressful habits. Now after a total “Having something pleasant to focus on like of threee section hikes of the Appa- trees and greenery helps distract your mind lachian Trail, she continues from negative thinking, so your thoughts beto benefit from these na- come less filled with worry,” Strauss said. ture expeditions in her Be it a few minutes walking around your daily life. Routinely, neighborhood, or going on hiking expeditions she is able to use vi- like Walker, going outside is beneficial. Escaping the busy and distracting urban life is essential to improving mental health.

“Being online and quarantined for so long I was kinda used to it, but I would still try and push myself to go outside for certain

bits and pieces of the day,” sophomore Alex Gatchev said. “I used to go biking for an hour everyday and sometimes go out to meet up with friends at the park.”

Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment reports that those who live in cities have a 20 percent higher risk of anxiety disorders and a 40 percent higher risk of mood disorders as compared to people in rural areas. They are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia. The same goes for people who stay indoors for long periods of time.

“Anxiety and depression, both of those things go up when you’re stuck inside, even if you’re choosing to be stuck inside,” psychotherapist Dr. Lauren Dabney said in a september article on Livestrong.com.

In today’s world, it is more pressing than ever to take some time to unwind and detach yourself from hectic urban and indoor life.

After spending months indoors, keeping safe from COVID-19, we have immersed ourselves in a world of technology and increased our reliance on it without experiencing what’s going on around us and outside. Social distancing is important, yet there are still many safe options to be in nature without interacting in large groups. It’s never a bad idea to go and get a breath of fresh air.

February 2O21

Focus

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CLIMATE CHANGE’S UNHEARD VICTIMS Refugees Immobilized and Displaced Due to Climate Change Article by Evan Huang Graphic by Jaidyn Holt

the past decade.

“The refugees have [two options]: one, they On Nov. 4, 2020, former President Donald have to stay in the area that’s been adversely afTrump announced the United States’ formal fected, or two, they would face being labeled as withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. undocumented,” social sciences teacher Robin However, while many Americans rejoiced for Grenz said. thousands of jobs now available to them, inIn the Pacific Islands, climate change has habitants who live on the created a great deal of islands of the Caribbean Up to 7O% of the five million burden for inhabitants and the Pacific Oceans on the lands. Inhabitants only found fear for their people living in slums in Ban- face rising sea levels, wahomes and lives. gladesh were displaced from ter scarcity, and desertiCarbon emissions cation due to carbon their original home by envi- fiemissions. have forced the lands For example, of the Caribbean and ronmental disasters. according to a report by Pacific Oceans to rapidthe Center for Strategic ly deteriorate, leaving many residents on the and International Study, up to 70% of the five lands homeless. These people are regarded as million people living in slums in Bangladesh climate refugees, inhabitants living in lands were displaced from their original home by endestroyed by natural disasters or decaying due vironmental disasters. to climate change. Over the past decade, the However, carbon dioxide emissions also innumber of climate refugees has only been in- crease the severity of natural disasters. Many creasing exponentially. A study by the Internal climate refugees originate from large scale Displacement Monitoring Centre found that natural disasters like Hurricanes Dorian and since 2008, an average of 24 million people Irma. While citizens in Puerto Rico have U.S. have been displaced by catastrophic weather citizenships, other places in the world aren’t so disasters each year. lucky. For example, after Hurricane Dorian, Despite the name, climate refugees aren’t the U.S. closed its borders to displaced cliregarded as real refugees and therefore, aren’t mate refugees from the Bahamas in a fear of protected by international law. Many of them allowing undocumented immigrants living in don’t have homes as they come from places the Bahamas to come into the U.S. However, destroyed by natural disasters. But while the these actions only beg the question, where do attention towards climate changes garner me- these people go? dia attention, the focus on climate refugees is Tony Roman’s parents were residents in lifted and thus has been ren- Puerto Rico and witnessed first hand the ded e r e d invisible over struction of Hurricane Maria. Roman said that different parts of his neighborhood in Puerto Rico were torn down and while many migrated to the U.S. just before Maria hit, the ones that stayed weren’t so lucky.

“Those that are less fortunate and don’t have that luxury remain in whatever remains of their home,” Roman said.

In Roman’s neighborhood, there were

long lines for gas, food, and water. A shopping plaza with major stores like Whole Foods and J.C. Penney was completely wiped out and still hasn’t been rebuilt.

“There are also people that didn’t have a house and hide out in whatever they could, others were living outside,” Roman said.

