The Knight Times / September 2021 Issue 2

THE KNIGHT TIMES

effort recognized at Honors Chapel

ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer

On Wednesday, September 8, the Episcopal community recognized students who performed commendably in the Academic Pillar during the spring semester of 2021.

Junior Dean Mr. Mitchell noted the importance of Honors Chapel, saying, “What makes it so vital is the public recognition of private work. We don’t have pep rallies for people working on their junior research papers at 11:30. No crowds cheer when a student really nails an AB Calculus problem on a test. We need Honors Chapel to show respect for that difficult, lonely, and rewarding work.”

Students acknowledged at Honors Chapel fall into either honor roll, academic awards, or both. The honor roll acclaims performance of highest honor and honor. The former recognizes students who perform with all A/A- with no more than one grade of B/B+ in an honors or AP class, and the latter commends all grades of

A/A-/B+/B with no more than one grade of B- in an honors or AP class.

Additionally, the event acknowledges students with two kinds of academic awards: the Climb Award and the Effort Award. The Climb Award notes those who have overcome challenge in their academic pursuits, and the Effort Award celebrates students who have shown especially exemplary dedication in one of their classes.

As a public recognition of commitment to the Academic Pillar in the form of achievement, effort, and persistence, Honors Chapel is a valued event to showcase Episcopal’s tradition and successes.

Learn more abou the United States involvment in Afghanistan.

PAGES 6-7

hockey collects wins ahead of SPC play

Knights to go head-to-head with SPC challengers on the turf

Field

man.

CONNOR SMITH Editor-in-Chief

“The 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft, once said, ‘Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever,’ and he could not have been more right. No matter how many aspects of government you control, having the Supreme Court on your side may be the most helpful thing to passing your agenda.”

Learn more about the Supreme Court on Page 8

Club Fair introduces campus organizations

ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator

Club Fair serves as an opportunity for students around campus to get more involved in certain programs that interest them. Club Fair, which was held virtually this year, gave students the ability to do so.

Students who run clubs or who were interested in starting a new one filmed a short 30-second video explaining what each club was about and its requirements.

There were over 30 clubs to join this year, and each was sorted into a specific category. For example, for academic clubs, Math Club and Computer Science Club could be found. For culture and language: Chinese Club and French Club. Earth Club was an environmental club option along with many more.

Honor societies were also open for sign up based on qualification, including Mu Alpha Theta, NEHS, and the newer international honor society for publications, Quill and Scroll, in its second year on campus.

School clubs help improve academic performance, allow kids to discover new passions, help develop real-world skills, and more. This year, like so many others, the Club Fair was a success with a very high number of applicants.

Diversity in Action resumes its lasting impact on EHS

better people,” she declared. “Inclusivity is needed to make everyone feel welcome.”

Diversity in Action (DIA) at Episcopal is an organization promoting fellowship among students, faculty, and family. DIA has been active at Episcopal since the inception of the school and is one of the oldest student-led organizatiosn in school history, working toward making EHS a more inclusive place for all students, faculty, and families regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or sexual orientation.

In past years, DIA has hosted events like Black History Month Chapel and annual mix and mingles for parents. There was also a mix and mingle recently on September 26 where various students spoke about their experiences while participating in the DIA program. Senior Kaia Chambers, while she was not a speaker at the event, spoke praises of DIA and the support it has provided her and other students.

“Diversity brings new ideas and experiences that can help shape everyone into

Senior Karma Elbadawy shared similar feelings, stating, “DIA has always been a big part of EHS, but now especially, it’s so important for us to strengthen a sense of inclusion in our community.”

Karma is not only a member of DIA but also the president. She says, “This year we have a lot we’re hoping to do, including doing some community service, hosting movie nights, and having meetings at least once a month.”

The impact of DIA seems to be growing both inside and outside the Episcopal High School community. Members and leaders alike hope to work toward diversity and inclusivity work toward a community where all voices are heard and respected. Everyone in the community do not have to agree on all issues, however, all should be willing to learn and respect the differences that each individual possess.

Spotlighting Mrs. Borges-Pasini

In her tenth year at EHS, Food Services Director Mrs. Susana Borges-Pasini is excited to share the new things coming to the café and to the lunchroom after last year’s challenging Covid year hindered her culinary creativity. Extremely passionate about her job, Mrs. Borges-Pasini strives to incorporate a variety of different cultures into EHS meals and encourages students (and faculty) to try new things because there is a very good chance they could discover something they really enjoy. Last year, she was even able to integrate some of her mother’s favorite recipes into the EHS meal plan and was amazed at the positive feedback she received.

standards and ecological impact in mind, aesthetics and functionality were also extremely important to her. Her expertise and attention to detail helped shape the modernized student center into what it is today.

A couple of years ago, the Underwood Student Center underwent a major renovation that transformed its design and layout, and Mrs. Borges-Pasini was a vital member of the decision-making and design plans behind the upgrade. It was important to her that all food-safe and environmentally-friendly materials were used to maintain the USC’s previous standards. While keeping health code

Another factor about food production that is of utmost importance to her is the elimination of excess materials. Of course, she and her staff do their very best to use calculations and estimations to reduce the amount of extra food, but their evaluations are not always accurate. When and if this issue arises, the school has partnered with a nonprofit organization called Second Servings that focuses on redirecting unconsumed or unused food items to the homeless in Houston, which helps to recycle the extra food that we take for granted and give it to those in need.

Mrs. Borges-Pasini is immensely grateful for her hardworking staff and says she would not be able to function without them, especially considering the difficulties of distributing food during a global pandemic.

Her goal for this year and years to come is to provide seamless service and continbring new ideas to EHS.

New construction nears completion

and students.