However, the solution for climate refugees isn’t so simple. While granting refugee status to climate migrants may seem to be a fix to the problem, in fact, only more challenges come with it.

“There are political reasons not to recognize them,” Grenz said, “If you do, you could conceivably have a million people knocking on your door, that automatically come in, so now you’ve got food, shelter, clothing; what do you do with them, where do they work?”

While multiple non-profit organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees push towards helping climate refugees, their efforts have made little progress.

Grenz believes that the only solution to this problem is to address it on a global scale.

“Where are the people living in Bangladesh going to go, they’re going to go to China and India, where are the people facing issues in the Carribeans going to go, well they’re going to come to us,” Grenz said.

In the face of uncertainty for these people, one thing is clear; the number of natural disasters will only increase and thus, so will the number of climate refugees. And so, solving this problem isn’t just a task for an individual, an organization, or a country, but the responsibility of the whole world.

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Opinions

February 2O21

THE SCOPE OF FREE SPEECH IN SCHOOLS

SCOTUS set to hear case with serious implications for First Amendment rights Following controversial censorship on social media platforms, arguments over what constitutes free speech have recently come to the forefront. At the same time, a case with largescale implications for free speech in schools has quietly made its way to the Supreme Court, and the decision will undoubtedly affect us all for years to come.

As it is written in the Constitution, our First Amendment guarantees “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.”

However, over the years the Supreme Court has ruled that this right is not absolute.

Specifically, four cases serve as precedent for limits on free speech in schools. The latter three stem from a case in 1969 called Tinker vs. Des Moines, which granted schools the right to limit “disruptive speech” on campus.

Later rulings have expanded upon this power, but little has been said on speech outside of school, as to not impede upon life at home.

The significance of this latest case, Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., is that it will finally set a precedent for schools’ powers in regard to speech off-campus. Especially as schools have become increasingly virtual as a result of COVID-19, more and more speech is being said off-campus and online, and it’s important for schools to know how to react to it.

According to the New York Times, the case began in the Spring of 2017, when a student

in Pennsylvania was cut from her varsity cheerleading squad. To vent, she sent an image on Snapchat to around 250 peers with her middle finger up and vulgar language criticizing “school,” “softball,” “cheer,” and “everything.”

The post was soon screenshotted by a peer and showed to a parent, who was a coach at the school. This prompted the school to take action, and they decided to suspend the student from cheer for a year to uphold a “teamlike environment” and “avoid chaos.”

In return, the girl’s family sued the school district. The circuit court ruled in her favor, claiming that schools do not have the right to punish students for any speech off-campus.

Subsequently, the school district petitioned the Supreme Court, and they have agreed to hear it later this year.

Though simple profanity as in the 2017 case should not merit any sort of punishment from schools—and in that regard, the circuit court’s decision may appear to be a just protection of Constitutional rights—the ruling that all speech outside of school is protected, if upheld, could severely limit schools’ ability to handle dangerous speech, such as cyberbullying or racist attacks.

While free speech should be protected to an extent, Social Media and Ethics teacher Natalie Galed said that schools should still have the right to punish students for what they say

online if it truly is disruptive.

“If you say something that disrupts life on campus, then it doesn’t matter where you said it,” Galed said. “Schools have the right to protect their campus and the people on their campus…If a student went online and threatened something…that impacts the actual environment of school, then the schools should have the right to regulate that.”

As far as the exact criteria as to what constitutes “disruptive speech” outside of school, that’s where the Supreme Court’s ruling is needed (if they choose to limit off-campus speech at all), but it’s crucial that a standard similar to Tinker vs. Des Moines is applied.

In the end, this decision will only directly apply to public schools, as private institutions have the right to limit free speech. Yet, private schools pride themselves on being open to free thought and expression, so they will likely follow whatever precedent is set, albeit loosely.

Regardless, it is pivotal that a standard for assessing freedom of speech off-campus is put in place, and it will be fascinating to see what the court decides.

The lead editorial expresses the opinion of the Trinity Voice editorial staff. Please send comments to voice@trinityprep.org.

Do you think schools should be able to punish

THE WORD ON CAMPUS students for online speech off campus?

“[There is a] dividing line between none of my business and the school’s business... if it impacts the ability of the students to learn, then yes, it should be intervened.”

- Kelly Aull, US Dean of Students

“If someone is bullying someone out of school, then yeah.

If it has to do with the school at all, they should get involved.”

- Matias Morales, Sixth Grader

“I think the answer should be yes, especially if it has to do with students. [The school] should have a say in what you do or say off-campus.”

- Alex Roberts, Senior

February 2O21

Opinions

23

BIG TECH, BIG CONSEQUENCES

Social media started this fire- it won’t be the one to put it out Article by Jack Ververis Graphic by Jaidyn Holt There’s often very little difference between a tool and a weapon. Social media crossed that line a long time ago, but this January’s Capitol riots definitively prove that threats on social media have real-life consequences.

According to ProPublica, the riots were planned weeks in advance, spreading through online communities that called themselves to action. Politicians on both sides have blamed the Trump administration. However, ignoring how the fundamental structure of social media has caused these conspiracies to spread is like ignoring the seed at the center of America’s moral rot. The hidden systems of social media, subtly proliferating and profiting off of our divisiveness, is what has caused this to happen.

Social media has exploded in the modern era. Pew Research Center reports that active usage has risen from 5% of American adults in 2005 to over 72% in 2019. While the platform was initially used to connect and share, it has transformed from a social networking tool into a weapon of social manipulation. As the Council on Foreign Relations reports, hate speech, xenophobia and fake news have all found a home in social media, and Columbia Journalism Review finds that the sites have directly contributed to growing political polarization.

Social media’s destructive tendencies must be stopped. But allowing social media companies to regulate themselves would be neither effective nor responsible.

Manipulation and misinformation are baked into the fabric of these services, and controver-

sies are key to maintaining their bottom lines. Trump’s social media accounts are a necessary As The Guardian reports, social media’s ad- stopgap against further violence. However, vertising systems are built around maximizing they also highlighted the fine line free speech engagement, incentivizing the promotion of can tread between posting and provocations. clickbait-worthy conspiracies in order to maxRecent attacks on free speech by the govimize profit. This promotion of cheap speech ernment — including the attempted repeal over free speech creates of Section 230 — have only language been met with overwhelm“bubbles’’ of users who re- “The inforce each other’s exist- Facebook understands is ing public criticism. Rathing beliefs and radicalize er than targeting specific existing ones. For example, public embarassment.” speech, regulations must if an algorithm identifies target the algorithms that - Former Facebook Content govern social media. that a user views a QAnon Moderators theory, those beliefs will be The main target is the supplied by the service itcollection of “microdata.” self, willingly providing misinformation in the This is specific, always active monitoring that name of advertising revenue. companies use to maximize a user’s screen time This cannot be fixed by corporations try- by linking their data to the posts most likely ing to act ethically. As Columbia University to keep them scrolling. As the Congressional explains, social media companies have grown Research Service reports, regulating the collecwithout oversight, meaning they are unfamil- tion of this data can help prevent the spread of iar with regulations conspiracies online without actually harming and are unlikely to users’ free speech.

“We have to explicitly embed better values self-regulate as long as their business models into our algorithms, creating Big Data models that follow our ethical lead,” author Cathy remain unchanged.

“The only language O’Neil said in “Weapons of Math DestrucFacebook understands tion: How Big Data Increases Inequality and is public embarrass- Threatens Democracy.” “Sometimes that will ment,” former content mean putting fairness ahead of profit.”

Social media is not a problem that will fix itmoderators, mostly anonymous, told The self. Polarization, misinformation and controversy are all enhanced by the platforms, whose New Yorker last year.

The workers out- very cores are built around controversies and lined the ways in whose momentary actions cannot save their which the company wholes. But through smart government regudisregards ethical lim- lations on micro-targeted content, we can stop itations in content misinformation and put ethics first.

As the Biden administration takes office, moderation and places huge amounts of pres- the future of Big Tech is in question. Google sure, red-tape and even has been charged with a monumental antiabuse on its workers trust suit, and progressives gaining ground in while falsely pledging the Federal Trade Commission might promise more aggressive actions over the next four to change.

However necessary years. However, guidelines and reports cannot outside regulation take the place of real, definite regulation. And is, it must ensure the prevention doesn’t work when the wildfire’s alprotection of freedom ready burning — especially when the kindling of speech. Recent is the Capitol itself. bannings of Donald

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Opinions

February 2O21

HYPOCRISY IN OUR

“Stolen” elections versus stolen rights. Why the different responses?