The projects are planned to complete in the middle of October by the latest, while the library should be done by the end of the fall semester.

Episcopal High School started a few construction projects prior to the start of the school year that have directly affected the campus but have proven to be minor workarounds.

One of the projects focuses on fixing some of the foundation issues in areas at the back of the library and the old trainers’ room located in the Hildebrand Athletic Center, and the project also will add some new classrooms in these areas, including a classroom space for the sports medicine elective. This will allow more teaching spaces with additional technology that can be expanded across campus for teachers

The school started planning these two projects in the spring and were started over the summer. Thankfully, there were no delays due to weather.

There is also another construction area at the Fournace gate that is focused on improving security and ensuring students leave campus safely. The project called for the building of a security booth and will expand the space in the parking area in order to allow more vehicles on campus. While this project will reduce the vehicles waiting on Fournace Street as well, luckily, it will not affect the flow of traffic.

Off campus lunch begins for qualifying seniors

KATE FREEMAN Staff Writer

Off-campus lunch for seniors began Friday, September 24. To receive the privilege of off-campus, a senior must be in good academic and disciplinary standing as well as have a parent permission slip turned into Mrs. Cyndi Boren at the attendance desk. Get them turned in as soon as possible. They can be found on the EHS website or at the attendance desk.

All senior responsibilities must be met before off-campus release, such as Senior Page Yearbook forms, and the Senior Style Show form for Dean John Colello.

Students should be aware that random individuals will report any off-campus misconduct, so remember to “be a positive ambassador of Episcopal High School,” according to Assistant Dean Mr.

Julius Michael. If there are complaints about poor behavior from restaurants or anywhere off campus, students will end up losing their privileges.

An appearance before the Discipline or Honor Council will also result in senior privileges being revoked. When exiting for off-campus, everyone must exit and enter using the Fournace gate where he or she will be checked in and out by the security guards. Students cannot leave for lunch with students that do not have off campus privilege. Seniors are given this great privilege to prove to themselves and the community that they are responsible and capable of doing what is expected of them outside the EHS campus.

Mr. Michael encourages students to read pages 58-59 of the Student Handbook before going off-campus because “ignorance of the rule is not an excuse for breaking the rules.”

Debate team starts season

MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer

competions became nearly impossible.

Mr. Harris is looking forward to a normal year of matches and traveling all around Texas to face other schools. Some notable trials include the Clear Falls High School Invitational in League City on September 17-18, Grand Oaks TFA Invitational in

Mr. Harris, Karma Elbadawy, and John Bruton meet in room A207 for their first Debate meeting.

If debate teacher Mr. Evan Harris could tell the EHS community one fact about the debate program, he would tell you the key difference between the debate class and the debate team. To be able to participate in real competitions, you must be on the debate team. Debate class is not required; however, it is a great starting point to learn the basics.

by Morgan Herod.

Spring Texas on October 29-30, and Jersey Village High School in Jersey Village Texas on December 10-11.

Slice of π

KATHRYN

BRAGG Guest Writer

Hey, Knights! My name is Kathryn Bragg, and I am this year’s Math Club President. First of all, I hope everyone had fun, stayed safe, and maybe even did some math problems over the summer, and that you have all had a great start to the year! I just know the 2021-2022 school year is about to be amazing. We are so excited for the new (and returning) opportunities in Math Club, including Pre-Fibonacci Day, Pre-Pi Day, math competitions, STEM events, and exciting new math apparel.

One thing to look forward to this year is our Women in STEM Lecture Series featuring guest speakers from STEM fields. Juniors and seniors in Mu Alpha

Theta, keep an eye out for communication regarding the upcoming induction ceremony, and math enthusiasts should be on the lookout for math competitions to participate in! Last but not least, remember to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ehsmathclub for updates and fun math-related content. I hope to see all of you at our first Math Club meeting on October 19!

If you want to participate in debate but are worried that it may be too time consuming, you can compete in what is known as an extemporaneous speech. This entails receiving a topic and then preparing an argument in thirty minutes, to compete against another person in a “relaxed and low stakes competition,” says Mr. Harris. This is a great way to gain debate exposure.

After Covid-19 struck, face-to-face

Mr. Harris appreciates the effort that is put in by his competitors. Regardless of whether they win or lose, they are willing to try again and learn from their mistakes. He tells us that the participants always stay positive, no matter the outcome.

He describes them as being passionate and resilient and always wanting to perfect their debate skills. This year, Mr. Harris hopes to continue to build off what has been implemented in previous years. He hopes to formalize the Debate Program at EHS.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Community and Inclusion introduces two new English teachers of Mexican American descent - Dr. Mariana Alarcón and Ms. Neidin Hernandez.

Though born in Laredo, Texas, Dr. Alarcon, a teacher of English I and English II Honors, frequently commuted back and forth across the Mexican border for leisure, family, and holidays. What Dr. Alarcón loves most about being a Mexican American is the ability to say she is proud to be both, not entirely Tejano like her father’s side and not entirely Mexican like her mother’s side. She is able to absorb both cultures, no matter the differences or similarities.

What Dr. Alarcón loves most about EHS is the student body and how Episcopal students are genuinely passionate about what she has to say. She recognizes her

students’ work ethic and looks forward to continuing to see the flame inside of them grow bigger with knowledge.

A first-generation Mexican American, Ms. Hernandez, who teaches English I Honors and English III, has experienced quite the transition moving from LA to Houston to teach at Episcopal. Family is something that is important to her, being able to have someone behind you to not only watch you succeed but be there if you fall.