Article by Madeline Peckham Graphic by Jaidyn Holt When a crime is committed, police respond, that’s to be expected. It seems, however, that people of color, regardless of their alleged crimes, often receive far harsher treatment from police. Two major events over the past year have illustrated this perfectly.

Following the killing of George Floyd in late May 2020, America saw a large increase in those advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement gained traction and swept across the nation with marches and protests decrying police brutality and the extra-judicial murder of African-Americans by law enforcement.

Yet, many of these peaceful protests throughout the summer of 2020 were dispersed by police using excessive force on law-abiding protesters. Rubber bullets and pepper spray was used on

the protesters to break them up, despite the ers were met with no such thing.

When peaceful BLM protesters gathfact that they were peaceful citizens exerered in Lafayette Square, cising their rights. While where the president had a some later BLM protests planned photo-op, rubber turned violent, the vast “This leaves America bullets were fired by police majority remained peacebegging the question: in order to disperse the ful. The protest on June 1 crowd. Docile by comparwas just one of these nonwhat if these rioters ison, Capitol Hill police violent protests. weren’t predominantly made feeble attempts on Meanwhile, on January Trump supporters?”

January 6th to stop rioters 6, 2021, a riot broke out from storming the Senate. on Capitol Hill. These riMoreover, BLM prooters, riled up by politics, testers were breaking racial disparities while broke into the Capitol building, interruptCapitol Hill rioters were breaking ing the Senate and House and Representatives as they debated the certification windows. Yet, around 361 arrests of electoral results. Thouwere made on June 1 alone, with sands of protesters flooded more following that day and at the Capitol, incited by the other protests, a staggering difPresident and travelling from ference to the Capitol Hill riot, a rally that morning on the where 138 have been arrested White House lawn. since January 6.

On June 1, 2020, protesters Rioters arrested at Capitol Hill are demanding justice for the murder of George Floyd were met with military helicopters and tear gas. Capitol Hill riot-

February 2O21

DEMOCRACY

facing smaller charges as well, including fewer feit $20 bill. Despite the fact that Floyd was being charged with felonies. More charges are complying completely, an officer pinned him being made, but this is a staunch difference to the ground and pressed his knee into Floyd’s compared to the 29 charged with felonies on neck until he died there on the pavement.

June 1. These 29 BLM protesters were charged Why did Floyd and countless other people with rioting and burglary, but one Capitol Hill of color receive this treatment despite total rioter was only charged with rioting and un- compliance with law enforcement, whereas the lawful entry. violent rioters of Capitol Hill didn’t?

It’s already extremely The Capitol Hill riot shocking to consider just was a direct attack on how far into the Capitol democracy. Journalists “Why would human bethese rioters got. Many reporting on the events ings with equal value were pictured in the ofwere attacked and threatand worth be treated so fice of the Speaker of ened. But police at Capithe House, Nancy Pelosi tol Hill were seen taking differently?”

(D-Calif.), even stealing pictures with the rioters, things from her office. a couple being uploaded These rioters were vioto Instagram. lent, and the event resulted in five deaths, One officer, when asked including that of an Air Force veteran who why the mob wasn’t gone ignored law enforcement as she tried to break into the Senate Chamber.

This leaves America begging the question: what if these rioters weren’t predominantly white Trump supporters?

George Floyd himself stands as an example of this. Floyd’s original arrest was because he was allegedly using a counter-

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yet, said, “We just got to let them do their thing for now.”

Many police officers have also been linked with white nationalist and neo-facist groups.

An officer in Indiana was fired after being linked to a neo-Nazi forum, and many other officers have been linked in similar ways to various hate groups.

The hypocrisy and double standards run rampant through the responses to these events.

The dichotomy between the charges and responses leave many asking why?

The National Guard was sent by the president to BLM protests, but only Capitol Hill officers fought off those who stormed the Capitol for far longer.

Why would human beings with equal value and worth be treated so differently?

Maybe it’s because black lives are still fighting to matter.