She most admires the Knight’s sense of community, not necessarily in the sense of religion but love and compassion. Ms. Hernandez likes the fact that EHS makes the time for Chapel, not only for spiritual purposes but for a moment of reflection in the day so students can regroup and converse in a positive and healthy atmosphere.

F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay

The fashion event of the year is the renowned New York Fashion Week. September 8-12 is the collective event of the season; celebrities, new designers, influencers, and fashion enthusiasts all attend this event setting the atmosphere up for budding creativity and quasi-genius minds.

Staples on the runway will return like Adut Akech, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, and Kendall Jenner (my favorite Kardashian/Jenner). A-list celebrities make the environment much more exciting and it’s invigorating to see what stops everyone will pull out during the week. Many influencers will be inspired by what the new collections have to offer and new designers looking for an opportunity have the space to network and push themselves up in the ranks.

The week concludes with the infamous invite only met gala on September 13. The gala itself is basically a fashion show for celebrities instead of runway models. Stars from all industries get the chance to design and wear vintage pieces from designers, and it is very serious for most celebrities attending the event. The main focus for fashion week, the holy grail of events for the fashion community is getting the chance for everyone to commemorate designers on what they’ve been working on.

STEPHANIE NELSON Guest Writer

J’ai commencé The French Talk Show, un podcast sur la langue et la culture françaises pendant ma deuxième année de lycée. Comme nous ne pouvions pas faire notre programme d’études à l’étranger en deuxième ni en terminal, je voulais trouver un moyen de pratiquer mon français et de partager ma passion pour la langue avec le reste de la communauté. Dans mon podcast, je discute la culture française, l’histoire, les personnages historiques et la culture pop. Assurez-vous de le vérifier si vous êtes intéressé par le français!

Salut à tous!

YourLanguageCorner

I started The French Talk Show, a French language and culture podcast my junior year. Since we could not do our study abroad program my sophomore or junior year, I wanted to find a way to practice my French and share my passion for language with the rest of the community. In my podcast I discuss French culture, history, historical figures and pop culture. Definitely check it out if you are interested in French!!

You can find my podcast in Spotify: @The French Talk Show Website: Thefrenchtalkshow.com

Some of my best takeaways from fashion week are the use of tiny bags, platform shoes, vintage imitations on modern style, and classic staples from brands. Michael Kors in particular was celebrating its 40th anniversary and went back to its 90’s “Clueless-esk” style–timeless yet open and able to be implemented into the trends of today. An essential note from fashion week is the return of Marc Jacobs back to the runway after the company’s hiatus of runway shows since COVID. Their collection this year implemented bloated silhouettes, abstract color, and vivid unorthodox patterns collectively working towards a product of unanimity all on its own. My highlight of fashion week was getting to see newer celebrities such as Tik Tokers like Bretman Rock and Nailea get to embrace this environment.

The Kardashians were a sight to see as well. Kim Kardashian West was spotted embracing a more modern approach as far as silhouettes go, perhaps something designed by Kanye West. Kylie Jenner, now pregnant, sported looks from Revolve on the runway, a new collaboration she will be diving into.

Overall the event was a massive success and left New York buzzing with brimming talent and enthusiasm. Now we wait for who will be spotted with any of this year’s greatest collections.

Was reboot, He’s All That with Addison Ray, a hit or miss?

JALYNN WOOLEY Staff Writer

Recently, Netflix released a less than satisfactory remake of the ‘90’s classic, She’s All That, starring TikTok celebrity Addison Rae and Cobra Kai’s Tanner Buchanan. In the gender-swapped recreation of the 1999 hit He’s All That, a social media influencer Padgett Sawyer takes on the challenge of reinventing antisocial, high school loner Cameron Kweller. While fans were excited for the release, there was a sense of nervousness in the air because Netflix’s notorious reputation for recreating classics had them preparing for another failed ‘90’s reboot. The tension increased significantly when it was announced that Addison Rae would be taking up the lead role. After gaining popularity on TikTok with over 80 million followers and claiming her role as the third most popular person on the app, she took her chances at fame by attempting a career in the music industry, and after

achieving little success, was now launching her film debut. Fans’ anxiety proved to be correct when Addison showed her underqualification for the role through her weak acting skills.

Although Addison’s performance wasn’t perfect, she cannot be blamed for the movie’s disappointing dialogue. A recurring theme in most modernized remakes results from the writers’ attempts to connect with the teens of today, which leads them to sound out of touch, and their use of teenage slang is often awkward and overused.

Attempting to rekindle the original movie, She’s All That’s charm and character, producers recast Rachael Leigh Cook and Matthew Lillard. As well as maintaining a few of the same cast members, they also made an effort to recreate the iconic choreographed dance scene, which seemed both random and unnecessary in both films, but both manage to met the standards of teenage rom-coms of their time.

Yeah, it’s gaming time. Welcome back to your monthly issue of Plugged In, the only column for discussing the latest in videogame entertainment and media. This time, we’d like to pull a

strengthen their overall team composition. While skeptical of the game’s minimalistic graphics and seemingly simple play, we were pleasantly surprised (though initially frustrated) at the game’s depth.

page from our shared sport - volleyball. The Spike–Volleyball Story, developed by Android video game company DAERISOFT, is a 2-D volleyball game available for both the PC and mobile platforms. The game centers itself around a high school boys volleyball team as they progress through local, regional, and national tournaments/matches, encountering old friends and new rivals along the way. Implementing precise, almost finicky mechanics for setting, hitting, and digging means players have to rely on both accurate timing and angles to achieve high level play. Additionally, players can use the in-game currency, won by completing matches, to both level up stats like power, jump height, speed, and guard, as well as recruit new, higher-level players to further

September ended with concerts from Pitbull at the Woodlands Pavilion and the disappointing but worth mentioning Shawn Mendez show at the Toyota Center. What follows from the music industry is plenty of new albums to enjoy from a variety of artistic genres throughout the month of Oc-

since 35 MPH Town. On October 15, Peso in My Pocket will be released. The album will include “Happy Birthday America,” a “ballad that questions the future of the US” (RollingStone).