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THE “CALM” BEFORE THE STORM An analysis of the events preceding the Capitol Building riots elected leaders supporting them—they feel empowered,” Burmeister said. “It gives [them] authority; it adds legitimacy to what they’re On Dec. 31, 2020, the global population standing for.” came together to celebrate the departure of A common cause outlined by said political one of the most chaotic years in recent history. speakers was correcting the fraudulent results However, the harsh reality of the year being of the recent election. As such, the Capitol nothing more than an astronomical phenome- Building—where the ballots were to be connon set in as thousands of people breached the firmed—served as the perfect location for a security of the U.S. Capitol Building. riot, which was why the President and others The events of Jan. 6th may have been a lot suggested as such. Regardless of the authenof things, but they weren’t unexpected. Clear ticity of their claims, the rioters believed that signs of what was to come they ought to fight against were expressed through poperceived injustice. litical speeches and senti- “Citizens seeing electA rigged election wasn’t ments, accumulated anger ed leaders supporting the only belief held by the mass of rebels. For example, from recent election results and social media platforms. them—they feel empow- the construction of a gallows intended for Vice PresWhether directly or sub- ered.” liminally, many right-leanident Mike Pence reflected ing government officials - Brandon Burmeister, Social the belief that Pence beScience Teacher trayed his party by not overand commentators gradualturning electoral votes—a ly motivated their supporters to act. The words of political higher-ups power that the Vice President does not have. possess far more power and influence than a Pictures depicting said imagery quickly rose social media personality or friend, and excerpts to infamy online. Top members and news stafrom various speeches shortly preceding the tions of both parties quickly took to social mestorming display the role their words can play. dia platforms to paint the protesters in a light “Over the next 10 days, we get to see the that benefited their party. Some reported on an machines that are crooked, the ballots that important display of First Amendment rights are fraudulent, and if we’re wrong, we will be that got out of hand, while others described made fools of,” Trump’s personal adviser Gi- how this violent act of terrorism represents the uliani said in D.C. shortly before the protests deeprooted flaws of the nation. occurred. “But if we’re right, a lot of them will The problematic result of social media is go to jail. Let’s have trial by combat.” that it serves as the perfect host for echo chamSocial science teacher Brandon bers and counterprogressive straw man arguBurmeister said that comments like ments. Groups of people with certain beliefs Giuliani’s serve as an can easily search for, find and band together with those they agree “accelerant” to mobilizing extremism. with and block “Citizens seeing Article by Jake McCreary Graphic by Henry Van Voorhis

out those with ideas they dislike. The lead up and reports on the events of Jan. 6th illustrate this reality.

Major social media corporations’ actions following the events reflect the realization that they play a bigger role in these events than initially thought.

Most infamously, Twitter has suspended the former President’s official account indefinitely, but other platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch and Tiktok have taken similar actions.

Consequently, more and more citizens are starting to see the power these platforms have.

What’s done is done, and the question remains: where do we go from here? One appropriate change that’s already gradually occurring is the increased regulation of information on major social media sites. Under posts pertaining to current events, many sites now include links and warnings to prevent radical ideas.

So long as bias is avoided in these informative precursors, they’re a step in the right direction.

The incarceration of identified perpetrators is also a necessity. Letting those that breached national security off the hook not only goes against the federal law, but encourages similar rallies in the future, as people will fear punishment and repercussions less and less. Thus, those who went well beyond exercising their right to peacefully protest should be arrested.

President Biden is now tasked with ending what he referred to in his inaugural address as an “uncivil war.”

“My whole soul is in this,” Biden said.

“Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation.”

However, radicalization remains an issue, and the 75% of Trump voters who believe the election was stolen are not going anywhere.

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Sports

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SPRING TEAMS SEEK REDEMPTION Article by Cate Williams Photos by Kayla Alexandre

Last year, in the midst of COVID-19, the spring sports seasons were all cut short. Compared to fall and winter sports, the spring athletes lost a significant opportunity to improve

their skills and demonstrate their full potential. But with new protocols in place, to prevent the spread of the virus, each team hopes to play for a full 2021 season. After a long year of waiting, the athletes are now prepared to make up for the lost time.

VARSITY BASEBALL

“Going into this year’s season I have a new sense of motivation particularly to prove myself and keep playing despite everything that’s happened.”

After only playing in half of their scheduled games last year, the varsity baseball team opens up the new year with new goals in place. Prepared to make up for their lost season, the players are following strict COVID-19 guidelines to ensure a full season.

According to junior Joey Toscano, the team is ready to go back fighting after being cut-short last year. With a longer season, the boys finally have the second chance to prove their skills on the field.

- Joey Toscano, Junior

BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE

With a devastating end for the senior athletes last year, the boys varsity lacrosse team is aiming high for their upcoming season. With a winning streak, the boys were right on track to winning their district championship, but unfortunately were interrupted by COVID-19.

According to junior Sam Meads, the team was not able to reach their full potential last season. Meads believes they can go much further this year as they have a lot of new talent on the team with a huge surplus of new junior players.