Hip-Hop rapper Young Thug is expected to release Punk on October 15. Produced

tober.

Right off the bat is Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s Love for Sale, releasing on October 1 and produced by Interscope Records. Love for Sale will be the second recorded studio album between Gaga and Bennett. Record company Columbia Local is assisting James Arthur produce his fourth album. English singersongwriter Arthur’s album will release on October 8.

After a six-year period, Tobey Keith is releasing a new album

The learning curve was intense; coordinating the timing between the setter and hitter was surprisingly difficult. There might have been unhealthy amounts of time spent in the training mode. However, the animations, despite their minimalistic appearance, perfectly resemble pro-level techniques. Additionally, the game’s lack of extra mini-events, ridiculous side quests, and other unnecessary mechanics allowed for a smooth, straightforward experience.

The Spike-Volleyball Story can be found on Steam for $5.00 or free with ads on both the Google Play and App Store. This is the game for those who want a fastpaced, technically-involved sports game without the bloat of distracting events or paywalls.

by YSL records, it is expected to include hit single “Tick Tock,” which actually premiered in August.

American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has been working with Polydor Records to create the album Blue Banisters, expected to be released on October 22.

Closing out the month of October is 30-year-old English performer Ed Sheeran. Sheeran and production company Atlantic Records will release his fourth solo studio album, “=”.

Afghanistan: Fight or Flight

Point: Why the United States should remain in Afghanistan Human rights worries as Taliban

retakes control of Afghanistan

In a time when American politics grows increasingly polarized, it seems everyone, from either the right or the left, has a strong opinion, especially when it comes to

Afghanistan.

The 250,000 square miles of land between Iran and Pakistan have dominated American politics since the tragic terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. Now, 20 years later, the United States government has decided to withdraw troops from the Middle Eastern nation

America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has been unbelievably controversial, but our exit after a lengthy presence is justified. We have been in Afghanistan for nearly twenty years. An entire American generation has passed thousands of miles from home in a war which has cost our nation nearly $2.5 trillion, according to the Watson Institute of

Counterpoint:

to curb military spending and prevent more Americans from dying overseas. While many people across the political spectrum have applauded the United States’ departure from Afghanistan, we have only made the situation worse. Not only should we have stayed to protect US interests, but we need to protect the lives of thousands of Afghans now living under the Taliban regime.

With Americans grieving the thousands of lives lost on 9/11, then-President George Bush signed a joint resolution to execute necessary force against those responsible for the attack - - al-Qaeda. In a press conference, Bush vowed to “win the war against terrorism,” something he would accomplish early on during the war. According to the Council of Foreign Relations, the “major combat” of the war ended in May 2003 as NATO established an interim government, and the first democratic elections began. During this time, the goals of the war changed from defeating the terrorist threat to restructuring the country. With a constitution established and signed in 2004 by Afghan leaders, women became de jure equal to men and were able to vote in the first democratic elections.

In the

International and Public Affairs at Brown University.

Most criticism with our nation’s withdrawal hasn’t necessarily been whether we should leave Afghanistan, but rather how we left. The withdrawal from Afghanistan has been chaotic to say the least, but it was always going to be. People forget that Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban prior to America’s arrival. The only reason that the Taliban didn’t take over earlier was America’s military presence in the region. Without the United States, Afghanistan’s government was bound to fall.

According to the BBC, the Taliban found early popularity while stamping out the immense corruption in Afghanistan, but

years following the creation of the new Afghan government, the United States would send in troops to train the military and continue to secure the country. The Associated Press reports that soldiers were sent throughout the territories of Afghanistan and Pakistan, destroying terrorist safe havens and establishing an effective police force.

Throughout the war, the United States, along with international allies, secured the country and liberated oppressed groups from the Islamic extremism of the Taliban and other terrorist forces. We brought the country its first democratic elections in years and sacrificed hundreds of American lives to protect us from future terrorist threats. Why should we pull out now?

CNN reports that the decision to pull out of Afghanistan has been met with bipartisan backlash and has left many Afghans, espe-

after it fell and the U.S. put in its place a bureaucracy, Afghanistan reverted to a corrupt nation. History repeats itself, and our leaders knew that there would never be a “right time” to leave Afghanistan; the Afghan government was bound to fall soon after we left the nation, according to American intelligence officials. The Afghan government and military had become too reliant on the United States, and that’s why the second we left, the entire military collapsed, and several troops chose to cut deals with the Taliban rather than risk their lives for a cause which they saw as hopeless.

Understanding the inevitability of the Afghan government’s fall is crucial to understanding why we should have left the country. What benefit does it bring to the American people to commit to staying in a region for an indefinite amount of time, all while spending over $100 billion a year?

Another important point about leaving Afghanistan is why we went there in the first place. After the September 11 attacks,

cially women, wary of their new Taliban rulers. We knew that without US assistance the country would be taken over, yet we still left. After all the sacrifices made by our troops overseas and the trillion of dollars spent to protect Afghanistan, build up its civil society, and defend the world from future terrorist attacks, we left without any solid plan. While we would have had to leave the country eventually, that time is not now. Though the United States may have caused many international problems through its invasion of Afghanistan, we ultimately rebuilt a country from the ground up just to see it fall again.

a very specific set of goals were set out by the United States government regarding the invasion of Afghanistan. We went there to get Osama bin Laden and to decimate Al-Qaeda. We succeeded. Osama bin-Laden has been dead for nearly a decade now, and Al-Qaeda is beaten to the point that most experts agree that it is no longer capable of posing a threat to the American homeland.

However, the way that the United States

left Afghanistan was a display of incompetence. According to President Obama’s national security advisor, General Jim Jones, the United States made a grave mistake in removing most of our military presence before evacuating American citizens and the Afghans who assisted our war effort. In the end, though, it was increasingly obvious that it was time for the United States to leave Afghanistan.

The case for US withdrawal from Afghanistan

On April 27, 1978, the PDPA, a party of Communists, storms the Kabul palace and overthrows the Afghan government and establishes the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The new government begins to reform the country, however; they also become very oppressive. April, 1978

December 1979

To support its communist allies, the Soviet Union sends 80,000 troops to Afghanistan to fight the Mujahedeen.

In response to the new communist government, resistance movements begin to form to fight the government in the Mujahedeen. The Mujahedeen is a group of many different resistance groups, including Islamist extremists, moderates, and leftists. February, 1979

With the final US soldiers having left Afghanistan on August 30, the Taliban now has full control of the country and has begun to build its new government and implement laws based on its fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. On August 15, Taliban soldiers took control of the presidential palace in Kabul and declared the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Government positions have begun to be established, including Haibatullah Akhundzada as the

Supreme Leader, with final say over the country’s decisions. Many are concerned about what a Taliban-led Afghanistan will mean, and there are worries that the nation may return to the pre-US invasion era. In a press conference, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the new government “is committed to the rights of women within the framework of Sharia (Islamic law).” They have promised to forgive all who have fought against the Taliban along with a guarantee of the security of foreign embassies in Kabul. Senior commander Waheedullah Hashimi has stated that the laws of the Islamic Emirate would

be guided by Islamic law, not democratic principles.

While restrictions on the press have limited the ability of reporters to investigate the human rights situation, some reports have surfaced that they have, in accordance with their ideology, banned music with instruments

Human Rights Watch has confirmed Taliban soldiers attacked the homes of resistance collaborators despite promises of forgiveness. Radio stations in Balkh district were forced to broadcast Taliban propaganda instead of their usual music broadcast.

August, 2021

April, 1992

Following the end of the Soviet occupation, a civil war between the Taliban and the new government begins. By 1996 the Taliban takes over most of the country and proclaims the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban provides sanctuary to the Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda.

February, 1989

A peace treaty is signed, and the last Soviet troops leave. The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is established after the collapse of the previous communist government.

October, 2001

In response to the 9/11 attack, the United States, led by George W. Bush, along with Afghanistan, NATO, and other American allies, invades Afghanistan to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

September, 2001

Al-Qaeda hijacks four airplanes to attack America. Two planes fly into the Twin Towers, one flies into the Pentagon, and the last flight is stopped by the passengers and crashes into a field in Pennsylvania. President George W. Bush mounts a NATO attack on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban

April, 2021

Afghan President Ghani is evacuated from the presidential palace. Later that day Taliban fighters enter the building with no resistance.

April, 2021

President Joe Biden announces that all troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan by September 11. In response, Taliban leaders threaten to use violence if troops are not evacuated by the May deadline

Following the airport attack, an airstrike ordered by Lloyd Austin and authorized by Biden kills a believed member of ISIS-K in a vehicle containing explosives, along with 10 civilians, including several children, possibly killed by a second explosion. However, an investigation by the New York Times finds that the airstrike may have mistaken Zemari Ahmadi, a worker for a US aid group, for an ISIS-K and that there may not have been a second explosion.

August, 2021

Two suicide bombers and shooters attack outside of Kabul’s airport. The attack kills 60 Afghans trying to escape and 13 US troops protecting the airport. The group that claims responsibility for the attack, ISIS-K, known also as ISIS-Khorasan, is a branch of the extremist terrorist group ISIS, and is an enemy of both the Taliban and the Afghan government.

August, 2021

The last US soldiers leave Afghanistan in a flight out of Kabul airport. With the final foreign soldiers gone, the Taliban takes over almost all of the country except for a small resistance movement in the Panjshir valley and ISIS-K militants.

The previous Taliban administration from the late 90s was known for its oppressive and cruel governing. Despite claims to preserve the rights of girls to attend school up to sixth grade, during the war, girls in Taliban-held areas were not allowed to attend school, and many teachers received death threats for teaching girls. In the 90s, “vice and virtue” police would patrol communities to monitor various social laws, including beard lengths, Friday prayer attendance, and dress codes.

Afghanistan’s future uncertain on global stage

As the Taliban acquires an increasingly strict hold on Afghanistan, questions surrounding global repercussions, both political and economic, still remain to be answered. Afghanistan continues to lead the world in opium and heroin production, currently responsible for over 80% of the total supply and being responsible for at least 95% of Europe’s market. Annually exporting several tons of the substance, the country continues to make roughly $1.4 billion per year, of which an estimated $100-400 million are appropriated by the Taliban. With the country now under considerable Taliban control, one might expect to see a significant increase in opium and heroin exportation to European markets. The U.S. is already dealing with an opioid epidemic, and another supplier could further exacerbate the problem.

Another potential concern lies in China’s continuing relationship with the Taliban. The countries have developed close ties since what foreign administration officials call a “failure” from the Western occupation. Having already forged a careful alliance, China could possibly look toward Afghanistan’s millions of dollars of untapped resources as well as limiting the influence of the Uyghur extremist group known as the East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement. In fact, the Chinese government has already planned to send more than $3 million of winter clothing, food, medicine, vaccines, and other supplies to the country within the following weeks.

As the situation develops, the U.S. needs to be wary.