“When our season last year was initially cut short, I think we all lost a lot of motivation to play. But after awhile I began to realize that I can’t lose focus and need to prepare for our next season.”

- Sam Meads, Junior

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GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS

During last year’s season, the girls varsity tennis team was just short of finishing, with only two games left. With a former tennis coach from The University of South Florida, Gary Needelman, and girls and boys varsity tennis coach, Richard Babyak, the team rigorously trained throughout the season and was accepted into a tournament at the National USTA Center.

The girls played teams from all over the world, facing some of the best competition the school has ever seen, junior and team captain Kelsey Silberbusch said.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the team is restricted to only playing a fraction of the normal opposing schools.

“We lost several seniors and have an intimidating game schedule,” Silberbush says. “Our coach thinks that this year will be better to focus on team bonding and building up strength for next year, where hopefully things will return to normal.”

“It’s sad to know that we most likely could have made it to regionals last year, seeing that we killed at the national competition. But all of our hard work won’t go to waste, as it only prepared us for our upcoming season.”

- Kelsey Silberbusch, Junior

BOYS VARSITY WEIGHTLIFTING “Liam Swanson and I are ready to make states and bring home trophies.”

- Wes Kim, Senior

Without a fair chance at the district, regional or state competitions last year, the boys varsity weightlifting team kicks off their 2021 season with a new sense of motivation. January 19th marked the official start of the spring season, allowing these long-waiting athletes to begin working towards their new goals.

Senior Wes Kim, has set his standards high despite his junior year being cut short.

“My goal this year is to make it to states,” Kim said said. “Not being able to fully compete in last year’s season drove me to train even harder than before.”

With new COVID-19 protocols in place, the boys have split practices that allow as few people as possible in the weightroom at a time.

This will not only limit the risk of exposure to the virus, but guarantee the safety of each athlete. With high hopes to complete their 2021 season, the boys varsity weightlifting team is prepared to reach their full potential.

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A SEASON STOLEN BY COVID-19 Varsity basketball perserveres despite multiple interruptions Article by Jake Raffa Photo by Kayla Alexandre The last thing any coach wants is for their team’s season to be put in jeopardy. In order to safely play in 2021, appropriate protocols are in place to ensure Trinity sports can continue.

The obvious health risks, as well as the mandatory two weeks of missed practices and games, make avoiding the virus of the utmost importance. The varsity basketball team understands the necessity of following protocols more than any other team.

“Basketball is tough since it’s such a physical sport, but we’ve tried to social distance as much as possible,” head varsity basketball coach Irwin Hudson said. “I’ve made sure [the team] uses hand sanitizer before we start, we fill out the questionnaire and we check temperatures.”

Despite all the precautions taken, exposure to COVID-19 has become increasingly difficult to avoid. The varsity basketball team caught its first glimpse of this at the beginning of Christmas break when the team was forced into quarantine.

After two weeks, the team exited quarantine

and began to prepare for the annual Christmas has presented its fair share of challenges, he rebreak tournament at Bishop Moore. Howev- mains optimistic.

“Recruitment has been harder this year since er, other local teams had positive COVID-19 cases and were forced to drop out of the tour- so many of our practices and games have been nament. Eventually, enough teams withdrew cancelled,” Talipov said. “But, as long as I keep from the tournament to force its cancellation. performing well on and off the court, I should be fine.”

The team tried joining After exiting another tournament, I feel really bad for the seniors... quarantine for the but that one was canespecially the ones who want to second time on Jan. celled too.

After recently being be recruited. They need stats and 27, the team had forced to quarantine videos to send to coaches, which to play a game that same night. Unable for two more weeks, to practice as a team the team has had to is hard to do [this season]. miss even more prac-Irwin Hudson, Head Coach for the two weeks leading up to the tices and games. In game, and having total, over ten games have been cancelled. Hudson estimates the not played in an actual game for even longer, it team has missed multiple weeks of practice proved to be challenging.

“I just hope[d] our guys [were] still working and preparation as well.

“It hurts bad,” Hudson said. “I feel really by themselves,” Hudson said.

Narrowly losing that first game back, and bad for the seniors...especially the ones who want to be recruited. They need stats and vid- after picking up a big win against Winter Park eos to send to coaches, which is hard to do High School a few days later, the team is now 3-7. Quarantines and cancellations have made [this season].”