Opinions

THE SUPREME COURT’S PROBLEM: Our judicial system needs a review

CONNOR SMITH Editor-in-Chief

The 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft, once said, “Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever,” and he could not have been more right. No matter how many aspects of government you control, having the Supreme Court on your side may be the most helpful thing to passing your agenda. And for the average American, the Supreme Court acts above the squabbles of politics to ensure that each American receives equal justice under the law. Sadly, due to the turmoil that is reflected in this era of politics, Americans are losing faith in the courts, with one recent Gallup poll showing that only 49% of people approve of the Supreme Court’s handling of its job. As important as the Supreme Court is to the political ecosystem and the rights of the citizens, it is worth it to understand where the court falls short of expectations and what changes can be made to strengthen the legitimacy of the court.

As most of us already know, Supreme Court justices are nominated by the current President of the United States to serve on the Supreme Court. Then, the Senate only needs to provide a simple majority vote to approve a justice. This is where all hell breaks loose. In theory, Supreme Court justices would act above all political ideology, interpret ing the law through the scope of the Constitution without any outside political influence. A Harvard Law Today panel recently discussed how po litical influence has begun to break the Supreme Senate McConnell’s blocking of Obama nominee Judge Merrick Garland and the controversy around Associate Justice Amy Con ney Barrett. So, throughout the increasingly polarizing politics of today, how can we limit political bias on the court?

earlier this month, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer supported term limits, saying they would help gain the trust of the people. In theory, term limits would make it more difficult for one political party to have complete control over the court. As law professor James Lindgren argues, “Justices [should] be limited to 18-year terms so that a new member would be nominated in each odd year,

“

Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever.

- William Howard Taft

One change that has gained traction recently has been the institution of term limits. In a conversation with Fox News

giving presidents two nominees for each four-year executive term.” He continues by stating how these term limits would return the court to its traditional levels and reduce strategic retirement. While term limits could be a solution to the problems of the Court, some flaws could deteriorate people’s trust even more. One such flaw is that the justices would have greater ties to elections. In a debate with Lindgren, Columbia Law School professor Thomas Merrill states that if judges are associated with the outcomes of elections if an election is in question, the entire Supreme Court would be questioned. Another solution, one with which I align myself, would be the expansion of the Supreme Court. While some people might read that and think of some liberal

scheme to control the court, it’s important to understand that the Supreme Court has expanded multiple times throughout American history. As Jonathon Turley, a law professor at George Washington University Law School, points out in his argument for the expansion of the Supreme Court, the United States has been adding justices to the court each time a new circuit was added. In 1863, there was even a tenth member of the Supreme Court representing the Tenth Circuit, though the position was removed six years later. So how should the United States expand the court in a way that will not divide the country? We can assume that if the next president “packed” the court with, let us say, ten hand-picked judges, the general population would lose all faith in the system, dividing the country even more. To prevent further division, a plan must be made to make both sides believe they have won. Jacob Russell, a law professor at the University of Rutgers, argues for a plan that expands the court system by making each new President add two justices per term until a final number is reached. In his opinion, this number is 27, though I have seen many legal scholars argue that any number between 19 and 53 could be reasonable.

“

Justices [should] be limited to 18-year terms so that a new member would be nominated in each odd year, giving presidents two nominees for each four-year executive term.

- James Lindgren ”

While many people might fear an expanded court, believing the court would completely change the rule of law, the United States actually uses a similar system throughout the 13 circuit courts. Some circuits have up to 29 judges that are randomly selected to sit in on court cases. Russell supports this by explaining how the Ninth Circuit, which is predominately liberal, may have a trial

overseen by three conservative judges. So now that we know an expansion of the Supreme Court is constitutional and

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already has a basic framework across the country, we can understand the benefits of an enlarged court system. For starters, no party needs to worry about the vote of one person on a particular case. As we have seen in recent trials, most court cases get decided with a 5-4 ruling, with one vote normally being a swing vote. With more people involved in a case, one person doesn’t have power over the entire ruling. Also, more cases could be brought to the Supreme Court instead of the measly 80 out of 8,000 cases. As more justices get added to the court, the larger body will become more democratic, representative, and more diverse. There would be no bloc voting; rather, liberal and conservative judges could work together and form coalitions based on legal ideas, not party lines. By expanding the Supreme Court, we could renew faith in the legal system, help unify the two main political parties under the Constitution, and maybe even bring change to the rest of the world.

The Lily Pad

with Lily O’Gorman

Do you consider partaking in environmental activism dangerous? Risky? Deadly, even? You probably don’t. And I didn’t either. But a September 13 report by human rights organization Global Witness has revealed the two have a correlation stronger than you might think.

A 36-page summary of environmental violence in the year 2020, the report states that a record total of 277 people worldwide were victims of lethal attacks due to climate change-related and environmental activism. If you’re surprised by that number, I was too. This surprise can be attributed to our lack of awareness about the danger of environmental activism in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and the Philippines, three countries that shared over half of last year’s total worldwide attacks.

As those three countries make clear, the Global South is disproportionately impacted by violence-centered environmental issues just as they disproportionately suffer the effects of those same issues. Out of 2020’s 277 deaths, only one occurred outside the Global South. Adrian Salazar, policy director of Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, ties the findings of the report closer to home, stating: “Activists in the Global North are facing increased criminalization, while environmental defenders in the Global South are facing increasing risk of death.”

The inequality of this violence shows up in other aspects, too, most notably in its effects on Indigenous peoples. Despite only making up 5% of the world’s population, Indigenous peoples were the targets of over a third of these attacks, murdered while defending their land, their homes, and their families.

To make matters worse, Global Witness states that their report is a conservative estimate due to the lack of free press and independent monitoring in many countries today. The authors additionally acknowledge the scope of violence outside of the report, stating that: “…beyond killings, many defenders and communities also experience attempts to silence them, with tactics like death threats, surveillance,

sexual violence, or criminalization” offenses that are “even less well reported.” Tragic and disheartening, this report presents us with a call to action. We are all lucky enough to live in a country in which we have the right to protest and stand up for our environment without fear of attack or murder. Our voices must speak even louder to account for the voices silenced by fear and intimidation in countless countries across the globe. So, will you speak up?

Opinions

Human activity directly impacts climate change and must be addressed quickly

MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer

Our planet is being destroyed by the recklessness of human actions. Not only is climate change real, but it is intensifying quickly. This can be proven by the increased number of hurricanes and the skyrocketing amounts of damage caused by these storms.

As we move into the future, it is inevitable that hurricanes will become much more frequent, which in turn, will cause more

destruction. This can be attributed to the effects of climate change and global warming. Global warming has caused higher ocean temperatures, which causes evaporation to intensify, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. As hurricanes form over water, the warm temperatures cause more water vapor as well as heat to be evaporated into the clouds, which brings much stronger winds and increased flooding once they make landfall. Additionally, the rise of sea levels is contributing to the increased impact of storm surge. This is caused by melting ice caps. Sea levels are predicted to rise at least one to four feet by the end of this century. In fact, the global sea level has risen by half a foot since 1900 and has accelerated during recent decades. The rise of sea levels has already started to cause a devastating impact. During Hurricane Sandy, much

Orleans.

Climate change must be stopped or tropical storms will quickly become more disastrous. To stop climate change as a society, we should reduce our car usage by walking or bicycling whenever possible, turn off lights and appliances in our homes, unplug chargers when they are not in use, and invest in an electric vehicle. Though climate change is progressing quickly, it can be stopped, but only by making mindful decisions in our daily life. Let’s protect our planet, and everyone on it.

of the damage was associated with coastal flooding, and it cost $65 billion to repair all the affected areas. During Hurricane Katrina, the levees broke because of storm surge and devastated New

I enjoyed watching The Legend of Korra more than Avatar: The Last Airbender. I wholeheartedly believe that this would be a popular opinion if the eyes of viewers were not clouded by nostalgia.

Most people who watched The Legend of Korra had already watched Avatar and are coming into the show expecting an Avatar: The Last Airbender: Part 2. Wrongfully so. The Legend of Korra is not meant to be a repetitive sequel documenting the life of Aang and his friends; rather, it is a spinoff meant to explore the intricacies of being Avatar in a more modern world and expand on the lore that already existed. The occasional Easter eggs referencing Avatar and the appearances of the old versions of the original characters were nice to see, but they absolutely were not the highlight of the show.

The Legend of Korra works perfectly as a stand-alone show and should be regarded as such. It introduced so many cool, original ideas and elaborated on past ones. Some perfect examples would be probending and the exploration of the spirit world. The fact that benders adapted to the new, technologically advanced world by using lightning bending and making new sports is amazing.

Aside from the new aspects of reality that

HOTTAKES

with Jazzmin Duncan

the show introduced, the villains in The Legend of Korra were phenomenal. Every one of them had depth. They all had a goal and elaborate backstory. The best part about the villains is that they were all right about what they were fighting for. Sure, they tended to go way overboard with their execution, but the good intentions were there, and they were relatable. Amon wanted equality between benders and non-benders. Unalaq wanted to unite

the spirit and human worlds. The Red Lotus wanted to end the tyrannous reign of the Avatar. Kuvira wanted to reunite the Earth kingdom after a tragedy. To reiterate, all their execution was horrible, but their driving purposes were understandable. They weren’t just bad, like Firelord Ozai. They had depth.

The Legend of Korra is a legendary show that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Nostalgia aside, it’s still phenominal.

Girls Volleyball

“Morgan Perkins and Farah Farooq earned all-tournament honors at the Houston Open.” - Coach Watts

Sports

EHS football takes on challenging early schedule

JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer

The Episcopal Knights football team has worked hard to display its willingness to compete at a high level in the past few games, even while facing some of the toughest schools in Texas.

On August 28, Episcopal held its first home game in nearly two years against Parish Episcopal. With the stands back to full capacity, the student turnout was incredible and crucial to encouraging the Knights to play to the best of their ability.

The game ended in an unfor tunate 34-14 loss for EHS. The Knights took on Vidor High School on September 3 and were able to show an exciting amount of progress in their performance in a game that resulted in a 24-7 loss.

On September 10, the Knights traveled to Austin to compete against the number

one ranked private school in the state, Regents High School. Although the game ended in a 35-0 loss for the Knights, the team showed a work ethic that allowed them to hold their ground against such a high-level team.

Head Coach Steve Leisz believes that the team is currently gaining experience and playing time against

difficult teams, which will allow the Knights to make a run for the conference title. Coach Leisz also mentioned that the student turnout at the first home game was amazing, and the team is extremely thankful to our student body and faculty.

The team is looking forward to rest of the season with a desire for success in upcoming games and is hopeful for continued support from the student body.

“Field hockey is having an exciting start to the season. We still have a lot of work to do, and the girls set a high goal for the end of the season; however, we will be more than ready.”

- Coach Edmonds

Boys volleyball flies to Oklahoma to play in the annual Red Robin Boys Volleyball Tournament

CORY KARDESCH Sports Editor

EHS fall sports teams have been looking forward to this season for a while, as it is expected to be the most “normal” one in a few years, especially boys volleyball, packed with a full schedule.

Coach Kerry Hofmeister notes that “the travel that we get to make around the state and region” is something that was heavily missed last year, and can now be achieved.