Senior Laziz Talipov is one of these seniors consistent play difficult, hence so few games. looking to be recruited. Although this season In addition, injury has played a huge role in this record as well.

At the end of the first preseason game, starting point guard Javon Bennett sprained his ankle and missed the first four games. Hudson said that if Bennett had played in those games, the outcome would have been different.

“We would have more than likely won those games with him there, he’s that big of a part of the team,” Hudson said. “We won the first two games he was back, beating one of the best teams in town, Lake Brantley, by 26 points.”

Bennett led the team in scoring against Lake Brantley, with 29 points in his first game back.

Despite all the setbacks, the team looks to stay healthy and finish strong.

“We’ve taken so many little blows this season,” Hudson said. “It’ll be a miracle if we can pull it off, but we’re still looking at districts and I think we have a chance if we can play together.”

The team prepares to play against Boone High School on their first day out of quarantine. Even when on the bench, the team makes sure to wear masks and social distance.

*All statistics finalized as of Feb. 1

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AHLWAYS TRUST THE PROCESS Boys varsity soccer team looks to make deep and successful run into the postseason Article by Boaz Kim Photo by Anuha Tatineni As Senior Charles Ahl dribbles down the field, he sees a defender in his way. He quickly maneuvers past him and sinks a goal, giving the Saints a lead against Hagerty. The crowd goes wild and the Saints go on to win the game 3-1, improving the team’s record to 3-1-1.

“It was a well played game by the team because we all did our part and knew what we had to do to beat them,” Ahl said. “It was also at home so our student section was there to cheer us on, which helped us out.”

Ahl committed to Stetson University on November 11, 2020 and this is his first year on the Trinity Prep soccer team. Ahl has been playing soccer for about 15 years.

“I started playing because my older brother played,” Ahl said. “I just kept working at it and have gotten to where I am by always working hard, trusting the process and being patient,” Ahl said.

Ever since he started playing, Ahl says he loves going out to the field and pushing himself to get better. Ahl has also been working hard to make sure he is ready for his college career by making sure his skills are ready to be taken to the next level.

“I have been making sure I’m staying conditioned and I have been training everyday because I have to make sure that I am in the best shape I can be in for the college competition,” Ahl said.

Although it is his first year, Ahl has stepped up as a leader on the team. Despite his injury, he has received high praise from his coach for being a leader and always working to improve his game.

All the players knew he was a good player when he came here, so he already had a built in respect from his teammates,” boys varsity soccer coach Ray Sandidge said. “In my opinion he is probably the best player in Central Florida and even one of the top few in the state and he has gotten to where he is by being a hard worker, by not taking any days off, and he doesn’t goof around at practice.”

Ahl says he is excited to go to Stetson next year and play for their team. This is a huge

opportunity for him to continue pursuing his soccer career.

“I am just really excited to play with the boys and have a lot of fun doing it because I have worked very hard to get to the position I am in,” Ahl said.

Ahl and the varsity boys soccer team are currently 6-1-1 and have been crushing their competition. Five out of six of their wins have been by more than two goals. Their largest victory came from TFA who they beat 7-0.

“Our focus has really been on being disciplined in our play because we have the talent, but we need to get a lot of the little things right, which is what separates the good teams and the great teams and we have the potential to be a great team,” Sandidge said. “We have all the skills, size, speed, and a ton of experience that we need to compete for states.”

Sandidge has been making sure his team is working towards their goal at states and the players have also bought into this goal and are set on accomplishing it.

“I think we have a really good team this year and I think we have a very good shot to compete for states,” Sophomore Ryan Avallone said. “Making it to states has been one of my high school career goals and it would be amazing to do that this year.”

The Saints came up short last year in the postseason, losing to Lake Highland in the regional quarterfinals. Players this year are looking to come back from that this season.

“It really hurt losing last year especially because it was against our rival Lake Highland and because all of us had worked so hard to get this far and we came up short,” Avallone said.

“I think this year with the right mindset, we can go far into the postseason.”

The Saints are on a path to success so far this season and it looks like it is only going to get better. The players and coaches say they have all been working hard together for their goal of states this year and hopefully their hard work pays off.

“You know when you have the goods, and we have the goods,” Sandidge said. “All the parts that are necessary for making a strong run are right here.”

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Photos

February 2O21

PHOTOGRAPHY EXPOSITION FEBRUARY SHOWCASE

Ella Craghill

Ella Craghill Anuha Tatineni

Jessica Dorrien Mateo Membreno