This year, the South Zone will be highly competitive and the most balanced since Coach Hofmeister’s first year at Episcopal. He adds that at any moment, any team in the South can win, especially with Awty’s vastly improved squad.

The team has a lot of upside, and with the seniors and others buying in, the team could be dangerous come October.

“Our

Since last year, the only player lost was four-year plater Jacob Dixon, but

they were able to balance it out with the addition of freshman Alfredo Bolando. Sophomore Ethan Romero leads the team, as well as seniors such as Zach Donovan and Andrew Debnam. Zach is considered to be the all-around and most consistent of the players, with setter Andrew Debnam providing consistency.

The team travels to places such as Oklahoma for tournaments and is very excited for what the season has to offer as it looks for an SPC Championship.

Recently, the team traveled to Austin to play St. Andrews and St. Stephens. Even after a major injury, the team was able to win both the JV and V matches.

“I feel excited for the season as we continue to improve. I enjoyed going up to Oklahoma City, and I hope we can get a good spot in the SPC championships.”

“The season is going really well; we have bonded a lot as a team getting dinners before big games.”

Fantasy Football: Your guide for the best punishment for last place

GABRIEL ODERICH Staff Writer

The football season has finally come, and with it, the fantasy football season has returned as well. Every fantasy league will have a winner and a loser, and in some private leagues among friends, a punish-

(IHOP, Waffle House, etc.) for a total of twenty-four hours; however, every pancake eaten is one less hour at that restaurant. A more creative one is having the loser set up a lemonade stand in a location of the winner’s choosing for the duration of one day.

A punishment which is also popular is

ment is almost always a guarantee for that loser, so you may ask what is the best fantasy punishments?

Well, there’s a couple. A classic is having the loser sit in a pancake restaurant

having the loser dress up in an outfit of the winner’s choosing.

The tradition of fantasy punishments is a great one; it is also one that every person in a league dreads facing.

MLB club rankings reveal the teams destined for the playoffs

CORY KARDESCH Sports Editor

As of September 8, 2021, the San Francisco Giants hold the best record in the MLB, with 92 wins and 50 losses, which is a huge upgrade considering that they finished behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 202021 season. The Rays follow with a record of 89-53, the Brewers are next at 88 wins and 55 losses, and then the Astros at 82-59. When it comes to predictions for how the season will end, the Giants hold the best record with the Dodgers closely behind.

All teams mentioned above are predicted to make the playoffs and advance to win their respective divisions. Bad news for Houston fans, though: the Dodgers have the highest chance to win the World Series, at 28%, but fear not, the Astros hold the third highest percentage. This may be due to the Dodgers acquiring star players such as starting pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner. With the season not yet over and a ways to go until the post-season, other teams such as the Chicago White Sox could make their way up this list.

Episcopal Athlete Spotlight

Senior Beau Edwards has decided to further his football career by committing to play at the Air Force Academy. He chose the Air Force Academy because of

the game. He says he has always “really liked hitting people.” He also competes on the wrestling team, and his goal for this year is to finish as an All-American after coming up one match short last year.

In the future, Beau does not want to play professionally but rather join the military and fight for our freedom. He plans on

the fantastic academics, lifelong benefits, and obviously the competitive football.

Beau loves the coaching staff and admires the family-like atmosphere they create with their players. He has decided to serve our great nation in the military as well. Beau has a strong love for his country and believes he “owes a debt to the thousands of brave men and women who have given their lives to protect Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

He started playing football when he was seven and immediately fell in love with

graduating from the Air Force Academy and serving as a JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) in the USAF, where he will be responsible for calling in close air support in combat missions.

Episcopal and the Air Force aren’t the only ones noticing Beau as he was featured in the Houston Chronicle and described as a “trend of power in the trenches for the Knights.”

He’s been an invaluable asset to Episcopal, and the defensive line will greatly miss him when he leaves.

Senior Audrey Post, one of Episcopal’s star athletes, plays on the school’s field hockey team.

Audrey notes that being a goalie can be isolating at times because the position and playing style contrast with the rest of the players on the field. As a goalie, it can be easy to blame yourself for every goal that is scored.

She remarks, “It has been awesome having a team at EHS that is so supportive of me, especially in hard games when I am getting down on myself for getting scored on.”

a week. During in-school season, Head Coach Shelly Edmonds usually dictates her off-field training, but Audrey finds herself working out at least twice a week during this period.

Her favorite part of the sport is being on a team and sharing goals and the comradery.

As a hockey goalie, she trains extensively off field. Her training consists of explosion, fast footwork, and quicker bursts of speed. She also weightlifts on top of doing sprints and using footwork ladders. This season, Audrey has practice at school five days a week and goalie practice with her club on Tuesdays. In off season, Audrey has club practice three times a week and goalie practice once

Audrey has an upcoming St. John’s match that she is looking forward to because St. John’s has always been a challenging opponent for her. Audrey notes how her team has been working hard this season and has shown a lot of growth. She’s also feeling excited about the SPC tournament and to see her team’s hard work and growth pay off. Before games, Audrey likes to listen to music to prepare. She and Tatum Moore, a member of the team, gather the team in the locker room about 20 minutes before the start for pregame music. The music and energy of the locker room sets the right tone with the whole team together.

Audrey also has some advice for other athletes. She finds that one of her big regrets is not started her more regimented training sooner. She has learned that it is a very important part of being a good and disciplined athlete.

She encourages athletes to start these habits early and that it would really benefit them in their athletic endeavors down the line.

Speaks Out

“If we were not the Knights, what would you want the school mascot to be?”

Resident Jester

PhotoJ Photo of the Month